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Your life and welfare—
Cromwell [who has not taken his eyes from his face.
Your life and welfare—What's the news, my son,
Of King Charles Stuart?
Richard [thunderstruck.] …Stuart?Sir!
Cromwell. Of King Charles Stuart? Sir! Another time,
More wisely choose your boon-companions.
Richard.May I be cut in pieces and be deemed
More worthless than the pavements, good my lord,
If—
Cromwell [interrupting him.
If—Do they serve good wine at the Three Cranes?
Richard [aside.]Ah! the damned spy had told him all before!
[Aloud.]I swear to you, my lord—
Cromwell. I swear to you, my lord—You seem confused.
Is it a sin, being in merry mood,
To meet some friends about a jug of wine?
I doubt not that you drank my health, my son?
Richard [aside.]Ay, there's the rub! the thrice accursèd toast
To Charles.
[Aloud.] My lord, that meeting, on my soul,
And on the name I bear, most harmless was.
Cromwell [in a voice of thunder.
You are a most abandoned knave! My son
With Cavaliers drank his share of my blood,
This morning at a hellish festival!
Richard.Father!
Cromwell. Father! What! drink with pagans I abhor,
To Charles's health!—And on a fast-day, too!
Richard.I swear, my lord, that I knew nought of that.
Cromwell.Keep for thy Tyrian King thy oaths profane!