York. And, Nevil, this I do assure myself, Richard shall live to make the earl of Warwick The greatest man in England, but the king. SCENE III. The Same. A Hall of Justice. Trumpets sounded. [Exeunt. Enter King HENRY, Queen Margaret, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY; the Duchess of GLOSTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard. [To JOURD., &c. K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham, Gloster's wife. Duch. Welcome is banishment; welcome were my death. I cannot justify whom the law condemns [Exeunt the Duchess, and the other Prisoners, guarded. Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Ah, Humphrey! this dishonour in thine age Will bring thy head with sorrow to the ground. I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; Sorrow would solace, and mine age would ease. K. Hen. Stay, Humphrey duke of Gloster. Ere thou go, My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet. And go in peace, Humphrey; no less belov'd, Q. Mar. I see no reason why a king of years Glo. My staff? - here, noble Henry, is my staff; As e'er thy father Henry made it mine: And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it, As others would ambitiously receive it. Farewell, good king: when I am dead and gone, May honourable peace attend thy throne. [Exit. Q. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen; And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, That bears so shrew'd a maim: two pulls at once, His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off; This staff of honour raught: there let it stand, Where it best fits to be, in Henry's hand. Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. York. Lords, let him go. Please it your majesty, This is the day appointed for the combat; Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely, therefore, K. Hen. O' God's name, see the lists and all things fit: Here let them end it, and God defend the right! York. I never saw a fellow worse bestead, Or more afraid to fight, than is the appellant, The servant of this armourer, my lords. Enter, on one side, HORNER, and his Neighbours, drinking to him so much that he is drunk; and he enters bearing his staff with a sand-bag fastened to it; a drum before him: at the other side, PETER, with a drum and a similiar staff; accompanied by Prentices drinking to him. 1Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack. And fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of charneco. 3 Neigh. And here's a pot of good double beer, neighbour: drink, and fear not your man. Hor. Let it come, i' faith, and I'll pledge you all; and a fig for Peter! 1 Pren. Here, Peter, I drink to thee; and be not afraid. 2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight for credit of the prentices. Peter. I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray you, for, I think, I have taken my last draught in this world. - Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron; and, Will, thou shalt have my hammer: and here, Tom, take all the money that I have. O Lord, bless me! I pray God, for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt so much fence already. Sal. Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows. - Sirrah, what's thy name? Peter. Peter, forsooth. Sal. Peter! what more? Peter. Thump. Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. Hor. Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave, and myself an honest man: and touching the duke of York, I will take my death, I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: and therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow. York. Despatch: this knave's tongue begins to double. Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants. [Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes down his Master. Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason. [Dies. York. Take away his weapon. the good wine in thy master's way. Peter. O God! have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O Peter! thou hast prevailed in right. K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt: And God in justice hath reveal'd to us The truth and innocence of this poor fellow, Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully. — SCENE IV. The Same. A Street. [Exeunt. Enter GLOSTER and Servant, in mourning Cloaks. And after summer evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. Enter the Duchess of GLOSTER, in a white sheet, with verses written upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand; Sir JOHN STANLEY, a Sheriff, and Officers. Serv. So please your grace, we 'll take her from the sheriff. Glo. No, stir not, for your lives: let her pass by. Duch. Come you, my lord, to see my open shame? Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they gaze: See, how the giddy multitude do point, And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee. And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine. Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell: forget this grief. To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet groans. Ah, Humphrey! can I bear this shameful yoke? No; dark shall be my light, and night my day: But be thou mild, and blush not at my Nor stir at nothing, till the axe of death shame: With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all, And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest, And, fly thou how thou canst, they 'll tangle thee. |