*Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants. treason. Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess [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 For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt:1 *To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet' groans. Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke? But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame; Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt. * Glo. Thus, sometimes hath the brightest day *And, after summer, evermore succeeds Serv. Ten, my lord. Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess: Uneath may she endure the flinty streets, To tread them with her tender-feeling feet. Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook The abject people, gazing on thy face, With envious looks, still laughing at thy shame ; That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels, When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets. *But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare * My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. Enter the Duchess of Gloster, in a white sheet, with papers pinned 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. Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. Methinks, I should not thus be led along. Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back; *And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice distempered, and reeled as he went, and so was slaine without guilt. As for the false servant, he lived not long unpunished; for being convict of felonie in court of assise, he was judged to be hanged, and so was at Tiburne. Fo. 626. And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest, * And each of them had twenty times their power, Thy greatest help is quiet,1° gentle Nell: Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's par [Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave :-and, master sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the king's commission. 'Sher. An't please your grace, here my com mission stays: To take her with him to the Isle of Man. Glo. Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here? 'Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please, your grace. Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray You use her well: the world may laugh again;" And I may live to do you kindness, if You do it her. And so, Sir John, farewell. Duch. What gone, my lord; and bid me not, farewell. 'Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. contradiction to all the historians, who state that he was 1 The real name of the combatants were John Da- 7 Deep-fetched. 8 i. e. careful, circumspect. 9 Scathe is harm, mischief, used by all our ancient writers. The word is still in use in Scotland. 10 The poet has not endeavoured to raise much compassion for the duchess, who indeed suffers but what 11 i. e. the world may look again favourably on me. Duch. Art thou gone too? *All comfort go with thee! For none abides with me: my joy is-death: * Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd, * Because I wish'd this world's eternity. Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me hence ; I care not whither, for I beg no favour, Only convey me where thou art commanded. *Stan. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man ; *There to be used according to your state. *Duch. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: *And shall I then be us'd reproachfully? Stan. Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey's lady, *According to that state you shall be used. Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare; Although thou hast been conduct' of my shame! Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. 'Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharg'd. Come, Stanley, shall we go? Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey. Duch. My shame will not be shifted with my sheet: *No, it will hang upon my richest robes, And show itself, attire me how I can. * Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison.2 [Exeunt. The strangeness of his alter'd countenance? With what a majesty he bears himself? 'How insolent of late he is become, How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself? We know the time, since he was mild and affable; • And, if we did but glance a far-off look, • Immediately he was upon his knee, That all the court admir'd him for submission: 4 Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears, 1 For conductor. 2 This impatience of a high spirit is very natural. It is not so dreadful to be imprisoned as it is desirable in a state of disgrace to be sheltered from the scorn of gazers. This is one of those touches which came from the hand of Shakspeare; it is not in the old play. 3 Wonder. "Tis to be fear'd, they all will follow him. 'Or else conclude my words effectual. And, had I first been put to speak my mind, I think I should have told your grace's' tale. *The duchess, by his subornation, * Upon my life, began her devilish practices: (As next the king he was successive heir,) By wicked means, to frame our sovereign's fall, Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep; * And in his simple show he harbours treason. The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb. No, no, my sovereign; Gloster is a man Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit. *Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, * Devise strange deaths for small offences done York. And did he not, in his protectorship, *Levy great sums of money through the realm, * For soldiers' pay in France, and never sent it? *By means whereof, the towns each day revolted. *Buck. Tut! these are petty faults to faults un known, *Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphrey. *K. Hen. My lords, at once: The care you have of us, *To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot, * Q. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this fond affiance! *Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd, *Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign! Som. That all your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you; all is lost. K. Hen. Cold news, Lord Somerset: But God's will be done! York. Cold news for me; for I had hope of France, As firmly as I hope for fertile England. * Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, understood so far as it relates to the title being 'com. lately, in our memory. Selden says that this must be monly in use, and properly to the king applied,' because he adduces an instance of the use of majesty, so early as the reign of Henry the Second. The reader will see more on the subject in Mr. Douce's Illustrations of Shakspeare, vol. ii. p. 11. 4 i. e. it seemeth to me, a word more grammatical than methinks, which has intruded into its place.-John-word occurs again in Act v : 8 i. e. valuing himself on his high descent. The son. 5 i. e. assemble by observation. 6 Foolish. 7 Suffolk uses highness and grace promiscuously to the queen. Camden says that majesty came into use in the reign of King Henry the Eighth, as sacred majesty And in my conscience do repute his grace,' &c. act of this play. He is now meditating on this disap 9 These two lines York had spoken before in the first pointment, and comparing his former hopes with his present loss. SCENE I. KING HENRY VI. And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate H *Or sell my title for a glorious grave. Aside. The envious load that lies upon his heart gards of religion as is the king; but are men of the world, means you who are not bound up to such precise reand know how to live. I have shown in a note on and consequently virtuous. This may be the meaning Twelfth Night, Actii. Se. 4, that free meant pure, chaste, here; unless the reader would rather believe that it PATAN means free-born, noble, which was the sense of its Saxon originalo od tam vellos; morbolet 6 Warburton thinks that by free lords Margaret *Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, *Too fuit of foolish pity; and Gloster's show *Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile *With sorrow snares relenting passengers: * Or as the snake, roll'd in a flowering bank,' *With shining checker'd slough, doth sting a child, That, for the beauty, thinks it excellent. Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I (And yet, herein, I judge mine own wit good,) This Gloster should be quickly rid the world, To rid us from the fear we have of him. *Car. That he should die, is worthy policy: * But yet we want a colour for his death: "Tis meet, he be condemn'd by course of law. *Suff. But, in my mind, that were no policy; *The king will labour still to save his life; *The commons haply rise to save his life; *And yet we have but trivial argument, * More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death. * York. So that, by this, you would not have him die. *Suff. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I. *York. "Tis York that hath more reason for his death.-2 * But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk, * Say as you think, and speak it from your souls,— *Wer't not all one, an empty eagle were set *To guard the chicken from a hungry kite, * As place Duke Humphrey for the king's protector? Q. Mur. So the poor chicken should be sure of death. 'Suff. Madam, 'tis true: And wer't not mad ness, then, To make the fox surveyor of the fold? Who being accus'd a crafty murderer, His guilt should be but idly posted over, Because his purpose is not executed. No; let him die, in that he is a fox, By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock, Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood; As Humphrey, prov'd by reasons, to my liege. And do not stand on quillets, how to slay hiin: Be it by gins, by snares, by subtilty, 'Sleeping or waking, 'tis no matter how, So he be dead; for that is good deceit ♦ Which mates him first, that first intends deceit. Q. Mar. Thrice-noble Suffolk, 'tis resolutely spoke. *Suf. Not resolute, except so much were done; *For things are often spoke, and seldom meant: But, that my heart accordeth with my tongue,*Seeing the deed is meritorious, * And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,Say but the word, and I will be his priest." * Car. But I would have him dead, my lord of Suffolk, Ere you can take due orders for a priest: *Say, you consent, and censures well the deed, And I'll provide his executioner, * I tender so the safety of my liege. *Suff. Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing. * Q. Mar. And so say I. York. And I and now we three have spoke it, * It skills not greatly' who impugns our doom. Enter a Messenger. * Car. A breach, that craves a quick expedient stop! What counsel give you in this weighty cause? York. That Somerset be sent as regent thither: "Tis meet, that lucky ruler be employ'd; Witness the fortune he hath had in France. • Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy, Had been the regent there instead of me, He never would have staid in France so long. 'York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done: I rather would have lost my life betimes, *Than bring a burden of dishonour home, By staying there so long, till all were lost. Show me one scar character'd on thy skin: *Men's flesh preserv'd so whole, do seldom win. *Q. Mar. Nay then, this spark will prove a raging fire, *If wind and fuel, be brought to feed it with :-No more, good York :-sweet Somerset,be still :— * Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there, *Might happily have prov'd far worse than his. York. What, worse than naught? nay, then a shame take all! Som. And in the number, thee, that wishest shame! Car. My lord of York, try what your fortune is. The uncivil Kernes of Ireland are in arms, And temper clay with blood of Englishmen : To Ireland will you lead a band of men, Collected choicely, from each county some, And try your hap against the Irishmen? *York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty. *Suff. Why, our authority is his consent; And, what we do establish, he confirms: *Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand. York. I am content: Provide me soldiers, lords, Whiles I take order for mine own affairs. * Suff. A charge, Lord York, that I will see perform'd. But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey. For there I'll ship them all for Ireland. thoughts, And change misdoubt to resolution: * Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thou art *Resign to death, it is not worth the enjoying: Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man, And find no harbour in a royal heart. *Faster than spring-time showers, comes thought on thought; And not a thought, but thinks on dignity. *My brain, more busy than the labouring spider, *Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. Well, nobles, well, 'tis politicly done, To send me packing with an host of men: I fear me, you but warm the starved snake, *Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your hearts. 'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me: Mess. Great lords, from Ireland am I come I take it kindly: yet, be well assur'd You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands. While I in Ireland nourish a mighty band, *I will stir up in England some black storm, * Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven, or hell: *And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage stroyed, as being proved by reasons or arguments to be the king's enemy, before he has committed any actual crime. 4 i. e confounds, overcomes, I i. e. in the flowers growing on a bank. 2 York had more reason for desiring Humphrey's death, because he stood between him and the crown, 5 That is, I will be the attendant on his last scene; 1 which he had proposed to himself in his ambitious views. will be the last man whom he shall see.' 3 The meaning of this obscurely constructed passage 6 i. e. judge or think well of it. appears to be, "The fox may be lawfully killed, as being 7 It matters not greatly. Shakspeare has the known to be an enemy to sheep, even before he has ac-phrase in Twelfth Night, Act v. Sc. 1. tually killed them; so Humphrey may be properly de- s Expeditious. 9 Far-fetched. * Until the golden circuit on my head,' I have seduc'd a head-strong Kentishman, To make commotion, as full well he can, * In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade 4 Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells. *Full often, like a shag-hair'd crafty Kerne, Hath he conversed with the enemy; * And undiscover'd come to me again, * And given me notice of their villanies. This devil here shall be my substitute; For that John Mortimer, which now is dead, *In face, in gait, in speech, he doth resemble: By this I shall perceive the commons' mind, How they affect the house and claim of York, Say, he be taken, rack'd, and tortured: I know, no pain, they can inflict upon him, Will make him say-I mov'd him to those arms. Say, that he thrive (as 'tis great like he will,) Why, then from Ireland come I with my strength, And reap the harvest which that rascal sow'd: " For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be, And Henry put apart, the next for me. [Exit. SCENE II. Bury. A Room in the Palace. Enter certain Murderers, hastily. 1 Mur. Run to my lord of Suffolk; let him know, We have despatch'd the duke, as he commanded. *2 Mur. O, that it were to do!-What have we done? * Didst ever hear a man so penitent? 1 Mur. "Tis, my good lord. [Exeunt Murderers, Enter KING HENRY QUEEN MARGARET, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, SOMERSET, Lords, and others. ་ K. Hen. Go, call our uncle to our presence straight: Say, we intend to try his grace to-day, If he be guilty, as 'tis published. Suff. P'll call him presently, my noble lord. K. Hen. Lords, take your places ;—And, I pray you all, • Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloster, 'Than from true evidence, of good esteem, He be approv'd in practice culpable. *Q. Mar. God forbid any malice should prevail, * That faultless may condemn a nobleman!" *Pray God, he may acquit him of suspicion! *K. Hen. I thank thee, Margaret; these words content me much.- Re-enter SUFFOLK. How now? why look'st thou pale? why trem blest thou? Where is our uncle? what is the matter, Suffolk! Suff. Dead in his bed, my lord; Gloster is dead. *Q. Mar. Marry, God forefend! * Car. God's secret judgment:-I did dream to night, * The duke was dumb, and could not speak a word, [The King swoons. Q. Mar. How fares my lord?--Help, lords! the king is dead. *Som. Rear up his body; wring him by the nose. * Q. Mar. Run, help, help-O Henry, ope thine eyes! 5o, *Suff. He doth revive again;-Madam, be patient. *K. Hen. O heavenly God! *Q. Mar. How fares my gracious lord? Suff. Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry, comfort! K. Hen. What, doth my lord of Suffolk cómfort me? Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers; Upon thy eyeballs murderous tyranny And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight: *For in the shade of death I shall find joy: *In life, but double death, now Gloster's dead! Q. Mar. Why do you rate my lord of Suffolk thus ? *Although the duke was enemy to him, * Yet he, most christianlike, laments his death' * And for myself,--foe as he was to me, *Might liquid tears, or heart-offending groans, Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life, * I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans What know I how the world may deem of me? * And princes' courts be fill'd with my reproach. interesting dissertation, printed in the second volume of his Illustrations of Shakspeare. 5 The directions concerning this scene stand thus in the quarto copy:- Then the curtains being drawne, this Duke Humphrey is discovered in his bed, and two men lying on his breast, and smothering him in his bed And then enter the Duke of Suffolk to them, 3 Kernes were Irish peasantry, who served as lightarmed foot soldiers. In King Richard II. they are called 'rough rug-headed Kernes.' 6 As nothing further is spoken either by Somerset ör the cardinal, or by any one else, to show that they con tinue in the presence, it is to be presumed that they take advantage of the confusion occasioned by the king's swooning, and slip out unobserved, The next news we 7 Just now. 4 A dancer in a morris-dance; originally, perhaps, SAs Esculap an herdsman did espie, 9 And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,' |