The Works of Shakespear

War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the land, And common profit of his country!

York. And fo fays York, for he hath greateft caufe.

[Afide. Sal. Then let's make hafte, and look unto the main. War. Unto the main ? Oh father, Maine is loft; That Maine, which by main force Warwick did win, And would have kept, so long as breath did laft: Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant Maine, Which I will win from France, or else be slain.

[Ex. Warwick and Salisbury.

SCENE III.

Manet York.

York. Anjou and Maine are given to the French;
Paris is loft; the state of Normandy

Stands on a tickle point, now they are gone:
Suffolk concluded on the articles,

The peers agreed, and Henry was well pleas'd
To change two dukedoms for a duke's fair daughter.
I cannot blame them all, what is't to them?
'Tis thine they give away, and not their own.
Pirates may make cheap penn'worths of their pillage,
And purchase friends, and give to courtezans,
Still revelling, like lords, 'till all be gone:
While as the filly owner of the goods

Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands,
And Thakes his head, and trembling stands aloof,
While all is fhar'd, and all is borne away;
Ready to ftarve, and dares not touch his own.
So York muft fit, and fret, and bite his tongue,
While his own lands are bargain'd for, and fold.
Methinks, the realms of England, France, and Ireland,
Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood,
As did the fatal brand Althea burnt,

Unto the prince's heart of Calydon.

Anjou and Maine, both giv'n unto the French!
Cold news for me: for I had hope of France,
Ev'n as I have of fertile England's foil.

A day will come, when York all claim his own;

B.5

And

And therefore I will take the Nevills' parts,
And make a shew of love to proud Duke Humphry;
And, when I fpy advantage, claim the Crown;
For that's the golden mark I feek to hit.
Nor fhall proud Lancaster ufurp my right,
Nor hold the scepter in his childish fift,
Nor wear the diadem upon his head,

Whose church-like humour fits not for a Crown.
Then, York, be ftill a while, 'till time do ferve:
Watch thou, and wake when others be asleep,
Το pry into the fecrets of the State;
"Till Henry, furfeiting in joys of love,

With his new bride, and England's dear-bought Queen,
And Humphry with the Peers be fall'n at jars.

Then will I raise aloft the milk-white Rose,
With whose sweet smell the air fhall be perfum'd;
And in my Standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancafter;

And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the Crown,
Whose bookish Rule hath pull'd fair England down.
[Exit York.

SCENE IV.

Changes to the Duke of Gloucester's House.

Enter Duke Humphry, and his Wife Eleanor. Elean.7HY droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn Hanging the head with Ceres' plenteous

load?

Why doth the great Duke Humphry knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world?
Why are thine eyes fixt to the fullen earth,
Gazing at that which feems to dim thy fight?
What feeft thou there? King Henry's Diadem,
Inchas'd with all the honours of the world?
If fo, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the fame.
Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious Gold:
What! is't too fhort? I'll lengthen it with mine.
And, having both together heav'd it up,

We'll

We'll both together lift our heads to heaven:
And never more abase our fight fo low,
As to vouchfafe one glance unto the ground.

Gl. O Nell, fweet Nell, if thou doft love thy lord,
Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts:

And may that thought, when I imagine Ill Againft my King and nephew, virtuous Henry, laft Breathing in this mortal world!

Be my

My troublous dreams this night do make me fad. Elean. What dream'd my lord? tell me, and I'll requite it

With fweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.

Glo. Methought, this Staff, mine office-badge in
Court,

Was broke in twain; by whom I have forgot;
But, as I think, it was by th' Cardinal ;
And, on the pieces of the broken wand,

Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset,
And William de la Pole first Duke of Suffolk.
This was the dream; what it doth bode, God knows.
Elean. Tut, this was nothing but an argument,
That he, that breaks a stick of Glofter's grove,
Shall lofe his head for his Prefumption.
But lift to me, my Humphry, my fweet Duke :
Methought, I fat in feat of Majefty,

In the Cathedral church of Weftminster,

And in that Chair where Kings and Queens were crown'd;

Where Henry and Margret kneel'd to me,

And on my head did fet the Diadem.

Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then muft I chide outright:
Prefumptuous Dame, ill-nurtur'd Eleanor,
Art thou not fecond woman in the Realm,
And the Protector's wife, belov'd of him?
Haft thou not worldly pleasure at command,
Above the reach or compafs of thy thought?
And wilt thou ftill be hammering treachery,
To tumble down thy hufband, and thyself,
From top of honour to difgrace's feet?
Away from me, and let me hear no more.

Elean. What, what! my lord; are you fo cholerick

With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
Next time, I'll keep my dreams unto myself,
And not be check'd.

Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again.
Enter Meffenger.

Me My lord Protector, 'tis his Highness' pleasure, You do prepare to ride unto St. Albans,

Whereas the King and Queen do mean to hawk.
Glo. I go: come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?

[Exit Gloucester. Elean. Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently. Follow I muft, I cannot go before,

While Glofter bears this base and humble mind.
Were I a Man, a Duke, and next of blood,
I would remove these tedious ftumbling-blocks;
And smooth my way upon their headless necks.
And being a woman, I will not be flack
To play my part in Fortune's pageant.

Where are you there? Sir John; nay, fear not, man,
We are alone; here's none but thee and I.

Enter Hume.

Hume. Jefus preferve your Royal Majesty! Elean. What fay'ft thou? Majefty? I am but Grace. Hume. But by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, Your Grace's title fhall be multiply'd.

Elena. What fay'st thou, man? haft thou as yet conferr'd

With Margery Jordan, the cunning witch;
And Roger Bolingbrook the conjurer,
And will they undertake to do me good?

Hume. This they have promised, to fhew your High

nefs

A Spirit rais'd from depth of under-ground,
That shall make answer to fuch questions,
As by your Grace shall be propounded him.

Elean. It is enough, I'll think upon the questions:
When from St. Albans we do make return,
We'll fee thofe things effected to the full.

Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,

With thy confederates in this weighty cause.

[Exit Eleanor.

Hume. Hume must make merry with the Dutchefs

gold:

Marry, and shall; but how now, Sir John Hume?