Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls. [Servants knock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who is there that knocks so imperiously? 1 Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster. 2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in. 1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villains? 1 Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so we answer him: We do no otherwise than we are will'd. Glo. Who willed you? or whose will stands but mine? There's none protector of the realm, but I.- Servants rush at the Tower gates. Enter, to the gates, Woodville, the lieutenant. Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what traitors have we here? Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter. Wood. [Within.] Have patience, noble duke : may not open; The cardinal of Winchester forbids: From him I have express commandment, Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me? Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook? Thou art no friend to God, or to the king: 1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly. (1) Break open. Enter Winchester, attended by a train of servants, in tawny-coats. Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey? what means this? Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,2 And not protector of the king, or realm. Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator; Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord; Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin: I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, If thou proceed in this thy insolence. Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot; This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back: Win. Do what thou dar'st; I beard thee to thy face. Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face? Draw, men, for all this privileged place; beard; [Gloster and his men attack the bishop. I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly: Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat; In spite of pope or dignities of church, Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope. Glo. Winchester goose,4 I cry-a rope! a rope!Now beat them hence, why do you let them stay?Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.— (1) Alluding to his shaven crown. (2) Traitor. (3) Sift. (4) A strumpet. Out, tawney-coats!-out, scarlet hypocrite! May. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme ma- Thus contumeliously should break the peace! wrongs: Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens; Because he is protector of the realm; And would have armour here out of the Tower, To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but blows. [Here they skirmish again. May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous strife, But to make open proclamation: Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst. Off. All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day, against God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in his highness' name, to repair to your several dwelling-places; and not to wear, handle, or use, any sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death. Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be sure: Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. (1) An allusion to the bishop's habit. (2) That is, for peace-officers armed with clubs or staves. This cardinal is more haughty than the devil. Glo. Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou may'st. Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; For I intend to have it, ere long. [Exeunt. May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will depart. Good God! that nobles should such stomachs! bear! I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-France. Before Orleans. Enter on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Son. M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is besieg'd; And how the English have the suburbs won. M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou rul'd by me : Chief master-gunner am I of this town; How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd, And thence discover, how, with most advantage, A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd; If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word; (1) Pride. (2) Favour. (3) Spies. Enter, in an upper chamber of a tower, the Lords Salisbury and Talbot, Sir William Glansdale, Sir Thomas Gargrave, and others. Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd! Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner, Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me: desir'd. But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart! Sal. Yet tell'st thou not, how thou wert entertain'd. Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts. In open market-place produc'd they me, Here, said they, is the terror of the French, My grisly countenance made others fly; So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread, (1) So stripped of honours. |