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'If it be fond, call it a woman's fear; Which fear if better reasons can supplant, I will subscribe and say-I wrong'd the duke. My lord of Suffolk,-Buckingham,—and York,re-Reprove my allegation, if you can;

'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 proach:

* 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.

'Or else conclude my words effectual.

I

Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare: 'Although thou hast been conduct' of thy shame!* Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. 'Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is dis-* charg'd.

'Come, Stanley, shall we go?

'Suff. Well hath your highness seen into this duke;

And, had I first been put to speak my mind,
think, I should have told your grace's tale.
The duchess, by his subornation,

Upon my life, began her devilish practices:
Or if he were not privy to those faults,
Yet, by reputing of his high descent
(As next the king, he was successive heir,)
And such high vaunts of his nobility,

Stan. Madam, your penance, done throw off Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess, this sheet,

'And go we to attire you for our journey.

By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall. Smooth runs the water, where the brook is deep;

'Duch. My shame will not be shifted with my * And in his simple show he harbours treason.

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.

ACT III.

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.

[Exeunt.*

SCENE I.-The Abbey at Bury. 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: 'But meet him now, and, be it in the morn, "When every one will give the time of day, 'He knits his brow, and shows an angry eye, " And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,

Disdaining duty that to us belongs.

Small curs are not regarded, when they grin: 'But great men tremble, when the lion roars; And Humphrey is no little man in England. First, note, that he is near you in descent; And should you fall, he is the next will mount. 'Me seemeth then, it is no policy,—

Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears, And his advantage following your decease,"That he should come about your royal person, 'Or be admitted to your highness' council.

By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts; And when he please to make commotion, Tis to be fear'd, they all will follow him. Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted; 'Suffer them now, and they'll o'ergrow the garden, And choke the herbs for want of husbandry. The reverent care, I bear unto my lord, 'Made me collect these dangers in the duke. (1) For conductor. (2) Wonder. (3) i. e. Assemble by observation.

(4) Foolish.

*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 unknown,

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, Is worthy praise: But shall I speak my conscience? * Our kinsman Gloster is as innocent

From meaning treason to our royal person, *As is the sucking lamb, or harmless dove: The duke is virtuous, mild; and too well given, *To dream on evil, or to work my downfall. *Q. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this fond affiance?

Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd, *For he's disposed as the hateful raven.

Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him, *For he's inclin'd as are the ravenous wolves. Who cannot steal a shape, that means deceit? Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all *Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man. Enter Somerset.

*Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign! K. Hen. Welcome, lord Somerset. What news 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!

York. Cold news for me; for I had hopes of

France,

As firmly as hope for fertile England. *Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, *And caterpillars eat my leaves away:

But I will remedy this gear" ere long, *Or sell my title for a glorious grave. Enter Gloster.

[Aside.

*Glo. All happiness unto my lord the king! Pardon, my liege, that I have staid so long.

(5) i. e. Valuing himself on his high descent. (6) Gear was a general word for things or matters.

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York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes
of France,

And, being protector, stayed the soldiers' pay;
By means whereof, his highness hath lost France.
Glo. Is it but thought so ? What are they that
think it?

'I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay,
'Nor never had one penny bribe from France.
'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!
"No! many a pound of mine own proper store,
Because I would not tax the needy commons,
، Have I dispursed to the garrisons,

'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
protector,

Pity was all the fault that was in me;

* For I should melt at an offender's tears,

* And lowly words were ransom for their fault. Unless it were a bloody murderer,

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, ، Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself. "I do arrest you in his highness' name; And here commit you to my lord cardinal To keep, until your further time of trial.

* Ay, all of you have laid your heads together,
Myself had 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 * Fron 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 clerkly couch'd, As if she had suborned some to swear

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Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his crutch,
Before his legs be firm to bear his 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,

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 ! * That these great lords, and Margaret our queen,

Virtue is choak'd with foul ambition,
And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand;

* Foul subornation is predominant,
And equity exil'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,

* 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 hin 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.
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,
* Too full of foolish pity; and Gloster's show

(1) For easily. (2) For accusation. (3) Dearest. | * Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile

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*With sorrow snares relenting passengers;
*Or as the snake, rolled 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 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.
*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.-

But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suf-
folk,-

*Say, as you think, and speak it from your souls,-
*Were'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. Mar. So the poor chicken should be sure of
death.

'Suff. Madam, 'tis true: And were't not

ness then,

·

*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 employed; '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, mad-Collected choicely, from each county some, And try your hap against the Irishmen? *York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty.

'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.-
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.

*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, 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.

Car. 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.
York. My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days,
At Bristol I expect my soldiers;

'For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.
Suf. I'll see it truly done, my lord of York.
[Exeunt all but York.
"York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful
thoughts,

'And change misdoubt to resolution:

Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thor 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 roval 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

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hearts.

'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me:
'I take it kindly; yet, be well assur'd
'You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands.
Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,
*I will stir up in England some black storm,

(5) It is of no importance. (6) Expeditious.
(7) Far-fetched.

* Shall blow 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 Heary 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?

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1 Mur. 'Tis, my good lord. Suff. Away, be gone! 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,

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K. Hen. What, doth my lord of Suffolk comfort 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 wounding: 'Yet do not go away;-Come, basilisk,

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:

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,

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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; So shall my name with slander's tongue be 'It may be judg'd, I made the duke away:

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, and hide thy face? 'K. Hen. Lords, take your places;-And, II am no loathsome leper, look on me.

If he be guilty, as 'tis published. 'Suff. I'll call him presently, my noble lord.

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.
(3) A Moor in a morris dance.

[Exil.

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:

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bank

*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
'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 caves;
* And bid them blow towards England's blessed
shore,

* 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 wouldst have me drown'd on
shore,

* With tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness:
*The splitting rocks cower'd in the sinking sands,
And would not dash me with their ragged sides;
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-
ceiv'd it;

*And so, I wish'd, thy body might my heart:
*And even with this, I lost fair Engiand's view,
*And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart;
*And call'd them biind 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 watch 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.
Noise within. Enter Warwick and Salisbury.
The Commons press to the door.

'War. It is reported, mighty sovereign,
That good duke Humphrey traitorously is

der'd

'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.

* Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life'
*If my suspect be false, forgive me, God;
*For judgment 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.

Suff. 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,2

Of ashy semblance, incagre, 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 cheek again.
'But, see, his face is black, and full of blood;
His eye-balls further out than when he liv'd,
'Staring full ghastly, like a strangled man:
His hair uprear'd, his nostrils stretch'd with
struggling;

His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd
And tugg'd for life, and was by strength subdu'd.
Look on the sheets, his hair, you see, is sticking;
'His 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; mur-The least of all these signs were probable.

'Suff. 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:

K. Hen. That he is dead, good Warwick, 'tis "Tis like, you would not feast hen like a friend;

too true;

But how he died, God knows, not Henry:

"Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse, And comment then upon his sudden death.

War. That I shall do, my liege:-Stay, Salisbury,

With the rude multitude, till I return.

[Warwick goes into an inner room,
Salisbury retires.

and

K. Hen. O thou that judgest all things, stay my thoughts:

My thoughts, that labour to persuade my soul,

(1) i. e. I see my life destroyed or endangered by nis death.

'And 'tis well seen, he found an enemy.

'Q. Mar. Then you, belike, suspect these noble

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,
But will suspect, 'twas he that made the slaughter?
Who finds the partridge in the puttock's nest,
But may imagine how the bird was dead,
Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak?

(2) A body becomes inanimate in the common course of nature, to which violence has not brought a timeless end.

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