ours are: yet, in reason, no man should possess
him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by
showing it, should dishearten his army. 118
Bates. He may show what outward courage
he will, but I believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he
could wish himself in Thames up to the neck,
and so I would he were, and I by him, at all
adventures, so we were quit here. 123
K. Hen. By my troth, I will speak my con-
science of the king: I think he would not wish
himself anywhere but where he is.
Bates. Then I would he were here alone; so
should he be sure to be ransomed, and a many
poor men's lives saved. 129
K. Hen. I dare say you love him not so ill
to wish him here alone, howsoever you speak
this to feel other men's minds. Methinks I
could not die anywhere so contented as in the
king's company, his cause being just and his
quarrel honourable.
Will. That's more than we know. 136
Bates. Ay, or more than we should seek after;
for we know enough if we know we are the king's
subjects. If his cause be wrong, our obedience
to the king wipes the crime of it out of us. 140
Will. But if the cause be not good, the king
himself hath a heavy reckoning to make; when
all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off
in a battle, shall join together at the latter day,
and cry all, 'We died at such a place'; some
swearing, some crying for a surgeon, some upon
their wives left poor behind them, some upon
the debts they owe, some upon their children
116 possess: infect
124 conscience: private opinion
