As e'er thy father Henry made it mine; And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it, Farewell, good king: When I am dead and gone, [Exit. Q. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen; And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once,— His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off; This staff of honour raught:-There let it stand, Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. York. Lords, let him go.-Please it your majesty, Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. K. Hen. O' God's name, see the lists and all things fit; Here let them end it, and God defend the right! York. I never saw a fellow worst bested, Enter, on one side, HORNER, and his Neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters bearing his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; a drum before him: at the other side, PETER, with a drum and a similar staff; accompanied by Prentices drinking to him. 1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; And fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of char neco. 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man. Hor. Let it come, i'faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter! 1 Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid. 2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master; fight for credit of the prentices. Peter. I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my last draught in this world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have my hammer:-and here, Tom, take all the money that I have.-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt so much fence already. Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows.Sirrah, what's thy name? Peter. Peter, forsooth. Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honest man and touching the duke of York,-will take my death, I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: And therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart. York. Despatch:-this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants. [Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes down his Master. Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason. [Dies. York. Take away his weapon:-Fellow, thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right! K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt: And God, in justice, hath reveal'd to us Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully.— SCENE IV.-The same. A Street. [Exeunt. Enter GLOSTER and Servants, in mourning Cloaks. Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day a cloud; And, after summer, evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.— Serv. Ten, my lord. Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, The abject people, gazing on thy face, With envious looks still laughing at thy shame; Enter the Duchess of GLOSTER, in a white sheet, with papers pinn'd upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand; Sir JOHN STANLEY, a Sheriff, and Officers. Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff. Glo. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by. Duch. Come you, my lord, to see my open shame? Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they gaze! See, how the giddy multitude do point, And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee! Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke? But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame; For Suffolk, he that can do all in all With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all,— And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest, Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings, And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee: But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd, Nor never seek prevention of thy foes. Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; I must offend, before I be attainted: And had I twenty times so many foes, And each of them had twenty times their power, Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell: |