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KING STEPHEN.
Smiling. Anon upon him rush'd once more
A throng of foes, and in this renew'd strife,
My sword met his and snapp'd off at the hilt.
A throng of foes, and in this renew'd strife,
My sword met his and snapp'd off at the hilt.
Glocester. Come, lead me to this man—and let us move
In silence, not insulting his sad doom
With clamorous trumpets. To the Empress bear
My salutation as befits the time.
[Exeunt Glocester and Forces.
In silence, not insulting his sad doom
With clamorous trumpets. To the Empress bear
My salutation as befits the time.
[Exeunt Glocester and Forces.
Scene III.—The Field of Battle. Enter Stephen unarmed.
Stephen. Another sword! And what if I could seize
One from Bellona's gleaming armory,
Or choose the fairest of her sheaved spears!
Where are my enemies? Here, close at hand,
Here come the testy brood. O, for a sword!
I'm faint—a biting sword! A noble sword!
A hedge-stake—or a ponderous stone to hurl
With brawny vengeance, like the laborer Cain.
Come on! Farewell my kingdom,, and all hail
Thou superb, plumed, and helmeted renown,
All hail—I would not truck this brilliant day
To rule in Pylos with a Nestor's beard—
Come on!
One from Bellona's gleaming armory,
Or choose the fairest of her sheaved spears!
Where are my enemies? Here, close at hand,
Here come the testy brood. O, for a sword!
I'm faint—a biting sword! A noble sword!
A hedge-stake—or a ponderous stone to hurl
With brawny vengeance, like the laborer Cain.
Come on! Farewell my kingdom,, and all hail
Thou superb, plumed, and helmeted renown,
All hail—I would not truck this brilliant day
To rule in Pylos with a Nestor's beard—
Come on!
Enter De Kaims and Knights, &c.
De Kaims. Is't madness or a hunger after death
That makes thee thus unarm'd throw taunts at us?—
Yield, Stephen, or my sword's point dips in
The gloomy current of a traitor's heart.
That makes thee thus unarm'd throw taunts at us?—
Yield, Stephen, or my sword's point dips in
The gloomy current of a traitor's heart.
Stephen. Do it, De Kaims, I will not budge an inch.
