Som. My lord, it were your duty to forbear. War. Ay, see the bishop be not overborne. Som. Methinks, my lord should be religious, And know the office that belongs to such. War. Methinks, his lordship should be humbler; It fitteth not a prelate so to plead. Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so near. War. State holy, or unhallow'd, what of that? Is not his grace protector to the king? Plan. Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue; Lest it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you should; Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords? Else would I have a fling at Winchester. [Aside. K. Hen. Uncles of Gloster, and of Winchester, The special watchmen of our English weal; That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.- War. An uproar, I dare warrant, Begun through malice of the bishop's men. [A Noise again; Stones! Stones! Enter the Mayor of London, attended. May. O, my good lords,—and virtuous Henry,Pity the city of London, pity us! The bishop and the duke of Gloster's men, Forbidden late to carry any weapon, be derived from the cant of vagabonds, who often pretended a pilgrimage to Rome. JOHNSON. Have fill'd their pockets full of pebble-stones; That many have their giddy brains knock'd out: Enter, skirmishing, the Retainers of GLOSTER and Winchester, with bloody pates. K. Hen. We charge you, on allegiance to ourself, To hold your slaught'ring hands, and keep the peace. Pray, uncle Gloster, mitigate this strife. i Serv. Nay, if we be Forbidden stones, we'll fall to it with our teeth. 2 Serv. Do what ye dare, we are as resolute. [Skirmish again. Glo. You of my household, leave this peevish broil, And set this unaccustom'd fight" aside. 1 Serv. My lord, we know your grace to be a man Just and upright; and, for your royal birth, And, ere that we will suffer such a prince, 8 To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate, 2 Serv. Ay, and the very parings of our nails 7 cent. unaccustom'd fight -] Unaccustom'd is unseemly, inde an inkhorn mate,] A bookman. It was a term of reproach at the time towards men of learning, or men affecting to be learned. Shall pitch a field, when we are dead. Glo. [Skirmish again. Stay, stay, I say ! And, if you love me, as you say you do, Let me persuade you to forbear a while. K. Hen. O, how this discord doth afflict my soul! Can you, my lord of Winchester, behold My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Or who should study to prefer a peace, War. My lord protector, yield;-yield Winchester; Except you mean, with obstinate repulse, Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield. War. Behold, my lord of Winchester, the duke Hath banish'd moody discontented fury, As by his smoothed brows it doth appear: Why look you still so stern, and tragical? Glo. Here, Winchester, I offer thee my hand. K. Hen. Fye, uncle Beaufort! I have heard you preach, That malice was a great and grievous sin: And will not you maintain the thing you teach, War. Sweet king!-the bishop hath a kindly gird. morse. hath a kindly gird.] i. e. feels an emotion of kind re For shame, my lord of Winchester! relent; Glo. Ay; but, I fear me, with a hollow heart.— Win. So help me God, as I intend it not! [Aside. K. Hen. O loving uncle, kind duke of Gloster, How joyful am I made by this contract!Away, my masters! trouble us no more; But join in friendship, as your lords have done. 1 Serv. Content; I'll to the surgeon's. 2 Serv. And so will I. 3 Serv. And I will see what physick the tavern affords. [Exeunt Servants, Mayor, &c. War. Accept this scroll, most gracious sovereign; Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet We do exhibit to your majesty. Glo. Well urg'd, my lord of Warwick;-for, sweet prince, An if your grace mark every circumstance, At Eltham-place I told your majesty. K. Hen. And those occasions, uncle, were of force: Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is, War. Let Richard be restored to his blood; But all the whole inheritance I give, And, in reguerdon1 of that duty done, may fall! Som. Perish, base prince, ignoble duke of York! Glo. Now will it best avail your majesty, [Aside. To cross the seas, and to be crown'd in France: K. Hen. When Gloster says the word, king Henry goes; For friendly counsel cuts off many foes. Glo. Your ships already are in readiness. [Exeunt all but Exeter. Exe. Ay, we may march in England, or in France, Not seeing what is likely to ensue: This late dissention, grown betwixt the peers, 1-reguerdon - Recompence, return. |