John Keats (1795-1821)

King Stephen

Act I

Scene 1

Field of Battle.

Alarum. Enter King Stephen, Knights, and Soldiers.

STEPHEN. If shame can on a soldier’s vein-swoll’n front

Spread deeper crimson than the battle’s toil,

Blush in your casing helmets! for see, see!

Yonder my chivalry, my pride of war,

Wrench’d with an iron hand from firm array,

Are routed loose about the plashy meads,

Of honour forfeit. O that my known voice

Could reach your dastard ears, and fright you more!

Fly, cowards, fly! Glocester is at your backs!

Throw your slack bridles o’er the flurried manes,

Ply well the rowel with faint trembling heels,

Scampering to death at last!
FIRST KNIGHT.xxxxxxxxxxxxxThe enemy

Bears his flaunt standard close upon their rear.
SECOND KNIGHT. Sure of a bloody prey, seeing the fens

Will swamp them girth-deep.
STEPHEN.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxOver head and ears,

No matter! ’Tis a gallant enemy;

How like a comet he goes streaming on.

But we must plague him in the flank,—hey, friends.

We are well breathed,—follow!

Enter Earl Baldwin and Soldiers, as defeated.

STEPHEN. De Redvers!

What is the monstrous bugbear that can fright

Baldwin?
BALDWIN. No scare-crow, but the fortunate star

Of boisterous Chester, whose fell truncheon now

Points level to the goal of victory.

This way he comes, and if you would maintain

Your person unaffronted by vile odds,

Take horse, my Lord.
STEPHEN.xxxxxxxxxxxxxAnd which way spur for life?

Now I thank Heaven I am in the toils,

That soldiers may bear witness how my arm

Can burst the meshes. Not the eagle more

Loves to beat up against a tyrannous blast,

Than I to meet the torrent of my foes.

This is a brag,—be’t so,—but if I fall,

Carve it upon my ’scutcheon’d sepulchre.

On, fellow soldiers! Earl of Redvers, back!

Not twenty Earls of Chester shall brow-beat

The diadem.

Exeunt. Alarum.

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Table of Contents

Act I Scene 2