The words quoted below are from Shakespeare’s Henry V. It simply struck me that their equivalent can be heard on a regular basis in today’s House of Commons, as lowly backbench MPs intent on promotion suck up to the prime minister in the hope of being given their just reward. The two sycophants are the Earl of Cambridge and Sir Thomas Grey, and they are talking to Henry:

“Cambridge: Never was monarch better feared and loved

Than is your majesty. There’s not, I think, a subject

That sits in heart-grief and uneasiness

Under the sweet shade of your government.

“Grey: True. Those that were your father’s enemies

Have steeped their galls in honey, and do serve you

With hearts create of duty and of zeal.”

Unlike today’s politicians, Henry didn’t swallow this sickening stuff. He already knew the two were traitors. After spelling that out for 3 pages he told them at the end of the audience:

“Get ye therefore hence,

Poor miserable wretches, to your death;

The taste whereof, God of his mercy give

You patience to endure, and true repentance

Of all your dear offences. – Bear them hence.”

“Bear them hence.” Wouldn’t we just love to hear someone speak those words (who could do it?) to today’s entire tribe of politicians, sycophants and hangers-on. Not to their deaths, of course – perish the thought. But hence. Far, far hence.