And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee: With what a majesty he bears himself ;
But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd,

How insolent of late he is become,
Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

Flow proud, peremptory, and unlike himself?
Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear ; thou aimest all awry; We know the time, since he was mild and affable ;
I must offend, before I be attainted :

And, if we did but glance a far-off look,
And had I twenty times so many foes,

Immediately he was upon his knee,
And each of them had twenty times their power, That all the court admir'd him for submission:
All these could not procure me any scathe, But meet him now, and, be it in the moro,
So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless. When every one will give the time of day,
Would’st have me rescue thee from this reproach? He knits his brow, and shows an angry eye,
Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away, And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,
But I in danger for the breach of law.

Disdaiving duty that to us belongs.
Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell:

Small curs are not regarded when they grin;
I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;

But great men tremble when the lion roars;
These few days' wonder will be quickly worn. And Humphrey is no little man in England.
Enter a Herald.

First, note, that he is near you in descent;
Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parlia- Aud should you fall, he is the next will mount.
ment, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Me seemeth then, it is no policy,
Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears,
This is close dealing.-- Well, I will be there. And his advantage following your decease,

[Exit Herald. That he should come about your royal person,
My Nell, I take my leave:— and, master sherill, Or be admitted to your highness' council.
Let not her penance exceed the king's commission. By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts ;
Sher. An't please your grace, here my commission And, when he please to make commotion,
stays :

"Tis to be fear'd, they all will follow him. And sir John Stanley is appointed now

Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted ;
To take her with him to the isle of Man.

Suffer them now, and they'll o'ergrow the garden,
Glo. Must you, sir John, protect my lady here? And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.
Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please your The reverent care, I bear unto my lord,
grace.

Made me collect these dangers in the duke.
Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray

If it be fond, call it a woman's fear;
You use her well: the world may laugh again;

Which fear if better reasons can supplant,
And I
may live to do you kindness, if

I will subscribe and say I wrong'd the duke.
You do it her. And so, sir Joho, farewell!

My lord of Suffolk, — Buckingham — and York, -
Duch. What, goue, my lord; and bid menot farewell? Reprove my allegation, if you can;
Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. Or else conclude my words ellectual.

[Exeunt Gloster and Servants. Suf. Well hath your highness seen into this duke;
Duch. Art thou gone too? All comfort go with thee! And, had I first been put to speak my mind,
For none abides with me; my joy is-death; I think, I should have told your grace's tale.
Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd, The duchess, by his subornation,
Because I wish'd this world's eternity: -

Upon my life, began her devilish practices;
Stanley, I pr’ythee go, and take me hence; Or if he were not privy to those faults,
I care not whither, for I beg no favour,

Yet, by reputing of his high descent,
Only convey me where thou art commanded. (As next the king, he was successive heir,)
Stan. Why, madam, that is to the isle of Man ; And such high vaunts of his nobility,
There to be us’d according to your state.

Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess,
Duch. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall.
And shall I then be used reproachfully?

Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep;
Stan. Like to a duchess, and duke Humphrey's lady, And in his simple show he harbours treason.
According to that state you shall be used.

The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb.
Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare; No, no, my sovereign; Gloster is a man
Although thou hast been conduct of my shame! Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me! Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law,
Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharg’d.- Devise strange deaths for small offences done?
Cơme, Stanley, shall we go?

York. And did he not, in his protectorship,
Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, Levy great sums of money throngh the realni,
And go we to attire you for our journey.

For soldiers' pay in France, and never sent it? Duch, My shame will not be shifted with my sheet : By means whereof, the towns each day revolted. No, it will haug upon my richest robes,

Buck. Tut! these are petty faults to faults unknown, And show itself, attire me how I can.

Which time will bring to light in smooth duke HumGo, lead the way; I long to see my prison. (Exeunt. phrey.

K. Hen. My lords, at once : The care you have of ns,

To mow down thorns tha: would annoy our foot, A C T III.

Is worthy praise. But shall I speak my conscience?
SCENE I. - The Abbey at Bury.

Our kinsman Gloster is as innocent
Enter, to the Parliament, King Herry, Queen from meaning treason to our royal person,

Margaret, Cardinal BeauFORT, Suffolk', York, As is the sucking lamb, or harmless dove:
BUCKINGHAM, and Others.

The duke is virtuous, mild; and too well given,
K. Hen. I muse, my lord of Gloster is not come: To dream on evil, or to work my downfall.
'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man,

Q. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this fond Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now.

affiance ! Q. Mar. Can you not see? or will you not observe Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd, The strangeness of his alter'd countenance? For he's disposed as the hateful raven.

Is he a lamb? his skin is sorely lent him,

And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand;
For he's inclin'd as are the ravenous wolves. Foul subornation is predominant,
Who cannot steal a shape, that means deceit? And equity exil'd your highness' land.
Take heed, my lord; the welfare of us all

I know, their complot is to have my life;
Haugs on the cutting short that fraudful man, And, if my death might make this island happy,
Enter SOMERSET.

And prove the period of their tyranny,
Son. All lealth unto my gracious sovereign! I would expend it with all willingness :
K. Hen. Welcome, lord Somerset. What news But mine is made the prologte to their play;
from France?

For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril,
Som. That all your interest in those territories Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
Is utterly berest you; all is lost,

Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blub his heart's malice,
K. Hen. Cold news, lord Somerset: but God's will be And Sufiolk's cloudy brow his stormy hate;
done!

Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue
York. Cold news for me: for I had hope of France, The envious load that lies upon his heart;
As firmly as I hope for fertile England.

And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,
Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud,

Whose overweening arm I have pluck'd back,
And caterpillars eat my leaves away:

By false accuse doth level at my life: -
But I will remedy this gear ere long,

And you, my sovereigu lady, with the rest,
Or sell my title for a glorious grave. [Aside. Causeless have laid disgraces on my head;
Enter GLOSTER.

And, with your best endeavour, have stirr'd op
Glo. All happiness unto my lord the king ! My liefest liege to be mine enemy :-
Pardon, my liege, that I have staid so long. Ay, all of you have laid your heads together,
Suf. Nay, Gloster, know, that thou art come to soon, Myself had notice of your conventicles,
Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art:

I shall not want false witness to condemn me,
I do arrest thee of high treason here,

Nor store of treasons to augment iny guilt;
Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me blush, The ancient proverb will be well atlected,
Nor change my countenance for this arrest; A statl' is quickly found to beat a dog.
A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.

Car. My liege, his railing is intolerable:
The purest spring is not so free from mud, If those, that care to keep your royal person
As I am clear from treason to my sovereign: From treason's secret knife, and traitors' rage,
Who can accuse me? wherein am I guilty ? Be thus upbraided, chid, and rated at,
York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of And the offender granted scope of speech,
France,

"Twill make them cool in zeal unto your grace.
And, being protector, stay'd the soldiers' pay; Suf. Hath he not twit our sovereign lady hers
By means whereof, his lighness hath lost France. With ignominious words, though clerkly couch'd,

Glo. Is it but thought so? what are they that think it? As if she had suborned some to swear
I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay,

False allegations, to o'erthrow his state?
Nor ever had one penny bribe from France. Q. Mar. But I can give the loser leave to chide.
So help me God, as I have watch'd the night, – Glo. Far truer spoke, tlan meant: Ilose, indeed;-
Ay, night by night,--in studying good for England! Beshrew the winners; for they play'd me false!
That doit, that e'er I wrested from the king, And well such losers may have leave to speak.
Or any groat I hoarded to my use,

Buck.He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all day:-
Be brought against me at my trial day!

Lord cardival, he is your prisoner,
No! many a pound of mine own proper store, Car. Sirs, take away the duke, and guard him sure.
Because I would not tax the needy commons, Glo. Ah, thus king Henry throws away his crutch,
Have I dispersed to the garrisons,

Before his legs be firm to bear his body:
And never ask'd for restitution.

Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side,
Car. It serves you well, my Lord, to say so much. And wolves are gnarling who shall goaw thee first

.
Glo. I say no more than truth, so help me God! Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were !

York. In your protectorship, you did devise For, good king Henry, thy decay I fear.
Strange tortures for oilenders, never heard of,

(Exeunt Attendants, with Gloster.
That England was defam'd by tyranny.

K.Hen. Mylords, what to your wisdom seemeth best,
Glo. Why, 'tis well known, that, whiles I was pro- Do, or ondo, as if ourself' were here.
tector,

Q. Mar. What, will your highness leave the parlia-
Pity was all the fault that was in me;

ment?
For I should melt at an ollender's tears,

K. llen. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with
And lowly words were ransom for their fandt.

griet,
Unless it were a bloody murderer,

Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes;
Or foul felonious thief, that fleec'd poor passengers, My body round engirt with misery;
I never gave them cóudign punishment;

For what's more miserable than discontent?-
Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd Ah, uncle Humphrey! in thy face I see
Above the felon, or what trespass else.

The map of honour, truth, and loyalty;
Suf. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answer’d: And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come,
But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge, That e'er 1 prov'd thee false, or feard thy faith.
Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself. What low'ring star now envies thy estate,
I do arrest you in his bighoess' name;

That these great lords, and Margaret our queen,
And here commit you to my lord cardinal Do seek subversion of thy harmless life?
To keep, until your further time of trial.

Thou never didst them wrong,nor no man wrong:
K. Hen. My lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope, | And as the butcher takes away the calf,
That you will clear yourself from all suspects; And binds the wretch, and beats it when it strays,
My conscience tells me you are innocent.

Bearing it to the bloody slanghter-house;
Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous ! Even 80, remorseless, have they borne him hence.
Virtue is chok'd with foul anbition,

And as the dam rans lowing up and down,

Looking the way her harmless young one went, Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime,
And can do nought but wail her darling's loss; Before the wound do grow incurable;
Even so myself bewails good Gloster's case For, being green, there is great hope of help.
With sad unhelpful tears; and with dimm'd eyes Car. A breach, that craves a quick expedient stop!
Look after him, and cannot do him good;

What counsel give you in this weighty cause?
So mighty are his vowed enemies.

York. That Somerset be sent as regent thither :
His fortunes I will weep; and, 'twixt each groan, 'Tis meet, that lucky ruler be employ’d;
Say – Who's a traitor? Gloster he is none. (Exit. Witness the fortune he hath had in France.
e. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun's Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy,
hot beams.

Had been the regent there instead of me,
Henry my lord is cold in great affairs,

He never would have staid in France so long.
Too full of foolish pity: and Gloster's show York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done:
Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile

I rather would have lost my life betimes,
With sorrow snares relenting passengers;

Than bring a burden of dishonour home,
Or as the snake, roll'd in a flowering bank,

By staying there so long, till all were lost.
With shining chequer'd slough, doth sting a child, show me one scar character'd on thy skin :
That, for the beauty, thinks it excellent.

Men's flesh preserv'd so whole, do seldom win.
Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I, Q. Mar. Nay then, this spark will prove a raging fire,
(And yet, herein, I judge mine own wit good,) If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with :-
This Gloster should be quickly rid the world, No more, good York; sweet Somerset, be still;
To rid us from the fear we have of him.

Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there,
Car. That he should die is worthy policy; Might happily have prov'd far worse than his.
But yet we want a colour for his death:

York. What, worse than naught? nay, then a shame 'Tis meet he be condemn'd by course of law.

take all ! Suf. But, in my mind, that were no policy: Som. And, in the number, thee, that wislıest shame. The king will labour still to save his life,

Car. My lord of York, try what your fortune is.
The commons haply rise to save his life;

The uncivil Kernes of Ireland are in arms,
And yet we have but trivial argument,

And temper clay with blood of Englishmen:
More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death. To !reland will you lead a band of men,

York. So that by this, ynu would not have him die. Collected choicely, from each county some,
Suf. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as J.

And try your hap against the Irishmen?
York. Tis York, that hath more reason for his York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty.
death.-

Suf. Why, our authority is his consent;
But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk,- And, what we do establish, he confirms :
Say as you think, and speak it from your souls, – Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand.
Were't not all one, an empty eagle were set York. I am content. Provide me soldiers, lords,
To guard the chicken from a hungry kite,

Whiles I take order for mine own atlairs.
As place duke Slumphrey for the king's protector? Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will see perform’d.

Q. Mar. So the poor chicken should be sure of death. But now return we to the false duke Humphrey
Suf.Madam, 'tis true: and were't not madness, then, Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him,
To make the fox surveyor of the fold?

That, henceforth, he shall trouble us no more.
Who being accus'd a crafty murderer,

And so break ofl'; the day is almost spent:
His guilt should be but idly posted over,

Lord Sullolk, you and I must talk of that event.
Because his purpose is not executed.

York. My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days,
No; let him die, in that he is a fox,

At Bristol I expect my soldiers;
By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock,

For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.
Before his chaps be stain’d with crimson blood; Sus, I'll see it truly done, my lord of York.
As Humphrey, prov'd by reasons, to my liege.

(Lxeunt all but York. And do not stand on quillets, how to slay him: York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts, Be it by gins, by snares, by subtilty,

And change misdoubt to resolution:
Sleeping, or waking, 'tis no matter how,

Be that thou hop'st to be: or what thou art
So he be dead; for that is good deceit

Resign to death, it is not worth the enjoying :
Which mates him first, that first intends deceit. Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man,

Q. Mar. Thrice noble Sull'olk, 'tis resolutely spoke. And find no harbour in a royal heart.
Suf. Not resolute, except so much were done; Faster than spring-time showers, comes thought ou
For things are often spoke, and seldom meant: thought;
But, that my heart accordeth with my tongue, - And not a thought, but thinks on dignity.
Seeing the deed is meritorious,

My brain, more busy than the labouring spider,
And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,-- Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies.
Say but the word, and I will be his priest.

Well, nobles, well, 'tis politicly done,
Car. But I would have him dead, my lord of Suffolk, To send me packing with an host of men:
Ere you can take duke orders for a priest:

I fear me, you but warm the starved snake,
Say, you consent, and censure well the deed, Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your hearts.
And I'll provide his executioner,

| 'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me : I tender so the safety of my liege.

I take it kindly; yet, be well assur'd
Suf. Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing. You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands.
Q. Mar. And so say I.

Whiles I in treland nourish a mighty band,
York. And I: and now we three have spoke it, I will stir up in England some black storm,
It skills not greatly who impugns our doom. Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven, or helli
Enter a Messenger.

And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage
Mess. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain, Until the golden circuit on my head,
To signify -- that rebels there are up,

Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams,
And put the Englishmen unto the sword:

Du calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.

And, for a minister of my intent,

Q. Mar. Run, go, help, help!-0, Henry, ope thine I have seduc'd a headstrong Kentishman,

eyes! John Cade of Ashford,

Suf. He doth revive again; --Madam, be patient. To make commotion, as fall well he can,

K. Hen. ( heavenly God! Under the title of John Mortimer.

Q. Mar. How fares my gracious lord ? In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade

Suf.Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry, comfort

! Oppose himself against a troop of Kernes;

K. Hen. What, doth my lord of Suffolk comfort me? And fought so long , till that his thighs with darts Came he right now to sing a raven's note, Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porcupine: Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers ; And, in the end being rescu’d, I have seen him And thin he, that the chirping of a wren, Caper upright like a wild Mórisco,

By crying comfort from a hollow breast, Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells.

Can chase away the first-conceived sound? Full often, like a shag-hair'd crafty Kerne, Hide not thy poison with such sugar d words. Hath he conversed with the enemy;

Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I say; And undiscover'd come to me again,

Their touch allrights me, as a serpent's sting. And given me notice of their villainies.

Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight! This devil here shall be my substitute;

Upon thy eye-balls murd'rous tyranny For that Jolin Mortimer, which now is dead, Sits in grim majesty, to fright the world. In face, in gait, in speech, he doth resemble: Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding:By this I shall perceive the commons' mind, Yet do not go away. — Come, basilisk, How they aflect the house and claim of York. And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight: Say, he be taker, rack’d, and tortured ;

For in the shade of death I shall find joy; I know, no pain, they can inflict upon him, In life, but double death, now Gloster's dead. Will make him say--I mor'd him to those arms. Q. Mar. Why do you rate my lord of Suffolk thus ? Say, that he thrive, (as 'tis great like he will,) Although the duke was enemy to him, Why, then from Ireland comes with my strength, Yet he, most christian-like, laments his death: And reap the harvest which that rascal sow'd : And for myself, --foe as he was to me, For, Humphrey being dead, as he shall be, Might liquid tears, or heart-offending groans, And Henry put apart, the next for me. (Exit. Or blood-consuming sighs recall his life, SCENE 11. - Bury. A room in the palace. I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans, Enter certain Murderers hastily.

Look pale as primrose, with blood-drinking sighs, 1 Mur, Run to my lord of Suffolk; let him know, And all to have the noble duke alive. We have despatch’ the duke, as he commanded, What know I how the world may deem of me?

2 Mur. O, that it were to do!-- What have we done? For it is known, we were but hollow friends ;
Didst ever hear a man so penitent?

It may be judg’d, I made the duke away:
Enter SUFFOLK.
So shall my name with slander's tongue be wounded

, 1 Mur. Here comes my lord.

And princes' courts be filled with my reproach. Suf. Now, sirs, have you

This get I by his death. Ah me, unhappy! Despatch'd this thing?

To be a queen, and crown'd with infamy! 1 Mur. Ay, my good lord, he's dead.

K. Hen. Ah, woe is me for Gloster, wretched man! Suf. Why, that's well said.' Go, get you to my house; 0. Mar. Be woe for me, more wretched than he is. I will reward you for this venturous deed. What, dost thou turn away, and hide thy face? The king and all the peers are here at land. - I am no loathsome leper, look on me. Have you laid fair the bed ? are all things well, What, art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf? According as I gave directions ?

Be poisonous too, and kill thy forlorn queen.
Mur 'Tis, my good lord.

Is all thy comfort shut in Gloster's tomb?
Suf. Away, be gone! [Exeunt Murderers. Why, then dame Margaret was ne'er thy joy:
Enier King Henny, Queen MARGARET, Cardinal Beau- Erect his statue then, and worship it,
FORT, SOMERSET, Lords, and Others,

And make my image but an alehouse sign.
K. Hen. Go, call our uncle to our presence straight: Was I, for this, nigh wreck'd' upon the sea;
Say, we intend to try his grace to-day,

And twice by aukward wind from England's bank
If he be guilty, as 'tis published.

Drove back again unto my native clime?
Suf. I'll call him presently, my noble lord. (Exit. What boded this, but well-forewarning wind
K.Hen.Lords, take yonr places;-and I pray you all, Did seem to say, - Seek not a scorpion's nest,
Proceed vo straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloster, Nor set no footing on this unkind shore?
Than from trne evidence, of good esteem,

What did I then, but curs'd the gentle gusts,
He be approv'd in practice culpable.

And he that loos’d them from their brazen cayes;
Q. Mar. God forbid any malice should prevail, And bid them blow towards England's blessed shores,
That faultless may condemn a nobleman!

Or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock ?
Pray God, he may acquit him of suspicion ! Yet Aeolus would not be a murderer,
K. llen. I thank thee, Margaret; these words con- But left that hateful office noto thee:
tent me much.-

The pretty vaulting sea refus'd to drown me;
Re-enter SUFFOLX.

Knowing, that thou would'st have me drown'd on
How now? whylook'st thou pale? why tremblest thou? shore,
Where is our uncle? what is the matter, Suffolk? With tears as salt'as sea, through?thy unkindness:
Suf. Dead in his bed, my lord; Gloster is dead, The splitting rocks cow'rd in the sinking sands,
Q. Mar. Marry, God forefend !

And would not dash me with their ragged sides:
Car. God's secret judgment:-I did dream to-night, Because thy flinty heart, more hard than they,
The duke was dumb, and could not speak a word. Might in thy palace perish Margaret.

(The King swoons. As far as I could keu thy chalky cliffs, Q. Mar. How fares my lord ?--Help, lords! the king When from the shore the tempest beat us back, is dead.

I stood upon the hatches in the storm : Som. Rear up his body; wring him by the nose. And when the dusky sky began to rob

My earnest-gaping sight of thy land's view, Blit, see, his face is black, and full of blood;
I took a costly jewel from my neck, -

His eye-balls farther out than when he liv’d,
A heart it was, bound in with diamonds,

Staring full ghastly like a strangled man:
And threw it towards thy land; - the sea receiv'd it; His hair uprear’d, his nostrils stretch'd with strag-
And so, I wish’d, thy body might my heart:

gling;
And even with this, I lost fair England's view, His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd
And bid mine eyes be packing with my heart: And tugg’d for life, and was by strength subdu'd.
And call'd them blind and dusky spectacles,

Look on the sheets, his hair, yon see, is sticking;
For losing ken of Albion's wished coast.

His well-proportion'd beard made rough and rugged, llow often have I tempted Suilolk's tongue

Like to the summer's corn by tempest lodg’d. (The agent of thy foul inconstancy,)

It cannot be, but he was murder'd here;
To sit and witch me, as Ascanius did,

The least of all these signs were probable.
When he to madding Dido would unfold

Suf. Why, Warwick, who should do the duke to
His father's acts, commenc'd in burning Troy?

death?
Am I not witch'd like her? or thon vot false like him? Myself, and Beaufort, had him in protection;
Ah me, I can no more! Die, Margaret!

And we, I hope, sir, are no morderers.
For Henry weeps that thon dost live so long. War. But both of you were vow'd duhe Humphrey's
Noise within. Enter WARWICK and SALISBURY.

foes ;
The Commons press to the door.

And you, forsooth, had the good duke to keep :
War. It is reported, mighty sovereign,

"Tiz like, you would not feast him like a friend;
That good duke Humphrey traitorously is murder'd And ’tis well seen he found an enemy;
By Suffolk and the cardinal Beaufort's means. Q. Mar. Then you, belike, suspect these noblemen
The commons, like an angry hive of bees,

As guilty of duke Humphrey's timeless death.
That want their leader, scatter up and down, War. Who finds the heifer dead, and bleeding fresh,
And care not who they sting in his revenge. And sees fast by a butcher with an axe,
Myself have calm'd their spleenful mutiry, But will suspect, 'twas he that made the slaughter ?
Until they hear the order of his death.

Who finds the partridge in the puttock's nest,
K. Hen. That he is dead, good Warwick, 'tis too But may imagine how the bird was dead,
true;

Although the kite soar with unbloodied beak?
But how he died, God knows, not Henry:

Even so suspicious is this tragedy.
Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse, Q. Mar. Are you the butcher, Suffolk; where's your
And comment then upon his sudden death.

knife?
War. That I shall do, my liege. - Stay, Salisbury, Is Beaufort term’d a kite? where are his talons ?
With the rude multitude, till I return.

Suf. I wear no knife, to slaughter sleeping men; [1Varwick goes into an inner room, and But here's a vengeful sword, rusted with ease, Salisbury retires.

That shall be scoured in his rancorous heart, K. Hen. O thou, that judgest all things, stay my That slanders me with murder's crimson badge: thoughts;

Say, if thou ciar’st, proud lord of Warwickshire, My thoughts, that labour to persuade my soul, 'That I am faulty in duke Humphrey's death. Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life!

Exeunt Cardinal, Šom. and Others. If my suspect be false, forgive me, God;

War. What. dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk For judgment only doth belong to thee !

dare him?
Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips

Q. Mar. He dares not calm his contumelious spirit,
With twenty thousand kisses, and to drain Nor cease to be au arrogant controller,
Upon his face an occan of salt tears ;

Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times..
To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk,

War. Madam, be still; with reverence may I say;
And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling: for every word you speak in his belialf,
But all in vain are these mean obsequies ;

Is slander to your royal dignity.
And to survey his dead and earthly image, Suf. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanour!
What were it but to make my sorrow greater ? If ever lady wrong'd her lord so much,
The folding doors of an inner chamber are thrown | Thy mother took into her blameful bed

open, and Gloster is discovered dead in his Some stern untutor'd churl, and noble stock
bed: Warwick and Others standing by it. Was graft with crabtree slip; whose fruit thou art,
War. Come hither, gracious sovereigu, view this And never of the Nevils' noble race.
body.

War. But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee,
K. Ilen. That is to see how deep my grave is made: And I should rob the deathsman of his fee,
For, with his soul, fled all my worldly solace; Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shaines,
For seeing him, I see my life in death.

And that my sovereign's presence makes me mild,
War. As surely as my sonlineends to live I would, false murderous coward, on thy knee
With that dread King, that took our state upon him, Make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech,
To free us from his father's wrathful curse, And say, -it was thy mother, that thou meant'st,
I do believe, that violent hands were laid

| That thou thyself wast born in bastardy:
Upon the life of this thrice-famed duke.

And, after all this fearful homage done,
Suf. A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue! Give thee thy hire, and send thy soul to hell,
What instance gives lord Warwick for his vow? Pernicious bloodsucker of sleeping men!

War, See, how the blood is settled in his face! Suf. Thou shalt be waking, while I shed thy blood,
Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,

If from this presence thou dar'st go with me.
Of ashy semblance, meager, pale, and bloodless War. Away even now, or I will drag thee hence:
Being all descended to the labouring heart; Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee,
Who, in the conflict that it holds with death, And do some service to duke Humphrey's ghost,
Attracts the same for aidance 'gainst the enemy;

(Exeunt Suffolk and Warwick. Which with the heart there cools, and ne'er returneth K. Hen. What stronger breast-plate than a heart To blush and beautify the cheek again.

untainted?