| Now sir, perhaps I come and see the King; |
|
| The King sees me, and fain will hear my suit. |
|
| Why, is not this a strange and seld-seen thing, |
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| That standers-by with toys should strike me mute? |
|
| Go to, I see their shifts, and say no more. |
5 |
| Hieronimo, 'tis time for thee to trudge. |
|
| Down by the dale that flows with purple gore |
|
| Standeth a fiery tower; there sits a judge |
|
| Upon a seat of steel and molten brass, |
|
| And 'twixt his teeth he holds a fire-brand, |
10 |
| And leads unto the lake where hell doth stand. |
|
| Away, Hieronimo, to him be gone! |
|
| He'll do thee justice for Horatio's death. |
|
| Turn down this path, thou shalt be with him straight; |
|
| Or this, and then thou need'st not take thy breath. |
15 |
| This way or that way? - Soft and fair, not so! |
|
| For if I hang or kill myself, let's know, |
|
| Who will revenge Horatio's murder then? |
|
| No, no! Fie, no! Pardon me, I'll none of that. |
|
| He flings away the dagger and halter. |
|
| This way I'll take, and this way comes the King; |
20 |
| He takes them up again. |
|
| And here I'll have a fling at him, that's flat; |
|
| And, Balthazar, I’ll be with thee to bring, |
|
| And thee, Lorenzo! Here’s the King - nay, stay; |
|
| And here, ay here - there goes the hare away. |
24 |