Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Strangers in court do take her for the queen: * She bears a duke's revenues on her back, * And in her heart she scorns our poverty: * Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her? * Contemptuous base-born callat as she is, 'She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day, The very train of her worst wearing-gown Was better worth than all my father's lands, * Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter. 'Suf. Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her; And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds, *That she will light to listen to the lays, * And never mount to trouble you again. So, let her rest: And, madam, list to me; *For I am bold to counsel you in this.

* Although we fancy not the cardinal,

* Yet must we join with him, and with the lords,
* Till we have brought duke Humphrey in disgrace.
* As for the duke of York,—this late complaint,
* Will make but little for his benefit:

* So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
* And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.

Enter King Henry, York, and Somerset, conversing with him; Duke and Dutchess of Glo'ster, Cardinal Beaufort, Buckingham, Salisbury, and Warwick. K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care not which;

Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me.

York. If York have ill demean'd himself in

France,

Then let him be denay'd the regentship.

Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place, Let York be regent, I will yield to him.

War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or no, Dispute not that; York is the worthier.

Car. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. War. The cardinal's not my better in the field. Buck. All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.

War. Warwick may live to be the best of all. *Sal. Peace, son;--and show some reason, Buckingham,

* Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.

6

* Q. Mar. Because the king, forsooth, will have

it so.

'Glo. Madam, the king is old enough himself 'To give his censure: these are no women's matters. Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your

grace

'To be protector of his excellence?

'Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm;

And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

'Suf. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence. 'Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but thou?) 'The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck: * The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas; * And all the peers and nobles of the realm * Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty. *Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags

* Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

*Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's

attire,

* Have cost a mass of publick treasury.
* Buck. Thy cruelty in execution,
Upon offenders, hath exceeded law,
* And left thee to the mercy of the law.

*Q. Mar. Thy sale of offices, and towns in France,

* If they were known, as the suspect is great,— *Would make thee quickly hop without thy head. [Exit Glo'ster. The Queen drops her fan. 'Give me my fan: What, minion! can you not? [gives the Dutchess a box on the ear. 'I cry you mercy, madam; Was it you?

'Dutch. Was't I? yea, I it was, proud French

woman:

'Could I come near your beauty with my nails, I'd set my ten commandments in your face.

K. Hen. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will. 'Dutch. Against her will! Good king, look to't in time;

'She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby: * Though in this place most master wear no breeches, She shall not strike dame Eleanor unreveng'd. [Exit Dutchess.

*Buck. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, * And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: * She's tickled now; her fume can need no spurs, * She'll gallop fast enough to her destruction.

[ocr errors]

[Exit Buckingham.

Re-enter Glo'ster.

* Glo. Now, lords, my choler being over-blown

* With walking once about the quadrangle,

[ocr errors]

* I come to talk of commonwealth affairs. * As for your spiteful false objections, * Prove them, and I lie open to the law: * But God in mercy so deal with my soul, As I in duty love my king and country! * But, to the matter that we have in hand:* I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man *To be your regent in the realm of France. * Suf. Before we make election, give me leave 'To show some reason, of no little force, 'That York is most unmeet of any man. 'York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet. First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride: Next, if I be appointed for the place, My lord of Somerset will keep me here, * Without discharge, money, or furniture, * Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands. * Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will, * Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost. *War. That I can witness; and a fouler fact * Did never traitor in the land commit.

Suf. Peace, head-strong Warwick!

War. Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?

Enter Servants of Suffolk, bringing in Horner and Peter.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treason: Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself!

* York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor? * K. Hen. What mean'st thou, Suffolk? tell me : What are these?

'Suf. Please it your majesty, this is the man 'That doth accuse his master of high treason: 'His words were these;-that Richard, duke of York,

'Was rightful heir unto the English crown; ' And that your majesty was an usurper.

'K. Hen. Say, man, were these thy words?

Hor. An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely accus'd by the villain.

[ocr errors]

Pet. By these ten bones, my lords, [holding up ' his hands.] he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my lord of York's " armour.

*York. Base dunghill villain, and mechanical, * I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech:'I do beseech your royal majesty,

'Let him have all the rigour of the law.

Hor. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake the words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness of this; therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation.

K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? 'Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge. 'Let Somerset be regent o'er the French, 'Because in York this breeds suspicion: 'And let these have a day appointed them 'For single combat, in convenient place; 'For he hath witness of his servant's malice:

« ZurückWeiter »