Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain'd Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days, Sal. My lord, break we off; we know your mind War. My heart assures me, that the earl of Shall one day make the duke of York a king. York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself, Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick The greatest man in England, but the king. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Hall of Justice. Trumpets sounded. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY; the Duchess of GLOSTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard. As ere thy father Henry made it mine; Q. Mar. Why now is Henry king, and Margaret queen; And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. This is the day appointed for the combat ; Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. K. Hen. O' God's name, see the lists and all Here let them end it, and God defend the right! K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, The servant of this armourer, my lords. Gloster's wife : [To JOURD. &c. From thence, unto the place of execution: Duch. Welcome is banishment, welcome were Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee; I cannot justify whom the law condemns. Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. thou go, 1 Q. Mar. I see no reason, why a king of years As willingly do I the same resign, 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 charneco. 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 mas ter: 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. Peter. Peter, forsooth. Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master 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 there 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; And bid me be advised how I tread. But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame; Nor stir at nothing, till the axe of death Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will. 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, [Exeunt. Nor never seek prevention of thy foes. For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt: Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. 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 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! And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee ! Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. 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, All these could not procure me any scathe, So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless. Would'st have me rescue thee from this reproach Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away, But I in danger for the breach of law. Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell : I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience; These few days' wonder will be quickly worn. 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. [Exeunt GLOSTER and Servants. 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 afeard, Because I wish'd this world's eternity. Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me nence; 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? Enter to the Parliament, KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, SUFFOLK, YORK, BUCKINGHAM, and others. K. Hen. I muse, my lord of Gloster is not come : 'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now. Q. Mar. Can you not see? or will you not observe The strangeness of his alter'd countenance? With what a majesty he bears himself; How insolent of late he is become, How proud, 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 Reprove my allegation, if you can ; Or else conclude my words effectual. And such high vaunts of his nobility, Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess, Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, 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, Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him, Enter SOMERSET. Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign! from France? 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! Suf. Nay, Gloster, know, that thou art come too soon, Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art : Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me Nor change my countenance for this aest; York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes And, being protector, stay'd the soldiers' pay; I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay, And never ask'd for restitution. Car. It serves you well, my lord, to say so much. Glo. I say no more than truth, so help me God! York. In your protectorship, you did devise Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of, That England was defam'd by tyranny. Glo. Why, 'tis well known, that whiles I was ity was all the fault that was in me; Or foul felonious thief, that fleec'd poor passengers, Suf. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge, K. Hen. My lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope, Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous! Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition, And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand; Foul subornation is predominant, And equity exíl'd your highness' land. I know, their complot is to have my life; And, if my death might make this island happy, And prove the period of their tyranny, I would expend it with all willingness: But mine is made the prologue to their play; For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril, Will not conclude their plotted tragedy. Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice, And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate; Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue The envious load that lies upon his heart; And dogged York, that reaches at the moon, Whose overweening arm I have pluck'd back, shall not want false witness to condemn me, Car. My liege, his railing is intolerable : If those, that care to keep your royal person From treason's secret knife, and traitors' rage, Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at, And the offender granted scope of speech, 'Twill make them cool in zeal unto your grace. Suf. Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here, With ignominious words, though clerkly couch'd, As if she had suborned some to swear False allegations to o'erthrow his state? Q. Mar. But I can give the loser leave to chide. Glo. Far truer spoke, than meant: I lose, indeed; Beshrew the winners, for they played me false ! Lord cardinal, he is your prisoner. Car. Sirs, take away the duke, and guard him Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were! [Exeunt Attendants, with GLOSTER. K. Hen. My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best, Do, or undo, as if ourself were here. Q. Mar. What, will your highness leave the parliament ? K. Hen. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with grief, Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes; wrong: And as the butcher takes away the calf, So mighty are his vowed enemies. His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan, Say Who's a traitor, Gloster he is none. [Exit. Q. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun's hot beams. Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I, Car. That he should die, is worthy policy: Suf. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I. York. 'Tis York that hath more reason for his death. But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk, Say as you think, and speak it from your souls, Suf. Madam, 'tis true: And wer't not madness then, To make the fox surveyor of the fold? 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, - stop! What counsel give you in this weighty cause? Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy, 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. Suf. 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. Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will see per form'd. But now return we to the false duke Humphrey. Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him, For there I'll ship them all for Ireland, [Exeunt all but YORK. York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts, And change misdoubt to resolution : Car. But I would have him dead, my lord of Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thou art Suffolk, Ere you can take due orders for a priest : Say, you consent, and censure well the deed, I tender so the safety of my liege. Suf. 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. Resign to death, it is not worth the enjoying: |