Dies

  HORNER    Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.

  YORK    Take away his weapon.— Fellow, thank God, and

  the good wine in thy master’s way93.

  PETER    O God, have I overcome mine enemies in this

  presence95? O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right.

  KING HENRY VI    Go, take hence that traitor from our sight,

  For by his death we do perceive his guilt,

  And God in justice hath revealed to us

  The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,

  Which he100 had thought to have murdered wrongfully.

  Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.

  Sound a flourish. Exeunt

  [Act 2 Scene 4]

  running scene 8

  Enter Duke Humphrey [Gloucester] and his Men in mourning cloaks

  GLOUCESTER    Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud:

  And after summer evermore succeeds2

  Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:

  So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet4.

  Sirs, what’s o’clock?

  SERVANT    Ten, my lord.

  GLOUCESTER    Ten is the hour that was appointed me

  To watch the coming of my punished duchess:

  Uneath may she endure the flinty9 streets,

  To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.

  Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook11

  The abject12 people gazing on thy face,

  With envious13 looks laughing at thy shame,

  That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels

  When thou didst ride in triumph14 through the streets.

  But soft, I think she comes: and I’ll prepare

  My tear-stained eyes to see her miseries.

  Enter the Duchess [Eleanor barefoot] in a white sheet, [with verses pinned on her back] and a taper burning in her hand, with [Sir John Stanley,] the Sheriff and Officers

  SERVANT    So please your grace, we’ll take her from the sheriff.

  GLOUCESTER    No, stir not for your lives, let her pass by.

  ELEANOR    Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?

  Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze,

  See how the giddy22 multitude do point,

  And nod their heads, and throw23 their eyes on thee.

  Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful24 looks,

  And, in thy closet pent up, rue25 my shame,

  And ban26 thine enemies, both mine and thine.

  GLOUCESTER    Be patient, gentle Nell: forget this grief.

  ELEANOR    Ah, Gloucester, 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,

  Mailed up32 in shame, with papers on my back,

  And followed with a rabble that rejoice

  To see my tears and hear my deep-fet34 groans.

  The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,

  And when I start36, the envious people laugh

  And bid me be advisèd37 how I tread.

  Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?

  Trowest thou39 that e’er I’ll look upon the world,

  Or count them happy that enjoys the sun?

  No: dark shall be my light, and night my day.

  To think upon my pomp42 shall be my hell.

  Sometime I’ll say, I am Duke Humphrey’s wife,

  And he a prince and ruler of the land:

  Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was,

  As46 he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess,

  Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock47

  To every idle rascal48 follower.

  But be thou mild49 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 her53 that hateth thee and hates us all,

  And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,

  Have all limed55 bushes to betray thy wings,

  And fly thou how thou canst56, they’ll tangle thee.

  But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,

  Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

  GLOUCESTER    Ah, Nell, forbear: thou aimest all awry59.

  I must offend before I be attainted60:

  And had I twenty times so many foes,

  And each of them had twenty times their power,

  All these could not procure me any scathe63,

  So long as I am loyal, true and crimeless.

  Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?

  Why yet thy scandal were not66 wiped away

  But I in danger for the breach of law.

  Thy greatest help is quiet68, gentle Nell:

  I pray thee sort69 thy heart to patience,

  These few days’ wonder will be quickly worn70.

  Enter a Herald

  HERALD    I summon your grace to his majesty’s parliament,

  Holden at Bury72 the first of this next month.

  GLOUCESTER    And my consent ne’er asked herein before?

  This is close dealing74. Well, I will be there.—

  [Exit Herald]

  My Nell, I take my leave: and, Master Sheriff,

  Let not her penance exceed the king’s commission76.

  SHERIFF    An’t please your grace, here my commission stays77,

  And Sir John Stanley is appointed now

  To take her with him to the Isle of Man.

  GLOUCESTER    Must you, Sir John, protect80 my lady here?

  STANLEY    So am I given in charge, may’t please your grace.

  GLOUCESTER    Entreat82 her not the worse in that I pray

  You use her well: the world may laugh again,

  And I may live to do you kindness if

  He begins to leave

  You do it her. And so, Sir John, farewell.

  ELEANOR    What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell?

  GLOUCESTER    Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.

  Exeunt Gloucester [and his Men]

  ELEANOR    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 afeared90,

  Because I wished this world’s eternity91.

  Stanley, I prithee go, and take me hence:

  I care not whither, for I beg no favour,

  Only convey me where thou art commanded.

  STANLEY    Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man,

  There to be used according to your state96.

  ELEANOR    That’s bad enough, for I am but reproach97:

  And shall I then be used reproachfully?

  STANLEY    Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey’s lady:

  According to that state you shall be used.

  ELEANOR    Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare101,

  Although thou hast been conduct102 of my shame.

  SHERIFF    It is my office103; and, madam, pardon me.

  ELEANOR    Ay, ay, farewell, thy office is discharged104:

  Come, Stanley, shall we go?

  STANLEY    Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,

  And go we to attire107 you for our journey.

  ELEANOR    My shame will not be shifted108 with my 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.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 1]

  running scene 9

  Sound a sennet. Enter King [Henry VI], Queen [Margaret], Cardinal, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury and Warwick to the parliament [with Attendants]

  KING HENRY VI    I muse1 my lord of Gloucester is not come:

  ’Tis not his wont to be the hindmost2 man,

  Whate’er occasion keeps him from us now.

  QUEEN MARGARET    Can you not see? Or will ye not observe

  The strangeness5 of his altered countenance?

  With what a majesty he bears himself,

  How insolent7 of late he is become,

  How proud, how peremptory8, and unlike himself?

  We know the time since9 he was mild and affable,

  And if we did but glance a far-off10 look,

  Immediately he was upon his knee,

  That all the court admired him for12 submission.

  But meet him now, and be it in the morn,

  When everyone will give the time of day14,

  He knits his brow15 and shows an angry eye,

  And passeth by with stiff unbowèd knee16,

  Disdaining duty17 that to us belongs.

  Small curs are not regarded when they grin18,

  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.

  Meseemeth then it is no policy23,

  Respecting what a rancorous24 mind he bears,

  And his advantage following your decease,

  That he should come about26 your royal person

  Or be admitted to your highness’ Council.

  By flattery hath he won the commons’ hearts:

  And when he please to make commotion29,

  ’Tis to be feared they all will follow him.

  Now ’tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted31:

  Suffer32 them now, and they’ll o’ergrow the garden

  And choke the herbs for want of husbandry33.

  The reverent care I bear unto my lord

  Made me collect35 these dangers in the duke.

  If it be fond36, call it a woman’s fear:

  Which fear, if better reasons can supplant37,

  I will subscribe38 and say I wronged the duke.

  My lord of Suffolk, Buckingham and York,

  Reprove40 my allegation, if you can,

  Or else conclude my words effectual41.

  SUFFOLK    Well hath your highness seen into this duke:

  And had I first been put43 to speak my mind,

  I think I should have told your grace’s tale.

  The duchess, by his subornation45,

  Upon my life, began her devilish practices46:

  Or if he were not privy to47 those faults,

  Yet by reputing48 of his high descent,

  As next the49 king he was successive heir,

  And such high vaunts50 of his nobility,

  Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick51 duchess

  By wicked means to frame52 our sovereign’s fall.

  Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep:

  And in his simple show54 he harbours treason.

  The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb.—

  To King Henry

  No, no, my sovereign, Gloucester is a man.

  Unsounded57 yet and full of deep deceit.

  To King Henry

  CARDINAL    Did he not, contrary to form of law,

  Devise strange59 deaths for small offences done?

  To King Henry

  YORK    And did he not, in his Protectorship,

  Levy61 great sums of money through the realm

  For soldiers’ pay in France, and never sent it,

  By means whereof63 the towns each day revolted?

  BUCKINGHAM    Tut, these are petty faults to64 faults unknown,

  Which time will bring to light in smooth65 Duke Humphrey.

  KING HENRY VI    My lords, at once66: the care you have of us

  To mow down thorns that would annoy67 our foot

  Is worthy praise: but shall I68 speak my conscience,

  Our kinsman Gloucester 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 given72

  To dream on evil or to work my downfall.

  QUEEN MARGARET    Ah, what’s more dangerous than this fond affiance74?

  Seems he a dove? His feathers are but borrowed,

  For he’s disposèd as76 the hateful raven.

  Is he a lamb? His skin is surely lent him,

  For he’s inclined as is the ravenous wolves78.

  Who cannot steal a shape that means79 deceit?

  Take heed, my lord, the welfare of us all

  Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful81 man.

  Enter Somerset

  SOMERSET    All health unto my gracious sovereign.

  KING HENRY VI    Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France?

  SOMERSET    That all your interest84 in those territories

  Is utterly bereft85 you: all is lost.

  KING HENRY VI    Cold news, Lord Somerset: but God’s will be done.

  Aside

  YORK    Cold news for me: for I had hope of France.

  As firmly as I hope for fertile England.

  Thus are my blossoms blasted89 in the bud

  And caterpillars eat my leaves away:

  But I will remedy this gear91 ere long,

  Or sell my title for a glorious grave.

  Enter Gloucester

  GLOUCESTER    All happiness unto my lord the king:

  Pardon, my liege, that I have stayed94 so long.

  SUFFOLK    Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon,

  Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art:

  I do arrest thee of high treason here.

  GLOUCESTER    Well, Suffolk, 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 of104 France,

  And, being Protector, stayed105 the soldiers’ pay,

  By means whereof his highness hath lost France.

  GLOUCESTER    Is it but thought so? What107 are they that think it?

  I never robbed the soldiers of their pay,

  Nor ever had one penny bribe from France.

  So help me God, as I have watched the night110,

  Ay, night by night, in studying111 good for England,

  That doit112 that e’er I wrested from the king,

  Or any groat113 I hoarded to my use,

  Be brought against me at my trial day!

  No: many a pound of mine own proper store115,

  Because I would not tax the needy commons,

  Have I disbursèd117 to the garrisons,

  And never asked for restitution.

  CARDINAL    It serves you well, my lord, to say so much.

  GLOUCESTER    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 defamed by123 tyranny.

  GLOUCESTER    Why, ’tis well known that whiles124 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 fault127:

  Unless it were a bloody murderer,

  Or foul felonious thief that fleeced poor passengers129,

  I never gave them condign130 punishment.

  Murder indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured

  Above the felon or what trespass else132.

  SUFFOLK    My lord, these faults are easy133, quickly answered:

  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 further138 time of trial.

  KING HENRY VI    My lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope

  That you will clear yourself from all suspense140:

  My conscience tells me you are innocent.

  GLOUCESTER    Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous:

  Virtue is choked with foul ambition

  And charity chased hence by rancour’s hand:

  Foul subornation145 is predominant

  And equity146 exiled your highness’ land.

  I know their complot147 is to have my life:

  And if my death might make this island happy,

  And prove the period149 of their tyranny,

  I would expend it150 with all willingness.

  But mine151 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 blab154 his heart’s malice,

  And Suffolk’s cloudy brow his stormy hate:

  Sharp156 Buckingham unburdens with his tongue

  The envious157 load that lies upon his heart: