“A heavy sentence, my most sovereign liege, And all unlooked-for from Your Highness' mouth. A dearer merit, not so deep a maim As to be cast forth in the common air, Have I deserved at Your Highness' hands. The language I have learned these forty years, My native English, now I must forgo; And now my tongue's use is to me nor more Than an unstringed viol or a harp. Or like a cunning instrument cased up, Or, being open, put into his hands That knows no touch to tune the harmony. Within my mouth you have enjailed my tongue, Doubly portcullised with my teeth and lips, And dull unfeeling barren ignorance Is made my jailer to attend onme.”
