140 For judgment only doth belong to thee. [Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips With twenty thousand kisses, and to rain Upon his face an ocean of salt tears, To tell my love unto his dumb deaf trunk, And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling: But all in vain are these mean obsequies; And to survey his dead and earthly image, What were it but to make my sorrow greater?] [The folding-doors are thrown open, and the dead body of Gloster is discovered, lying on the bed; Warwick and others standing by it. War. Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body. 161 War. See how the blood is settled in his face. Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,1 Of ashy semblance, meagre, pale and bloodless, [Being all descended to the labouring heart; Who, in the conflict that it holds with death, Attracts the same foraidance 'gainst the enemy; Which with the heart there cools, and ne'er returneth To blush and beautify the cheek again. ] His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd And tugg'd for life, and was by strength subdu'd: [Look, on the sheets his hair, you see, is stick Say, if thou dar'st, proud Lord of Warwickshire, That I am faulty in Duke Humphrey's death. [Exeunt Cardinal, Somerset, and others. War. What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him? [Queen. He dares not calm his contumelious spirit, Nor cease to be an arrogant controller,7 Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times. War. Madam, be still,-with reverence may For every word you speak in his behalf Suf. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demean I would, false murderous coward, on thy knee Suf. Thou shalt be waking while I shed thy blood, If from this presence thou dar'st go with me. War.] Away e'en now, or I will drag thee hence: Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee, 230 And do some service to Duke Humphrey's ghost. [Exeunt Suffolk and Warwick. King. What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted! Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just, And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel, Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted. [A noise within. Queen. What noise is this? Re-enter SUFFOLK and WARWICK, with their weapons drawn. King. Why, how now, lords! your wrathful weapons drawn Here in our presence! dare you be so bold? Why, what tumultuous clamour have we here? Suf. The trait'rous Warwick, with the men of Bury, Set all upon me, mighty sovereign. 240 Sal. [To the Commons at the door] Sirs, stand apart; the king shall know your mind. [He comes forward. Dread lord, the commons send you word by me, Unless false Suffolk straight be done to death, And torture him with grievous ling'ring death. They say, by him the good Duke Humphrey died; They say, in him they fear your highness' death; And mere instinct of love and loyalty, 250 In pain of your dislike, or pain of death, = 5 Worm serpent. A sort, a pack, a gang; used contemptuously. I thank them for their tender loving care; 250 He shall not breathe infection in this air Queen. O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk! King. Ungentle queen, to call him gentle Suffolk! 290 |