Ambas. Then this in fine the Dolphin saith,
Whereas you clayme certaine Townes in France,170
From your predecessor king Edward the third,
This he returnes.
He saith, theres nought in France that can be with a nimble
Galliard wonne: you cannot reuel into Dukedomes there:
Therefore he sendeth meeter for your study,175
This tunne of treasure: and in lieu of this,
Desires to let the Dukedomes that you craue
Heare no more from you: This the Dolphin saith.
King. What treasure Vncle?
Exe. Tennis balles my Liege.180
King. We are glad the Dolphin is so pleasant with vs,
Your message and his present we accept:
When we haue matched our rackets to these balles,
We will by Gods grace play such a set,[5448]
Shall strike his fathers crowne into the hazard.185
Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler,
That all the Courts of France shall be disturbd with chases.
And we vnderstand him well, how he comes ore vs
With our wilder dayes, not measuring what vse we made of them.
We neuer valued this poore seate of England.190
And therefore gaue our selues to barbarous licence:
As tis common seene that men are merriest when they are from home.
But tell the Dolphin we will keepe our state,
Be like a King, mightie and commaund,
When we do rowse vs in throne of France:[5449]195
For this haue we laid by our Maiestie:[5450]
And plodded lide a man for working dayes.[5451]
But we will rise there with so full of glory,[5452]
That we will dazell all the eyes of France,
I strike the Dolphin blinde to looke on vs,200
And tell him this, his mock hath turnd his balles to gun stones,
And his soule shall sit sore charged for the wastfull vengeance
That shall flye from them. For this his mocke
Shall mocke many a wife out of their deare husbands.
Mocke mothers from their sonnes, mocke Castles downe,205
I some are yet vngotten and vnborne,
That shall haue cause to curse the Dolphins scorne.
But this lyes all within the wil of God, to whom we doo appeale,
And in whose name tel you the Dolphin we are coming on
To venge vs as we may, and to put forth our hand210
In a rightfull cause: so get you hence, and tell your Prince,[5453]
His Iest will sauour but of shallow wit,
When thousands weepe, more then did laugh at it.
Conuey them with safe conduct: see them hence.
Exe. This was a merry message.215
King. We hope to make the sender blush at it:
Therfore let our collectiō for the wars be soone prouided:
For God before, weell check the Dolphin at his fathers doore.
Therefore let euery man now taske his thought,
That this faire action may on foote be brought.220
[Exeunt omnes.
[Sc. II.]
Enter Nim and Bardolfe.
Bar. Godmorrow Corporall Nim.[5454]