HUB. Thy tears and love of virtue have the power
To make me at an instant true and false:
True to distressed beauty and rare chastity;
False to King John, that holds the sight of thee
Dearer than England or earth's empery.
Go, happy soul, that in so ill an age
Hast such fair beauty for thy heritage:
Yet go not so alone. Dost hear, tall soldier?
[Call a Soldier.
I know thee honest: guide this gentle maid
To Dunmow Abbey: she is one I know.
I will excuse thee, and content thee well;
My signet take, that ye may pass unsearch'd.
MAT. Kind Hubert, many prayers for this good deed
Shall on my beads be daily numbered.
[Exeunt.
Enter LEICESTER, RICHMOND, FITZWATER.
LEI. O treble heat of honour, toil, and rage!
How cheers Earl Richmond? Fitzwater, speak, old man.
We are now near together: answer me.
FITZ. Leicester, the more our woe,
The likelier to be taken by the foe.
RICH. O, let not such a thought abuse thy age!
We'll never yield us to the tyrant's rage.
LEI. But if my girl be yielded—
If she be!
FITZ. Ay, ay—
There's no man but shall have his time to die.
LEI. Now is our hour, which they shall dearly by.