Scene I.

SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI.

Bead. I will, my lord.-Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly.

Simp. Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.

[After the Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps
over the stool, and runs away; and the
people follow, and cry, A miracle!
*K. Hen. O God, seest thou this, and bear'st so
long?

*Q. Mar. It made me laugh, to see the villain

run.

* Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab away *Wife. Alas, sir, we did it for pure need. Glo. Let them be whipped through every market town, till they come to Berwick, whence they [Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, &c. 'Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day. Suff. True; made the lame to leap, and fly

came.

away.

Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter Buckingham.

K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?

'Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold.
• A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,-
Under the countenance and confederacy
Of lady Eleanor, the protector's wife,
The ringleader and head of all this rout,-
• Have practis'd dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches, and with conjurors:
Whom we have apprehended in the fact;
Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
• Demanding of king Henry's life and death,
And other of your highness' privy council,
As more at large your grace shall understand.
Car. And so, my lord protector, by this means
Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's
edge;

"Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
[Aside to Gloster.
• Glo. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my
heart!

*Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers:
* And, vanquish'd as I am, I yield to thee,
*Or to the meanest groom.

*K. Hen. O God, what mischiefs work the

wicked ones;

*Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby! Q. Mar Gloster, see here the tainture of thy

nest;

* And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal,
How I have lov'd my king, and commonweal:
And, for my wife, I know not how it stands;

Sorry I am to hear what I have heard:

'Noble she is; but if she have forgot
'Honour and virtue, and convers'd with such
'As, like to pitch, defile nobility,

'I banish her, my bed, and company;
'And give her, as a prey, to law, and shame,
"That hath dishonour'd Gloster's honest name.
K. Hen. Well, for this night, we will repose
us here:

'To-morrow, toward London, back again,
To look into this business thoroughly,
And call these foul offenders to their answers;
And poise the cause in justice' equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause
prevails.
[Flourish. Exeunt.
(2) Wickedly.

(1) A company.

VOL. 17.

SCENE II.-London. The duke of York's gar
den. Enter York, Salisbury, and Warwick.
York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and
Warwick,

Our simple supper ended, give me leave,
In this close walk, to satisfy myself,
In craving your opinion my title,
Which is infallible, to England's crown.
*Sal. My lord, I long to hear it at full.
War. Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be
good,
The Nevils are thy subjects to command.

York. Then thus:-

Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons:
The first, Edward the Black Prince, prince of
Wales;

The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
Lionel, duke of Clarence; next to whom,

Was John of Gaunt, the duke of Lancaster:
The fifth, was Edmund Langley, duke of York;
The sixth, was Thomas of Woodstock, duke of
Gloster;

William of Windsor was the seventh, and last.
Edward, the Black Prince, died before his father;
And left behind him Richard, his only son,
Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd
as king;

Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster,
The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth,
Seiz'd on the realm; depos'd the rightful king;
Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she

came,

And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know,
Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously.

* War. Father, the duke hath told the truth;
*Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
*York. Which now they hold by force, and not

by right;

For Richard, the first son's heir, being dead, *The issue of the next son should have reign'd. *Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an heir. * York. The third son, duke of Clarence (from whose line

*I claim the crown,) had issue--Philippe, a daughter,

*Who married Edmund Mortimer, earl of March: *Edmund had issue-Roger, earl of March:

Roger had issue-Edmund, Anne, and Eleanor.
'Sal. This Edmund, in the reign of Bolingbroke,
As I have read, laid claim unto the crown;

And, but for Owen Glendower, had been king,
Who kept him in captivity, till he died.
*But, to the rest.

York.

His eldest sister, Anne,
My mother being heir unto the crown,

Married Richard, earl of Cambridge; who was son
To Edmund Langley, Edward the Third's fifth son.

By her I claim the kingdom: she was heir

To Roger, carl of March; who was the son

Of Edmund Mortimer; who married Philippe,

Sole daughter unto Lionel, duke of Clarence:
So, if the issue of the elder son

Succeed before the younger, I am king,
'War. What plain proceedings are more plain

than this?

Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
The fourth son; York claims it from the third.
Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign:
It fails not yet; but flourishes in thee,
And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.-

(3) i. e. Your lady is in custody. (4) Weigh.

Then, father Salisbury, kneel we both together;
And, in this private plot, be we the first,
That shall salute our rightful sovereign
With honour of his birthright to the crown.
Both. Long live our sovereign Richard, England's
king!

York. We thank you, lords. But I am not your
king,

'Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain'd
With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster:
* And that's not suddenly to be perform'd;
* But with advice, and silent secrecy.
*Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days,
*Wink at the duke of Suffolk's insolence,
* At Beaufort's pride, at Somerset's ambition,
*At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
*Till they have snar'd the shepherd of the flock,
* That virtuous prince, the good duke Humphrey
'Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that,
* Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.
*Sal. My lord, break we off; we know your
mind at full.

:

War. My heart assures me, that the earl of
Warwick

Shall one day make the duke of York a king.

York. And, Nevil, this do I assure myself,Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick The greatest man in England but the king. [Exe. SCENE III.-The same. A hall of justice. Trumpets sounded. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, Gloster, York, Suffolk, and Salisbury; the Duchess of Gloster, Margery Jourdain, Southwell, Hume, and Bolingbroke, under guard.

K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham,

Gloster's wife:

"In sight of God, and us, your guilt is great; "Receive the sentence of the law, for sins

*Should be to be protected like a child.-
God and king Henry govern England's helm:
Give up your staff, sir, and the king his realm.
'Glo. My staff?-here, noble Henry, is my staff:
As willingly do I the same resign,

As ere thy father Henry made it mine;
And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it,
As others would ambitiously receive it.
Farewell, good king: When I am dead and gone,
Exit.
May honourable peace attend thy throne!
*Q. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Mar-

garet queen;

And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, *That bears so shrewd a maim; two pulls at once,*His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off; *This staff of honour raught :3--There let it stand, Where it best fits to be, in Henry's hand.

* Suff. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays;

*Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days.
⚫ York. Lords, let him go.-Please it your ma
jesty,

This is the day appointed for the combat;
And ready are the appellant and defendant,
The armourer and his man, to enter the lists,
So please your highness to behold the fight.
*Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely

therefore

*Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.
'K. Hen. O' God's name, see the lists and all
things fit;

Here let them end it, and God defend the right!
*York. I never saw a fellow worse bested,
*Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant,
*The servant of this armourer, my lords.
Enter on one side, Horner, and his Neighbours,
drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and
he enters bearing his staff with a sand-bag fas-
tened to it; a drum before him; at the other
side, Peter, with a drum and a similar staff;
accompanied by Prentices drinking to him.

Such as by God's book are adjudg'd to death.*You four, from hence to prison back again; [To Jourd. &c. * From thence, unto the place of execution: *The witch in Smithfield shall be burn'd to ashes, * And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.—you shall do well enough. 'You, madam, for you are more nobly born, 'Despoiled of your honour in your life,

1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; And fear not, neighbour,

Shall, after three days' open penance done,
Live in your country here, in banishment,
With sir John Stanley, in the Isle of Man.
'Duch. Welcome is banishment, welcome were
my death.

* Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged
thee;

*I cannot justify whom the law condemns.-
[Exeunt the Duchess, and the other prisoners,
guarded.

Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief.
Ah, Humphrey, this dishonour in thine age

2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco.5

3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man.

Hor. Let it come, i'faith, and I'll pledge you all; And a fig for Peter!

1 Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid.

2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master; fight for credit of the prentices.

Peter. I thank you all: * drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for, I think, I have taken my last *draught in this world.*-Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have

Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground!-my hammer:-and here, Tom, take all the money 'I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; 'Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease.2 'K. Hen. Stay, Humphrey duke of Gloster: ere

thou go, 'Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself

Protector be: and God shall be my hope,
My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet;
And go in peace, Humphrey; no less belov'd,
Than when thou wert protector to thy king.
*Q. Mar. I see no reason, why a king of years

that I have.-O Lord, bless me, I pray God! for I
am never able to deal with my master, he hath
learnt so much fence already.

Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows.
-Sirrah, what's thy name?
Peter Peter, forsooth.
Sal. Peter! what more?
Peter. Thump.

Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave,

(3) Reached. (4) In a worse plight. (5) A sort of sweet wine.

and myself an honest man : * and touching the || And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice * duke of York,-will take my death, I never* To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet7 groans. meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet; *And, therefore, Peter, have at thee with a down-And, when I start, the envious people laugh, right blow, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon And bid me be advised how I tread. Ascapart.

* York. Despatch:-this knave's tongue begins
to double.

* Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants.
[Alarum. They fight, and Peter strikes
down his master.

treason.

Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess [Dies. * York. Take away his weapon :- -Fellow, * thank God, and the good wine in thy master's

way.

Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in ' right!

K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;
For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt:
And God, in justice, hath reveal'd to us
The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
Which he had thought to have murder'd
fully.-

Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
Trow'st thou, that e'er I'll look upon the world;
*Or count them happy, that enjoy the sun?
*No; dark shall be my light, and night my day;
To think upon my pomp, shall be my hell.
Sometime I'll say, am duke Humphrey's wife;
And he a prince, and ruler of the land:
Yet so he rul'd, and such a prince he was,
As he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
Was made a wonder, and a pointing-stock,
To every idle rascal follower.
But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame;
Nor stir at nothing, till the axe of death
Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will.
For Suffolk, he that can do all in all

With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all,-
And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings,
wrong-And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee:
But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd,
Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV-The same. A street. Enter
Gloster and Servants, in mourning cloaks.
*Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day
a cloud;

* And, after summer, evermore succeeds
* Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:
*So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.2
Sirs, what's o'clock ?

Serv.

Ten, my lord.

Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me,
To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess
Uneath3 may she endure the flinty streets,
To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook
The abject people, gazing on thy face,
With envious looks, still laughing at thy shame;
That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels,
When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
* But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare
My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.
Enter the Duchess of Gloster, in a white sheet,
with papers pinned upon her back, her feet
bare, and a taper burning in her hand; Sir
John Stanley, a Sheriff, and Officers.

Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from
the sheriff.

'Glo. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by.
Duch. Come you, my lord, to see my open
shame?

Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they gaze!
See, how the giddy multitude do point,

And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee!
Ah, Gloster, hide thee from their hateful looks;
And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,
And bans thine enemies, both mine and thine.

Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
Duch. Ah, Gloster, teach me to forget myself:
For, whilst I think I am thy married wife,
And thou a prince, protector of this land,
'Methinks, I should not thus be led along,
Mail'd up in shame,6 with papers on my back;

(1) The death of the vanquished person was
always regarded as certain evidence of his guilt.
(2) Change. (3) Not easily. (4) Malicious.
(5) Curse.

* Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; *I must offend, before I be attainted: *And had I twenty times so many foes, *And each of them had twenty times their power, *All these could not procure me any scathe,8 *So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.

Would'st have me rescue thee from this reproach?
Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away,
But I in danger for the breach of law.
Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell:
I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a Herald.

Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there.

[Exit Herald.

My Nell, I take my leave:--and, master sheriff,
Let not her penance exceed the king's commission.
Sher. An't please your grace, here my com-

mission stays:

And sir John Stanley is appointed now
To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
'Glo. Must you, sir John, protect my lady here?
'Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please

your grace.

Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray
You use her well: the world may laugh again;9
And I may live to do you kindness, if
You do it her. And so, sir John, farewell.

Duch. What gone, my lord; and bid me not
farewell?

'Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. [Exeunt Gloster and Servants. 'Duch. Art thou gone too? * All comfort go with

thee!

*For none abides with me: my joy is-death; *Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard, *Because I wish'd this world's eternity.

Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me hence;

(6) Wrapped up in disgrace; alluding to the sheet of penance. (7) Deep-fetched. (8) Harm, mischief. (9) i. e. The world may look again favourably

on me.

'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 re-
proach:

* And shall I then be us'd reproachfully?

* Stan. Like to a duchess and duke Humphrey's lady,

'If it be fond,4 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,-
Reprove my allegation, if you can;

Or else conclude my words effectual.

Suff. Well hath your highness seen into this duke;

And, had I first been put to speak my mind,
I 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,

*According to that state you shall be used.
'Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare:
'Although thou hast been conduct of my shame!
Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.
'Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is dis-* Yet, by reputing of his high descents

charg'd.

'Come, Stanley, shall we go?

Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,

And go we to attire you for our journey.

*(As next the king, he was successive heir,)
* And such high vaunts of his nobility,

* Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess,
*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:

"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.

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.

* 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

bave 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 I 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.

(3) i. e. Assemble by observation. (4) Foolish.(6) Gear was a general word for things or matters.

Suff. Nay, Gloster, know, that thou art come

too soon,

Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art: I do arrest thee of high treason here.

Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me blush,

Nor change my countenance for this arrest;
* A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.

* The purest spring is not so free from mud,
*As I am clear from treason to my sovereign:
Who can accuse me? wherein am I guilty?

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.

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 chok'd with foul ambition, *And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand; * Foul subornation is predominant, And equity exíl'd your highness' land. I know, their complot is to have my life;

By false accuse2 doth level at my life:
And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest,
Causeless have laid disgraces on my head;
*And, with your best endeavour, have stirr'd up
My liefest liege to be mine enemy :—

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 *From treason's secret knife, and traitor's rage, *Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at,

And the oilender 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

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 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,

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;

And, if my death might make this island happy,* Even so, remorseless, have they borne him hence.

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,
(1) For easily. (2) For accusation. (3) Dearest.

*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 dimni'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
Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile