K. Hen. That he is dead, good Warwick, 'tis too true; But how he died, God knows, not Henry: Enter his chamber, view his breathless corpse, War. That I shall do, my liege:-Stay, Salisbury, With the rude multitude, till I return. [Warwick goes into an inner room, and Salisbury retires. K. Hen. O thou, that judgest all things, stay my thoughts; My thoughts, that labour to persuade my soul, The folding doors of an inner chamber are thrown open, and Gloster is discovered dead in his bed: Warwick and Others standing by it. War. Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body. K. Hen. That is to see how deep my grave is made: For, with his soul, fled all my worldly solace; For seeing him, I see my life in death. War. As surely as my soul intends to live With that dread King, that took our state upon him, To free us from his Father's wrathful curse, I do believe, that violent hands were laid Upon the life of this thrice-famed duke. Suf. A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue! Of ashy semblance, meager, påle, and bloodless, His hair uprear'd, his nostrils stretch'd with struggling; His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd The least of all these signs were probable. Suf. Why, Warwick, who should do the duke to Myself, and Beaufort, had him in protection; War. But both of you were vow'd duke Hum- And you, forsooth, had the good duke to keep: 'Tis like, you would not feast him like a friend; And 'tis well seen he found an enemy. Q. Mar. Then you, belike, suspect these noble men As guilty of duke Humphrey's timeless death. War. Who finds the heifer dead, and bleeding fresh, And sees fast by a butcher with an axe, But will suspect, 'twas he that made the slaughter? Q. Mar. Are you the butcher, Suffolk; where's Is Beaufort term'd a kite? where are his talons? [Exeunt Cardinal, Som. and Others. War. What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him? Q. Mar. He dares not calm his contumelious spirit, Nor cease to be an arrogant controller, Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times.. War. Madam, be still; with reverence may I say; For every word you speak in his behalf, Is slander to your royal dignity. Suf. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanour! Thy mother took into her blameful bed Was graft with crab-tree slip; whose fruit thou art, War. But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee, And I should rob the deathsman of his fee, Quitting thee thereby of ten thousand shames, And that my sovereign's presence makes me mild, I would, false murderous coward, on thy knee Make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech, And say, it was thy mother, that thou mean'st, That thou thyself wast born in bastardy: - And, after all this fearful homage done, Suf. Thou shalt be waking, while I shed thy blood, If from this presence thou dar'st go with me. War. Away even now, or I will drag thee hence: Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee, And do some service to duke Humphrey's ghost. [Exeunt Suffolk and Warwick. K. Hen. What stronger breast-plate than a heart untainted? Thrice is he arm'd, that hath his quarrel just; Q. Mar. What noise is this? [A noise within. Re-enter Suffolk and Warwick, with their weapons drawn. K. Hen. Why, how now, weapons drawn lords? your wrathful Here in our presence? dare you be so bold?— Set all upon me, mighty sovereign. Noise of a crowd within. Re-enter Salisbury. mind. Sal. Sirs, stand apart; the king shall know your [Speaking to those within. Dread lord, the commons send you word by me, Unless false Suffolk straight be done to death, Or banished fair England's territories, They will by violence tear him from your palace, 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,- Commons. [Within.] An answer from the king, my lord of Salisbury. Suf. "Tis like, the commons, rude unpolish'd hinds, Could send such message to their sovereign: But you, my lord, were glad to be employ'd, To show how quaint an orator you are: But all the honour Salisbury hath won, Is--that he was the lord ambassador, Sent from a sort of tinkers to the king. Commons. [Within.] An answer from the king, or we'll all break in. K. Hen. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me, I thank them for their tender loving care: And had I not been cited so by them, Yet did I purpose as they do entreat; For sure, my thoughts do hourly prophesy Mischance unto my state by Suffolk's means. |