'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, Upon my life, began her devilish practices: 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. York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes And, being protector, stayed 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. Why, 'tis well known, that whiles I was 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, 'I shall not want false witness to condemn me, *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 Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his crutch, ، Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side, [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; K. Hen. My lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope,* Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous ! * That these great lords, and Margaret our queen, Virtue is choak'd with foul ambition, * Foul subornation is predominant, I would expend it with all willingness: 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? * And as the butcher takes away the calf, * And binds the wretch, and beats it when it strays, * Even so, remorseless, have they borne hin hence. * So mighty are his vowed enemies. * Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, (1) For easily. (2) For accusation. (3) Dearest. | * Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile *With sorrow snares relenting passengers; *Car. That he should die, is worthy policy; 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,- As place duke Humphrey for the king's protector? '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, *If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with: 'Som. And, in the number, thee, that wishest '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? *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, 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, 'For there I'll ship them all for Ireland. '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 hearts. 'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me: (5) It is of no importance. (6) Expeditious. * 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? 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, 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, : 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; 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. [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: bank *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; * Knowing, that thou wouldst have me drown'd on * With tears as salt as sea, through thy unkindness: As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs, *And so, I wish'd, thy body might my heart: For losing ken of Albion's wished coast. When he to madding Dido would unfold * Ah me, I can no more! Die, Margaret! 'War. It is reported, mighty sovereign, der'd 'By Suffolk and the cardinal Beaufort's means. * Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life' To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk, The folding-doors of an inner chamber are thrown *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, 'To blush and beautify the cheek again. His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd '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, 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, (2) A body becomes inanimate in the common course of nature, to which violence has not brought a timeless end. |