200 
SHAKESPEARE’S GARDEN 
Puc. I am prepared : here is my keen-edged sword, 
Deck’d with five flower-de-luces on each side ; 
The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine’s churchyard, 
Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth. 
I. ii. 98. 
Plan. Since you are tongue-tied and so loth to speak, 
In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts: 
Let him that is a true-born gentleman 
And stands upon the honour of his birth, 
If he suppose that I have pleaded truth, 
From off this briar pluck a white rose with me. 
Som. Let him that is no coward nor no flatterer, 
But dare maintain the party of the truth, 
Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me. 
War. I love no colours, and, without all colour 
Of base insinuating flattery 
I pluck this white rose with Plantagenet. 
Suf. I pluck this red rose with young Somerset 
And say withal I think he held the right. 
Ver. Stay, lords and gentlemen, and pluck no more, 
Till you conclude that he upon whose side 
The fewest roses are cropp’d from the tree 
Shall yield the other in the right opinion. 
Som. Good master Vernon, it is well objected : 
If I have fewest, I subscribe in silence. 
Plan. And I. 
Ver. Then for the truth and plainness of the case, 
I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here, 
Giving my verdict on the white rose side. 
Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off, 
Lest bleeding you do paint the white rose red 
And fall on my side so, against your will. 
Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed, 
Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt 
And keep me on the side where still I am. 
Som. Well, well, come on: who else? 
Law. Unless my study and my books be false, 
The argument you held was wrong in you ; [To Somerset. 
In sign whereof I pluck a white rose too. 
Plan. Now, Somerset, where is your argument ? 
Som. Here in my scabbard, meditating that 
Shall dye your white rose in a bloody red. 
Plan. Meantime your cheeks do counterfeit our roses ; 
For pale they look with fear, as witnessing 
The truth on our side 
