Som. Thy fumptuous buildings, and thy wife's attire, Have coft a mass of public treasury. Buck. Thy cruelty in execution Upon offenders hath exceeded law, And left thee to the mercy of the law. 2. Mar. Thy fale of offices and towns in France, If they were known as the fufpect is great, Would make thee quickly hop without thy head. Give me my fan; what, minion? can ye not? [Exit Glos [She gives the Dutchess a box on the ear. I cry you mercy, Madam; was it you? Elean. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman! Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd fet my ten commandments in your face. K. Henry. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will. Elean. Against her will, good King? look to't in time, She'll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby: Though in this place most master wears no breeches, She shall not ftrike Dame Eleanor unrevenged. [Exit Eleanor. Buck. Lord Cardinal, I'll follow Eleanor, And liften after Humphry, how he proceeds: She's tickled now, her fume can need no fpurs; She'll gallop faft enough to her deftruction. [Exit Buck. SCENE VII. Re-enter Duke Humphry. Glo. Now, Lords, my choler being over-blown any man. York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet. B 2 Firk, Firft, for I cannot flatter thee in pride; Suf. Peace, head-ftrong Warwick! War. Image of pride, why fhould I hold my peace! Enter Horner the armourer, and his man Peter, guarded. K. Henry. What mean'ft thou, Suffolk? tell me what are thefe? Suf. Please it your Majefty, this is the man That doth accuse his master of high treason. His words were thefe: "That Richard Duke of York "Was rightful heir unto the English crown, "And that your Majefty was an ufurper." K. Henry. Say, man; were these thy words? Arm. An't fhall please your Majefty, I never faid nor thought any fuch matter: God is my witnefs, I am falfely accus'd by the villain. Pet. By thefe ten bones, my Lord, he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were fcouring my Lord of York's armour. York. Bafe dunghil villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech. 1 do befeech your Royal Majefty, Let him have all the rigour of the law. Arm. Alas, my Lord, hang me if ever I fpake the words. My accufer is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me. I have good witnefs of this; therefore I befeech your Majefty, do not caft away an honest man for a villain's accufation. K. Henry. Uncle, what fhall we fay to this in law? Let Let Somerset be Regent o'er the French, Peter. Alas! my Lord, I cannot fight; for God's fake, pity my cafe; the fpight of man prevaileth against me. O Lord, have mercy upon me! I fhall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my heart! Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. K. Henry. Away with them to prifon; and the day of combat fhall be the last of the next month. Come, Somerfet, we'll fee thee fent away. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE VIII. The witch's cave. Enter Mother Jordan, Hume, Southwel, and Bolingbrook. Hume. Come, my masters; the Dutchefs, I tell you, expects performance of your promifes. Boling. Mafter Hume, we are therefore provided. Will her Ladyfhip behold and hear our exorcifms? Hume. Ay, what else? fear not her courage. Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible fpirit, but it fhall be convenient, Master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be bafy below; and fo I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] Mother Jordan, be proftrate and grovel on the earth; John Southwel, read you, and let us to our work. Enter Eleanor above. Elean. Well faid, my masters, and welcome to all! to this geer, the fooner the better. Boling. Patience, good Lady: wizards know their times, Deep night, dark night, the filent of the night t, + The filent of the night, is a claffical expression; and means an interlunar night. The time of night when Troy was fet on fire, The time when fcreech-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl: [Here they perform the ceremonies, and make the circle : Bolingbrook or Southwel reads, Conjuro te, Sc. It thunders and lightens terribly: then the fpirit rifeth. Spirit. Adfum. And M. Jord. Afmuth, by the eternal God, whofe name power thou trembleft at, tell what I afk; For till thou speak, thou fhalt not pass from hence. Spirit. Afk what thou wilt. That I had faid, and done! Boling. First, of the King: what fhall of him become ! Spirit. The Duke yet lives that Henry fhall depofe;. But him outlive, and die a violent death. [As the Spirit fpeaks, they write the answer. Boling. Tell me, what fates await the Duke of Suffolk ? Spirit. By water fhall he die, and take his end. Boling. What fhall befal the Duke of Somerset ? Spirit. Let him fhun caftles. Safer fhall he be on the fandy plains, Than where caftles mounted ftand. Have done, for more I hardly can endure. Boling. Defcend to darkness, and the burning lake: Falfe fiend, avoid! [Thunder and lightning. Spirit defcends. Enter the Duke of York, and the Duke of Buckingham, with their guard, and break in. York. Lay hands upon these traitors, and their trafh: My Lord Protector will, I doubt it not, Elean. Not half fo bad as thine to England's King, Buck. True Madam, none at all. What call you this? Away Away with them, let them be clapp'd up clofe, We'll fee your trinkets here forthcoming all. [Exeunt Guard with Jordan, Southwel, c*. York. The King is now in progrefs tow'rds St. Alban's; With him the husband of this lovely lady: Thither go thefe news, as fast as horse can carry them; Buck. Your Grace fhall give me leave, my Lord of To be the poft, in hope of his reward. York. At your pleasure, my good Lord. Who's within there, ho? Enter a Serving-man. Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick, [York, -Southwel, &c. [Exeunt York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well. A pretty plot, well chofe to build upon. Now pray, my Lord, let's fee the devil's writ. What have we here? The Duke yet lives that Henry fhall depofe; But him outlive, and die a violent death. Why, this is juft, Aio te, Well, to the reft: acida, Romanos vincere poffe. Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk? By water fhall he die, and take his end What fball betide the Duke of Somerset ? Let him fhun caftles. Safer fhall he be on the fandy plains, Than where cafties mounted stand. Come, come, my Lords; These oracles are hardily attain'd. And hardily understood. The King is now, &c. This repetition of the prophecies, which is altogether unneceffary," after what the fpectators had heard in the scene immediately preceding, is not to be found in the first edition of this play. Mr. Pope. ACT |