Glo. And my consent ne'er asked herein before! This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there. [Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave;-and, master sheriff, To take her with him to the Isle of Man. Glo. Must you, sir John, protect my lady here? Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please your grace. Glo. Entreat 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 You do it her. And so, sir John, farewell. Duch. What, gone, my lord; and bid me not farewell? Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. [Exeunt GLOSTER and Servants. Duch. 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 afeard, Stan. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man; Duch. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach; And shall I then be used reproachfully? Stan. Like to a duchess, and duke Humphrey's lady, According to that state you shall be used. Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare; Although thou hast been conduct of my shame! Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharged.— Come, Stanley, shall we go? Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey. Duch. My shame will not be shifted 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 III. SCENE I. The Abbey at Bury. Enter, to the parliament, KING HENRY, QUEEN Margaret, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, SUFFOLK, YORK, BUCKINGHAM, and others. K. Hen. I muse my lord of Gloster is not come. Q. Mar. Can you not see? or will you not observe How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself? That all the court admired him for submission; Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow rooted; My lord of Suffolk,-Buckingham,- and York, Or else conclude my words effectual. Suff. Well hath your highness seen into this duke; The duchess, by his subornation, Upon my life, began her devilish practices; Did instigate the bedlam, brain-sick duchess, The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb. Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, Buck. Tut! these are petty faults to faults unknown, Which time will bring to light in smooth duke Humphrey. K. Hen. My lords, at once: The care you have of us, To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot, Is worthy praise; but shall I speak my conscience? Our kinsman Gloster 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 given, To dream on evil, or to work my downfall. Q. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this fond affiance! Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrowed, For he's disposed as the hateful raven. Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him, Enter SOMERSET. Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign! D K. Hen. Welcome, lord Somerset. What news from France? Som. That all your interest in those territories. Is utterly bereft you; all is lost. K. Hen. Cold news, lord Somerset; but God's will be done! York. Cold news for me; for I had hope of France, As firmly as I hope for fertile England. Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, Enter GLOSTER. Glo. All happiness unto my lord the king! Pardon, my liege, that I have staid so long. [Aside. Suff. Nay, Gloster, know, that thou art come too soon, Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art. I do arrest thee of high treason here. Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet thou shalt not see me blush, Nor change my countenance for this arrest; A heart unspotted is not easily daunted. York. 'Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of And, being protector, stayed the soldiers' pay; Glo. Is it but thought so? What are they that think it? I never robbed the soldiers of their pay, Nor never had one penny bribe from France. So help me God, as I have watched the night,— Or any groat I hoarded to my use, Be brought against me at my trial day! No! many a pound of mine own proper store, And never asked for restitution. Car. It serves you well, my lord, to say so much. Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of, Glo. Why, 'tis well khown, that whiles 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 fault. Or foul, felonious thief that fleeced poor passengers, Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortured Above the felon, or what trespass else. Suff. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answered: I do arrest you in his highness' name; K. Hen. My lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope, Glo. Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous! Virtue is choked with foul ambition, And charity chased hence by rancor's hand; And equity exiled your highness' land. I know their complot is to have my life; And, if my death might make this island happy, I would expend it with all willingness; But mine is made the prologue to their play; Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice, Ay, all of you have laid your heads together; I shall not want false witness to condemn me, |