* Q. Mar. Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun's hot beams.

* Henry my lord is cold in great affairs, * Too full of foolish pity: and Gloster's show * Beguiles him, as the mournful crocodile * With sorrow snares relenting passengers; * Or as the snake, roll'd in a flowering bank,' * With shining checker'd slough, doth sting a child, *That, for the beauty, thinks it excellent.

* Believe me, lords, were none more wise than I, (And yet, herein, I judge mine own wit good,) This Gloster should be quickly rid the world, 6 To rid us from the fear we have of him.

*Car. That he should die, is worthy policy; * But yet we want a colour for his death: * 'Tis meet, he be condemn'd by course of law. * Suf. But, in my mind, that were no policy: *The king will labour still to save his life, * The commons haply rise to save his life; * And yet we have but trivial argument,

* More than mistrust, that shows him worthy death. * York. So that, by this, you would not have him die.

Suf. Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I.

*York. "Tis York that hath more reason for his

death.

* But, my lord cardinal, and you, my lord of Suffolk,

Say as you think, and speak it from your souls,— * Wer't not all one, an empty eagle were set * To guard the chicken from a hungry kite,

9 Free lords, &c.] By this she means (as may be seen by the sequel) you, who are not bound up to such precise regards of religion as is the King; but are men of the world, and know how to live.

I

bank.

in a flowering bank,] i. e. in the flowers growing on a

* As place duke Humphrey for the king's protector? Q. Mar. So the poor chicken should be sure of

death.

Suf. Madam, 'tis true: And wer't not madness

then,

'To make the fox surveyor of the fold?
'Who being accus'd a crafty murderer,
"His guilt should be but idly posted over,
'Because his purpose is not executed.
'No; let him die, in that he is a fox,

By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock,
'Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood;
As Humphrey, prov'd by reasons, to my liege."
And do not stand on quillets, how to slay him:
Be it by gins, by snares, by subtilty,

Sleeping, or waking, 'tis no matter how, 'So he be dead; for that is good deceit 'Which mates him first, that first intends deceit.3 * Q. Mar. Thrice-noble Suffolk, 'tis resolutely spoke.

* Suf. Not resolute, except so much were done; * For things are often spoke, and seldom meant: * But, that my heart accordeth with my tongue,

No; let him die, in that he is a fox,

By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock,

Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood;

As Humphrey, prov'd by reasons, to my liege.] The meaning of the speaker is not hard to be discovered, but his expression is very much perplexed. He means that the fox may be lawfully killed, as being known to be by nature an enemy to sheep, even before he has actually killed them; so Humphrey may be properly destroyed, as being proved by arguments to be the King's enemy, before he has committed any actual crime.

Some may be tempted to read treasons for reasons, but the drift of the argument is to show that there may be reason to kill him before any treason has broken out. JOHNSON.

3 -for that is good deceit

Which mates him first, that first intends deceit.] Mates him, means confounds him; from amatir or mater, Fr.

*Seeing the deed is meritorious,

* And to preserve my sovereign from his foe,*Say but the word, and I will be his priest.*

*Car. But I would have him dead, my lord of Suffolk,

* Ere you can take due orders for a priest:
* Say, you consent, and censure well the deed,'
* And I'll provide his executioner,

* I tender so the safety of my liege.

*Suf. Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing. * Q. Mar. And so say I.

*York. And I: and now we three have spoke it, * It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.

Enter a Messenger.

'Mess. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain,

betime,

To signify-that rebels there are up, And put the Englishmen unto the sword: * Send succours, lords, and stop the rage * Before the wound do grow incurable; * For, being green, there is great hope of help. * Car. A breach, that craves a quick expedient

stop!'

'What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

' York. That Somerset be sent as regent thither: "Tis meet that lucky ruler be employ'd; 'Witness the fortune he hath had in France.

'Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy, 'Had been the regent there instead of me, 'He never would have staid in France so long.

I will be his priest.] I will be the attendant on his last scene; I will be the last man whom he will see.

5

and censure well the deed,] That is, approve the deed, judge the deed good.

It skills not-] It is of no importance. 7-expedient stop!] i. e. expeditious.

'York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done: 'I rather would have lost my life betimes, * Than bring a burden of dishonour home, By staying there so long, till all were lost. * Show me one scar charácter'd on thy skin: * Men's flesh preserv'd so whole, do seldom win. Q. Mar. Nay then, this spark will prove a raging fire,

* If wind and fuel be brought to feed it with:* No more, good York;-sweet Somerset, be still;— * Thy fortune, York, hadst thou been regent there, * Might happily have prov'd far worse than his.

York. What, worse than naught? nay, then a shame take all!

Som. And, in the number, thee, that wishest shame!

Car. My lord of York, try what your fortune is. < The uncivil Kernes of Ireland are in arms, And temper clay with blood of Englishmen: 'To Ireland will you lead a band of men, 'Collected choicely, from each county some, 'And try your hap against the Irishmen?

*York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty. Suf. Why, our authority is his consent;

And, what we do establish, he confirms:

* Then, noble York, take thou this task in hand. "York. I am content: Provide me soldiers, lords, 'Whiles I take order for mine own affairs.

Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will see perform'd.

'But now return we to the false duke Humphrey. 'Car. No more of him; for I will deal with him, That, henceforth, he shall trouble us no more. ' And so break off; the day is almost spent: 'Lord Suffolk, you and I must talk of that event. 'York. My lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days, "At Bristol I expect my soldiers;

'For there I'll ship them all for Ireland.

Suf. I'll see it truly done, my lord of York. [Exeunt all but YORK. "York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts,

And change misdoubt to resolution:

* Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thou art * Resign to death, it is not worth the enjoying: * Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man, * And find no harbour in a royal heart.

* Faster than spring-time showers, comes thought on thought;

* And not a thought, but thinks on dignity. * My brain, more busy than the labouring spider, * Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. * Well, nobles, well, 'tis politickly done, *To send me packing with an host of men: * I fear me, you but warm the starved snake, * Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your hearts.

'Twas men I lack'd, and you will give them me: 'I take it kindly; yet, be well assur'd

You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands. 'Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band,

* I will stir up in England some black storm,
* Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven, or hell:
* And this fell tempest shall not cease to rage
* Until the golden circuit on my head,

* Like to the glorious sun's transparent beams,
* Do calm the fury of this mad-bred flaw.
'And, for a minister of my intent,

'I have seduc'd a head-strong Kentishman,
'John Cade of Ashford,

'To make commotion, as full well he can, 'Under the title of John Mortimer.

8

mad-bred flaw.] Flaw is a sudden violent gust of wind.