Suf. Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here, [couch'd, With ignominious words, though clerkly 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 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 sure.

Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his
crutch,

Before his legs be firm to bear the body:
Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side,
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 parliament?

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 miserable 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, nor no 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; Even 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 dimm'd

eyes

Look after him, and cannot do him good;
So mighty are his vowed enemies. [groan,
His fortunes I will weep; and 'twixt each
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,
Too full 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.

➜ I. e. In the flowers growing on a bank. + Skin.

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. Suf. 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.

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,-
[souls,-
Say as you think, and speak it from your
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 pro-

tector?

Q. Mar. So the poor chicken should be sure of death.

Suf. Madam, 'tis true: And wer't not madness 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 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 matest him first, that first intends de-
Q. Mar. Thrice-noble Suffolk, 'tis resolutely
spoke.

[ceit.

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 censure well the deed,
And I'll provide his executioner,

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

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!

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 perform'd. [rey. But now return we to the false duke HumphCar. No more of him; for I will deal with him.

That, henceforth, he shall trouble us no more. And so break off; the day is almost spent: Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that

event.

Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw."
And, for a minister of my intent,

I have seduc'd a head-strong 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 Kernest
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 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. [Erit.

SCENE II.-Bury.—A Room in the Palace. Enter certain MURDERERS, hastily.

1 Mur. Run to my lord of Suffolk; let him know, [ed. We have despatch'd the duke, as he command2 Mur. O, that it were to do!-What have we done? Didst ever hear a man so penitent?

Enter SUFFOLK.

1 Mur. Here comes my lord. Suf. Now, Sirs, have you

Despatch'd this thing?

1 Mur. Ay, my good lord, he's dead. Suf. Why, that's well said. Go, get you to

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 thing well, According as I gave directions?

1 Mur. "Tis, my good lord.

Suf. 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,
If he be guilty, as 'tis published.

Suf. I'll call him presently, my noble lord.

[Exit. 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,

* A violent gust of wind.

+ Irish foot-soldiers, light-armed. A Moor in a morris dance.

nose.

Q. Mar. Run, go, help, help!-O, Henry, ope thine eyes!

Suf. He doth revive again;-Madam, be patient.

K. Hen. O heavenly God!

Q. Mar. How fares my gracious lord?
Suf. Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry,
comfort!

K. Hen. What, doth my lord of Suffolk com-
fort me?

Came he right now to sing a raven's note,
Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers;
And thinks he, that the chirping of a wren,
By crying comfort from a hollow breast,
Can chase away the first-conceived sound?
Hide not thy poison with such sugar'd words,
Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I say;
Their touch affrights me, as a serpent's sting.
Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight!
Upon thy eye-balls murderous tyranny
Sits in grim majesty, to fright the world.
Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wound-
ing:-

Yet do not go away :-Come, basilisk,
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,
[sighs,
Look pale as primrose, with blood-drinking
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 be
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, woe is me for Gloster, wretched
man!

Q. Mar. Be woe for me,t more wretched
than he is.

What, dost thou turn away, and hide thy face?
I am no loathsome leper, look on me.
What, art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf?
Be poisonous too, and kill thy forlorn queen.

* Just now.

† 1. e. Let not woe be to thee for Gloster, but for me.

Is all thy comfort shut in Gloster's tomb?
Why, then dame Margaret was ne'er thy joy:
Erect his statue then, and worship it,
And make my image but an alehouse sign.
Was I, for this, nigh wreck'd upon the sea;
And twice by awkward wind from England's
bank

caves;

Drove back again unto my native clime?
What boded this, but well-forewarning wind
Did seem to say,-Seek not a scorpion's nest,
Nor set no footing on this unkind shore?
What did I then, but curs'd the gentle gusts,
And he that loos'd them from their brazen
[shore,
And bid them blow towards England's blessed
Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock?
Yet Eolus would not be a murderer,
But left that hateful office unto thee:
The pretty vaulting sea refus'd to drown me;
Knowing, that thou would'st have me drown'd
With tears as salt as sea through thy unkind-
on shore,
[ness:
The splitting rocks cow'rd in the sinking
sands,
[sides;
And would not dash me with their ragged
Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they,
Might in thy palace perish Margaret.
As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs,
When from the shore the tempest beat us back,
I stood upon the hatches in the storm:
And when the dusky sky began to rob
My earnest-gaping sight of thy land's view,
I took a costly jewel from my neck,-
A heart it was, bound in with diamonds,-
And threw it towards thy land;-the sea re-
And so, I wish'd, thy body might my heart:
ceiv'd it;
And even with this, I lost fair England's
view,

And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart;
And call'd them blind and dusky spectacles,
For losing ken of Albion's wished coast.
How often have I tempted Suffolk's tongue
(The agent of thy foul inconstancy,)
To sit and witch me, as Ascanius did,
When he to madding Dido, would unfold
His father's acts, commenc'd in burning Troy?
Am I not witch'd like her? or thou not false
like him?

Ah me, I can no more! Die, Margaret!
For Henry weeps, that thou dost live so long.

Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's
If my suspect be false, forgive me, God; [life!
For judgement only doth belong to thee!
Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips
With twenty thousand kisses, and to drain
Upon his face an ocean of salt tears;
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 thrown
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.

Suf. A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue!

What instance gives lord Warwick for his vow?
War. See, how the blood is settled in his face!
Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,t [less,
Of ashy semblance, meagre, pale, and blood-
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 cheek again.
But, see, his face is black, and full of blood;
His eye-balls farther out than when he liv'd,'
Staring full ghastly like a strangled man:
His hair uprear'd, his nostrils stretch'd with
struggling;

du'd.

His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd And tugg'd for life, and was by strength sub[ing; Look on the sheets, his hair, you see, is stickHis well-proportioned beard made rough and rugged,

Like to the summer's corn by tempest lodg'd.
It cannot be, but he was murder'd here;
The least of all these signs were probable.
Suf. Why, Warwick, who should do the
duke to death?

Myself, and Beaufort, had him in protection;
And we, I hope, Sir, are no murderers.

War. But both of you were vow'd duke Humphrey's foes;

And you, forsooth, had the good duke to keep: "Tis like, you would not feast him like a friend; And 'tis well seen he found an enemy.

Q. Mar. Then you, belike, suspect these noblemen

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, [ter? But will suspect, 'twas he that made the slaughWho finds the partridge in the puttock's nest, But may imagine how the bird was dead, Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak? Even so suspicious is this tragedy.

I.e. I see my life destroyed or endangered by his death. A body become inanimate in the common course of nature; to which violence has not brought a timeless end.

thee,

And I should rob the deathsman of his fee,
Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames,
And that my sovereign's presence makes me
mild,
I would, false murderous coward, on thy knee,
Make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech,
And say-it was thy mother that thou mean'st,
That thou thyself wast born in bastardy:
And, after all this fearful homage done,
Give thee thy hire, and send thy soul to hell,
Pernicious bloodsucker of sleeping men!

Suf. Thou shalt be waking, while I shed thy blood,

If from this presence thou dar'st go with me. War. Away even now, or I will drag thee

hence:

Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee, And do some service to duke Humphrey's ghost.

[Exeunt SUFFOLK and WARWICK. K. Hen. What stronger breast-plate than a heart untainted?

Thrice is he arm'd, that hath his quarrel just; And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel, Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted. [A Noise within.

Q. Mar. What noise is this? Re-enter SUFFOLK und WARWICK, with their Weapons drawn.

K. Hen. Why, how now, lords? your wrathful weapons drawn

Here in our presence? dare you be so bold?— Why, what tumultuous clamour have we here? Suf. The traitorous Warwick, with the men

of Bury,

Set all upon me, mighty sovereign

Noise of a Crowd within. Re-enter SALISbury.
Sal. Sirs, stand apart; the king shall know
your mind.
[Speaking to those within.
Dread lord, the commons send you word by me,
Unless false Suffolk straight be done to death,
Or banished fair England's territories,
They will by violence tear him from your palace,
And torture him with grievous ling'ring death