Sirs, advise ye what you sayen;
Such tidings make my heart unfayne;
I rede you take these words again,
For fear of villany.
There is none so great that me dare gain
To take my realm, and to attain
My power, but he shall have pain
And be punished apertly.
I, king of kings, none so keen;
I, soveraign sire, as well is seen;
I, tyrant, that may both take and teen
Castle, tower, and towne,
I wield this world withouten wene,
I beat all those unbuxsome beene,
I drive the devils all by deene
Deep in hell adowne.
For I am king of all mankind;
I bid--I beat--I loose--I bind,
I master the moon: Take this in mind
That I am most of might.
I am the greatest above degree
That is, or was, or ever shall be.
The sun it dare not shine on me
If I bid him go down.
No rain to fall shall none be free
Nor no Lord have that liberty
That dare abide, and I bid flee,
But I shall crack his crown.
Nor far nor near that doth me (an)noy
Who wrathes me, I shall destroy;
For every freak I dare defie
That nill me pay ne please.
But you be bayne, I shall you beat,
There is no man for you shall treat;
[_Then aside_] All for wrath see how I sweat;
My heart is not at ease.
And to carry out his pretence that he is not frightened but quite cool,
he throws his sword up in the air and dexterously catches it while he
continues:--
For all men may witte and see,
Both he and you all three,
That I am King of Galilee
Whatsoever he saith or does.
What the devil should this be!
A boy--a groom of low degree
Should reign above my Royalty
And make me but a goose!