Suff. Nay, Gloster, know, that thou art too soon, Unless thou wert rore loyal than thou art : I do arrest thee of high treason here. Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see blush, Nor change my countenance for this arrest; * A heart unspotted is not easily daunted. come]'By false accuse2 doth level at my life: The purest spring is not so free from mud, * As I am clear froin treason to my sovereign: Who can accuse me? wherein am I guilty And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest, 'Causeless have laid disgraces on my head; *And, with your best endeavour, have stirr'd up me My liefest liege to be mine enemy: York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France, And, being protector, stayed the soldiers' pay; 'I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay, So help me God, as I have watch'd the night,— Ay, night by night,-in studying good for England! 'That doit that e'er I wrested from the king, 'Or any groat I hoarded to my use, Be brought against me at my trial day! '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 Pity was all the fault that was in me; *Av, all of you have laid your heads together, Myself nad notice of your conventicles. 'I shall not want false witness to condemn me, 'Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt: 'The ancient proverb will be well effected,A staff is quickly found to beat a dog. *Car. My liege, his railing is intolerable: *If those that care to keep your royal person From treason's secret knife, and traitor's rage, * Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at, And the offender granted scope of speech, * "Twill make them cool in zeal unto your grace. Suff. Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here, "With ignominious words, though elerkly 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 in deed; 'Beshrew the winners, for they play'd me false ! *And well such losers may have leave to speak, Buck. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all day : 'Lord cardinal, he is your prisoner. 'Car. Sirs, take away the duke, and guard him surc. Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his crutch, Before his legs be firm to bear his body: wasThus is the shepherd beaten from thy side, 'Or foul felonious thief that fleec'd poor passengers, I never gave them condign punishment: 'Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd 'Above the felon, or what trespass else. "Suff. My lord, these faults are easy,' quickly answer'd: 'But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge, 'K. Hen. My lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope, 'That you will clear yourself from all suspects; My conscience tells me, you are innocent. Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous! Virtue is choak'd with foul ambition, • And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand; And equity exil'd your highness' land. I would expend it with all willingness: And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate; And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were! 'For, good king Henry, thy decay I fear. [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 par liament ? K. Hen. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with grief, *Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes; My body round engirt with misery ; * *For what's more niiserable than discontent ?Ah, uncle Humphrey! in thy face I see The map of honour, truth, and loyalty; And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come, That e'er I prov'd thee false, or fear'd thy faith. *What low'ring star now envies thy estate, That these great lords, and Margaret our queen, * Do seek subversion of thy harmless life? *Thou never didst them wrong, norno man wrong; *And as the butcher takes away the calf, *And binds the wretch, and beats it when it strays, *Bearing it to the bloody slaughter-house; Eve.. so, remorseless, have they borne him hence. *And as the dam runs lowing up and down, *Looking the way her harmless young one went, *And can do nought but wail her darling's loss; Even so myself bewails good Gloster's case, *With sad unhelpful tears; and with di nm'd eyes Look after him, and cannot do him good; *So mighty are his vowed enemies. 'His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan, 'Say-Who's a traitor, Gloster he is none. *Q. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with sun's hot beams. *Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, *Too full of foolish pity; and Gloster's sho * 1) For easily. (2) For accusation. (3) Dearest. Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile With sorrow snares reler.ting passengers; * Or as the snake, roiled 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 inect he be condemned 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. *Suff. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I. * But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suf- Say, as you think, and speak it from your souls,-| 'Suff. Madam, 'tis true: And were't not * Car. A breach, that craves a quick expedient' 'What counsel give you in this weighty cause! Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy, 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: Som. And, in the number, thee, that wisher: '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, mad-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 aflairs 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 him: '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. *Suff. 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.- Ere you can take due orders for a priest: 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. 'Suff. A charge, lord York, that I will see per form'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 a host of men: *I fear me, you but warm the starved snake, 'Mess. Great lords, from Ireland am I come Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your amain, To signify-that repels there are up, Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime, *Before the wound do grow incurable; * For, being green, there is great hope of help. (1) i. e. In the flowers growing on a bank. hearts. * Shal v ten thousand souls to heaven, or hell: * And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage * Until the golden circuit on my head, * Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams, Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.' And, for a minister of my intent, 'I have seduc'd a headstrong Kentishman, 'John Cade of Ashford, 'To make commotion, as full well he can, Under the title of John Mortimer. * In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade * Oppose himself against a troop of kernes;2 And fought so long, till that his thighs with darts * Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porcupine: * And, in the end being rescu'd, I have seen him Caper upright like a wild Morisco, 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 tortur'd: '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. SCENE II.-Bury. A room in the palace. ter certain Murderers, hastily. [Exit. En 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? my house; 'I will reward you for this venturous deed. "The king and all the peers are here at hand :Have you laid fair the bed? are all things well, 'According as I gave directions? 1 Mur. 'Tis, my good lord. 'Suff. Away, be gone! [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, 'Suff. I'll call him presently, my noble lord. * 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 tremblest 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:-1 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, go, help, help!-0, Henry, ope thine eves! *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 comfort me? Came he right now to sing a raven's note, 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 Christian-like, 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, *Look pale as primrose, with blood-drinking sighs, *And all to have the noble duke alive. 'What know I how the world may deem of me? For it is known we were but hollow friends; It may be judg'd, I made the duke away: So shall my name with slander's tongue ba wounded, *And princes' courts be fill'd with my reproach *This get I by his death: Ah me, unhappy! *To be a queen, and crown'd with infamy! K. Hen. Ah, wo is me for Gloster, wretched man! Q. Mar. Be wo for me, more wretched than he is. What, dost thou turn away, ad hide thy face? 'K. Hen. Lords, take your places;-And, II am no loathsome leper, look on me. pray you all, 'Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloster, Than from true evidence, of good esteem, He be approv'd in practice culpable. (1) A violent gust of wind. (2) Irish foot-soldiers, light-armed. [Exit. What, art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf? Be poisonous too, and kill thy forlorn queen. *Is all thy comfort shut in Gloster's tomb? *Why, then dame Margaret was ne'er thy joy bank * Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life * * Erect his statue then, and worship it, * Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock? But left that hateful office unto thee: The pretty vaulting sea refus'd to drown me; * With tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness: *A heart it was, bound in with diamonds, To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk, *And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling: *But all in vain are these mean obsequies; *And, to survey his dead and earthly image, What were it but to make my sorrow greater? The folding-doors of an inner chamber are throws open, and Gloster is discovered dead in his bed: Warwick and others standing by it. *War. Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body. *K. Hen. That is to see how deep my grave is made: For, with his soul, fled all my worldly solace; *For seeing him, I see my life in death.' 'War. As surely as my soul intends to live With that dread King that took our state upon him To free us from his Father's wrathful curse, 'I do believe that violent hands were laid Upon the life of this thrice-famed duke. Suff. A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn What instance gives lord Warwick for his vow? And threw it towards thy land;-the sea re- Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,? ceiv'd it; *And so, I wish'd, thy body might my heart: And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart; * Ah me, I can no more! Dic, Margaret! By Suffolk and the cardinal Beaufort's means. "The commons, like an angry hive of bees, That want their leader, scatter up and down, And care not who they sting in his revenge. Myself have calm'd their spleenful mutiny, 'Until they hear the order of his death. Of ashy semblance, meagre, pale, and bloodless, Being all descended to the labouring heart; 'Who, in the conflict that it holds with death, 'Attracts the same for aidance 'gainst the enemy; "Which with the heart there cools and ne'er re turneth To blush and beautify the check again. 'His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd 'Like to the summer's corn by tempest lodg'd. Suff. Why, Warwick, who should do the duke 'Myself, and Beaufort, had him in protection; And you, forsooth, had the good duke to keep: K. Hen. That he is dead, good Warwick, 'tis 'Tis like, you would not feast him like a friend; too true; ut how he died, God knows, not Henry: Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse, War. That I shall do, my liege:-Stay, Sal-] isbury, With the rude multitude, till I return. [Warwick goes into an inner room, Salisbury retires. K. Hen. O thou that judgest all things, my thoughts: 'And 'tis well seen, he found an enemy. 'Q. Mar. Then you, belike, suspect these noblo men As guilty of duke Humphrey's timeless death. War. Who finds the heifer dead, and bleeding fresh, And sees fast by a butcher with an axe, and But will suspect, 'twas he that made the slaughter? Who finds the partridge in the puttock's nest, stay But may imagine how the bird was dead, My thoughts, that labour to persuade my soul, 1) i. e. I see my life destroyed or endangered by is death. Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak? (2) A body becomes inanimate in the common course of nature, to which violence has not brought la timeless end. Even so suspicious is this tragedy. Q. Mar. Are you a butcher, Suffolk? where's! Is Beaufort term'd a kite? where are his talons? [Exeunt Cardinal, Som. and others. War. What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk* dare him? Q. Mar. He dares not calm his contumelious spirit, Nor cease to be an arrogant controller, Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times. They say, in him they fear your highness' death; That, if your highness should intend to sleep, War. Madam, be still; with reverence may I say;* From such fell serpents as false Suffolk is; For every word, you speak in his behalf, is slander to your royal dignity. 'Suff. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanour! If ever lady wrong'd her lord so much, War. But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee, thy If from this presence thou dar'st go with me. Thrice is he arm'd, that hath his quarrel just; And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel, Q. Mar. What noise is this? *With whose envenom'd and fatal sting, Suff. 'Tis like the commons, rude unpolish'd Could send such message to their sovereign: K. Hen. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me 'K. Hen. Ungentle queen, to call him gentle Suffolk. No more, I say; if thou dost plead for him, Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath. 'Had I but said, I would have kept my word; 'But, when I swear, it is irrevocable: If, after three days' space, thou here be'st found *any ground that I am ruler of, K. Hen. Why, how now, lords? your wrath-The world shall not be ransom for thy life. ful weapons drawn 'Come, Warwick, come, good Warwick, go with me; 'I have great matters to impart to thee. [Exeunt K. Henry, Warwick, Lords, &c. 'Q. Mar. Mischance, and sorrow, go along with you! 'Heart's discontent, and sour affliction, Hast thou not spirit to curse thine enemies? (4) i. e. He shall not contaminate this air with This infected breath. T |