Enter King HENRY, YORK, and SOMERSET, conversing with him; Duke and Duchess of GLOSTER, Cardinal BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, SALISBURY, and WARWICK.

K. Hen. For my part, noble lords, I care not which;

Or Somerset, or York, all's one to me.

York. If York have ill demean'd himself in France, Then let him be denay'd the regentship.

Som. If Somerset be unworthy of the place, Let York be regent, I will yield to him. War. Whether your grace be worthy, yea, or no, Dispute not that: York is the worthier.

Cur. Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak. War. The cardinal's not my better in the field. Buck. All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.

War. Warwick may live to be the best of all. Sal. Peace, son; and show some reason, Buckingham,

Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.

Q. Mar. Because the king, forsooth, will have

it so.

Glo. Madam, the king is old enough himself To give his censure: these are no women's matters. Q. Mar. If he be old enough, what needs your To be protector of his excellence? [grace

Glo. Madam, I am protector of the realm; And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

Suf. Resign it then, and leave thine insolence. Since thou wert king, (as who is king, but thou?) The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck: The Dauphin bath prevail'd beyond the seas; And all the peers and nobles of the realm Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty. Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's Are lank and lean with thy extortions. [bags Som. Thy sumptuous buildings, and thy wife's Have cost a mass of public treasury.

Buck. Thy cruelty in execution, Upon offenders, hath exceeded law, And left thee to the mercy of the law.

[attire,

[Exit Duchess.

Buck. Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: She's tickled now; her fame can need no spurs, She'll gallop fast enough to her destruction. [Exit Buckingham.

Re-enter GLOSTER. Glo. Now, lords, my choler being overblown, With walking once about the quadrangle, I come to talk of commonwealth affairs. As for your spiteful false objections, Prove them, and I lie open to the law: But God in mercy so deal with my soul, As I in duty love my king and country! But to the matter that we have in hand:I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man To be your regent in the realm of France.

Suf. Before we make election, give me leave To shew some reason of no little force, That York is most unmeet of any man.

York. I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet. First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride: Next, if I be appointed for the place, My lord of Somerset will keep me here, Without discharge, money, or furniture, Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands. Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will, Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost. War. That I can witness; and a fouler fact Did never traitor in the land commit. Suf. Peace, headstrong Warwick! War. Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?

Enter Servants of SUFFOLK, bringing in HORNER

and PETER.

Suf. Because here is a man accus'd of treason: Pray God, the duke of York excuse himself? York. Doth any one accuse York for a traitor? K. Hen. What mean'st thou, Suffolk? tell me : What are these?

Suf. Please it your majesty, this is the man That doth accuse his master of high treason: His words were these;-that Richard, duke of York, Was rightful heir unto the English crown; And that your majesty was an usurper.

K. Hen. Say, man, were these thy words? Hor. An't shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter: God is my witness, I am falsely accused by the villain.

Pet. By these ten bones, my lords, (holding up his hands) he did speak them to me in the garret one night, as we were scouring my lord of York's

armour.

York. Base dungbill villain, and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech:I do beseech your royal majesty, Let him have all the rigour of the law.

Hor. Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake the words. My accuser is my prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness of this; therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation.

K. Hen. Uncle, what shall we say to this in law? Glo. This doom, my lord, if I may judge. Let Somerset be regent o'er the French, Because in York this breeds suspicion: And let these have a day appointed them For single combat in convenient place; For he hath witness of his servant's malice: This is the law, and this duke Humphrey's doom. K. Hen. Then be it so. My lord of Somerset, We make your grace lord regent o'er the French. Som. I humbly thank your royal majesty. Hor. And I accept the combat willingly. Pet. Alas, my lord, cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case! the spite of man prevaileth against me. O Lord have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight a blow: O Lord, my

heart!

Glo. Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd. K. Hen. Away with them to prison: and the day Of combat shall be the last of the next month.Come, Somerset, we'll see thee sent away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. The Duke of Gloster's Garden.

Enter MARGERY JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE.

Hume. Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises.

Boling. Master Hume, we are therefore provided: Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?

Hume. Ay; What else? fear you not her courage. Boling. I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: But it shall be convenient, master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we

be busy below; and so, I pray you, go in God's name, and leave us. [Exit Hume.] Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate, and grovel on the earth :John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work. Enter Duchess, above.

Duch. Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To this gear; the sooner the better. [times: Boling. Patience, good lady; wizards know their Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, The time of night when Troy was set on fire; The time when screech-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl, And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves, That time best fits the work we have in hand. Madam, sit you, and fear not; whom we raise, We will make fast within a hallow'd verge. (Here they perform the ceremonies appertaining, and make the circle; Bolingbroke, or Southwell, reads, Conjuro te, &c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth.) Spir. Adsum.

M. Jourd. Asmath,

Boling. First, of the king.-What shall of him become? (Reading out of a paper.) Spir. The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose; But him outlive, and die a violent death. (As the Spirit speaks, Southwell writes the answer.) Boling. What fate awaits the duke of Suffolk? Spir. By water shall he die, and take his end. Boling. What shall befall the duke of Somerset? Spir. Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains
Than where castles mounted stand.
Have done, for more I hardly can endure.
Boling. Descend to darkness, and the burning lake:

False fiend, avoid!

Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch.What, madam, are you there? the king and commonweal

Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains;
My lord protector will, I doubt it not,

See

you well guerdon'd for these good deserts. Duch. Not half so bad as thine to England's king, Injurious duke; that threat'st where is no cause. Buck. True, madam, none at all. What call you this? (Shewing her the papers.) Away with them; let them be clapp'd up close, And kept asunder:-You, madam, shall with us:Stafford, take her to thee.

[Exit Duchess from above. We'll see your trinkets here all forthcoming; All.-Away!

[Exeunt Guards, with South. Boling, &c. York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd her well:

A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon!
Now, pray, my lord, let's see the devil's writ.
What have we here?

The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose;
But him outlive, and die a violent death.

Why, this is just,

Aio te, Eacida Romanos vincere posse. Well, to the rest:

(Reads.)

Tell me,
what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk?
By water shall he die, and take his end.-
What shall betide the duke of Somerset?
Let him shun castles;

Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains,
Than where castles mounted stand.

Invite my lords of Salisbury, and Warwick,
To sup with me to-morrow night.-Away! [Exeunt.
ACT II.

SCENE I.-Saint Alban's.

Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, GLOSTER,
Cardinal, and SUFFOLK, with Falconers hollaing.
Q. Mar. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook,
I saw not better sport these seven years' day:
Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high;
And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.

K. Hen. But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,

And what a pitch she flew above the rest!-
To see how God in all his creatures works!
Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high.

My lord protector's hawks do tower so well;
Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty,
They know their master loves to be aloft,
And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch.
Glo. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind,
That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
Car. I thought as much; he'd be above the
clouds.

[that?

Were it not good, your grace could fly to heaven?
Glo. Ay, my lord cardinal; How think you by
K. Hen. The treasury of everlasting joy!
Car. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and

thoughts

Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart;
Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,
That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal!
Glo. What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown
Tuntæne animis cœlestibus iræ? [peremptory?
Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice;
With such holiness can you do it?

Suf. No malice, sir; no more than well becomes
So good a quarrel, and so bad a peer.
Glo. As who, my lord?
Suf.
Why, as you, my lord;
An't like your lordly lord-protectorship.
Glo. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine inso-
Q. Mar. And thy ambition, Gloster. [lence.
K. Hen.
I pr'ythee, peace,
Good queen; and whet not on these furious peers,
For blessed are the peace-makers on earth.

Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make, Against this proud protector, with my sword! Glo. 'Faith, holy uncle, 'would 'twere come to that! (Aside to the Cardinal.) Car. Marry, when thou dar'st. (A side.) Glo. Make up no factious numbers for the matter, In thine own person answer thy abuse. (Aside.) Car. Ay, where thou dar'st not peep: an if thou

dar'st,

Glo. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.— Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll shave your crown for this,

Or all my fence shall fail.

(Aside.)

Car. Medice teipsum;
Protector, see to't well, protect yourself. (Aside.)
K.Hen. The winds grow high; so do your sto-
machs, lords.

How irksome is this music to my heart!
When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
Enter an Inhabitant of Saint Alban's, crying,
A Miracle!

Glo. What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?

Inhab. A miracle! a miracle!

Suf. Come to the king, and tell him what miracle. Inhab. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine,

Within this half hour, hath received his sight;
A man, that ne'er saw in his life before.

K. Hen. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing

souls

Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's, and his Brethren; and SIMPCOX, borne between two persons in a chair; his Wife and a great Multitude following. Car. Here come the townsmen in procession, To present your highness with the man.

K. Hen. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.

Glo. Stand by, my masters, bring him near the king,

His highness pleasure is to talk with him.

K. Hen. Good fellow, tell us here the circumThat we for thee may glorify the Lord. [tance, What, hast thou been long blind, and now restor'd? Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace. Wife. Ay, indeed, was he.

Suf. What woman is this?

Wife. His wife, an't like your worship.

Glo. Had'st thou been his mother, thou could'st have better told.

grace.

K. Hen. Where wert thou born? Simp. At Berwick, in the north, an't like your [great to thee: K. Hen. Poor soul! God's goodness hath been Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, But still remember what the Lord hath done. Q. Mar. Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou here by chance,

Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?

Simp. God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd A hundred times, and oft'ner, in my sleep By good Saint Alban; who said,-Simpcox, come; Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee. Wife. Most true, forsooth; and many time and Myself have heard a voice to call him so. Car. What, art thou lame? Simp.

[oft Ay, God Almighty help me!

Suf. How cam'st thou so? Simp.

Wife. A plum-tree, master. Glo.

A fall off a tree.

How long hast thou been blind? Simp. O, born so, master. Glo. What, and would'st climb a tree? Simp. But that in all my life, when I was a youth. Wife. Too true; and bought his climbing very [venture so. Glo. 'Mass, thou lov'dst plums well, that would'st Simp. Alas! good master, my wife desir'd some damsons,

dear.

And made me climb, with danger of my life.

Glo. A subtle knave! but yet it shall not serve.— Let me see thine eyes;-wink now; now open In my opinion yet thou see'st not well. [them :Simp. Yes, master, clear as day; I thank God

and Saint Alban.

Simp. No, indeed, master. Glo. What's thine own name?

[master.

Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, Glo. Then, Saunder, sit thou there, the lyingest knave

Thou might'st as well have known our names, as thus

In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind,

To name the several colours we do wear.
Sight may distinguish of colours; but suddenly
To nominate them all, 's impossible.-
My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle;
And would ye not think that cunning to be great,
That could restore this cripple to his legs?

Simp. O, master, that you could!

Glo. My masters of Saint Alban's, have you not beadles in your town, and things called whips? May. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace. Glo. Then send for one presently. May. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight. [Exit an Attendant.

Glo. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. (A stool brought out.) Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool, and run away.

Simp. Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone: You go about to torture me in vain.

Re-enter Attendant, with the Beadle. Glo. Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. -Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.

Bead. I will, my lord.-Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly.

Simp. Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.

[After the Beadle hath hit him once,
he leaps
over the stool, and runs away; and the
people follow, and cry, A miracle!

K. Hen. O God, see'st thou this, and bear'st so

long?

Q. Mar. It made me laugh, to see the villain run. Glo. Follow the knave; and take this drab away. Wife. Alas, sir, we did it for pure need. Glo. Let them be whipped through every market town, till they come to Berwick, whence they came. [Exeunt Mayor, Beadle, Wife, &c. Car. Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day. Suf. True; made the lame to leap, and fly away. You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Gio. But you have done more miracles than I;

Enter BUCKINGHAM. K. Hen. What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?

Buck. Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,Under the countenance and confederacy Of lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, The ringleader and head of all this rout,Have practis'd dangerously against your state, Dealing with witches, and with conjurers: Whom we have apprehended in the fact; Raising up wicked spirits from under ground, Demanding of king Henry's life and death,

And other of your highness' privy council,
As more at large your grace shall understand.
Car. And so, my lord protector, by this means
Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
This news, I think, hath turn'd your weapon's edge;
'Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
(Aside to Gloster.)
Glo. Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my

heart!

Sorrow and grief have vanquish'd all my powers:
And, vanquish'd as I am, I'yield to thee,
Or to the meanest groom.

[ones;
K. Hen. O God, what mischiefs work the wicked
Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!
Q. Mar. Gloster, see here the tainture of thy nest;
And, look, thyself be faultless, thou wert best.

Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, How I have lov'd my king, and commonweal: And, for my wife, I know not how it stands; Sorry I am to hear what I have heard: Noble she is; but if she have forgot Honour and virtue, and convers'd with such As, like to pitch, delile nobility,

[here:

I banish her my bed, and company;
And give her, as a prey, to law, and shame,
That hath dishonour'd Gloster's honest name.
K. Hen. Well, for this night, we will repose us
To-morrow, toward London, back again,
To look into this business thoroughly,
And call these foul offenders to their answers;
And poise the cause in justice' equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause
prevails.
[Flourish. Exeunt.
SCENE II.-London. The Duke of York's Garden.
Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK.
York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and
Warwick,

Our simple supper ended, give me leave,
In this close walk, to satisfy myself,
In craving your opinion of my title,
Which is infallible, to England's crown.

Sal. My lord, I long to hear it at full.
War. Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be
The Nevils are thy subjects to command.
York. Then thus:-

[good,

Edward the third, my lords, had seven sons:
The first, Edward the Black Prince, prince of
Wales;

The second, William of Hatfield; and the third,
Lionel, duke of Clarence; next to whom,
Was John of Gaunt, the duke of Lancaster:
The fifth, was Edmond Langley, duke of York;
The sixth, was Thomas of Woodstock, duke of
Gloster;

William of Windsor was the seventh and last.
Edward, the Black Prince, died before his father;
And left behind him Richard, his only son,
Who, after Edward the Third's death, reign'd as

king;

Till Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Lancaster,
The eldest son and heir of John of Gaunt,
Crown'd by the name of Henry the Fourth,
Seiz'd on the realm; depos'd the rightful king;
Sent his poor queen to France, from whence she

came,

And him to Pomfret; where, as all you know,
Harmless Richard was murder'd traitorously.
War. Father, the duke hath told the truth;
Thus got the house of Lancaster the crown.
York. Which now they hold by force, and not
by right;

For Richard, the first son's heir being dead,
The issue of the next son should have reign'd.
Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an
heir.
[whose line
York. The third son, duke of Clarence, (from
I claim the crown,) had issue-Philippe, a daughter,
Who married Edmund Mortimer, earl of March:

Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt,
The fourth son; York claims it from the third.
Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign:
It fails not yet; but flourishes in thee,
And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.-
Then, father Salisbury, kneel we both together;
And, in this private plot, be we the first,
That shall salute our rightful sovereign
With honour of his birthright to the crown.
Both. Long live our sovereign Richard, Eng-
land's king!
[king
York. We thank you, lords. But I am not your
Till I be crown'd; and that my sword be stain'd
With heart-blood of the house of Lancaster:
And that's not suddenly to be perform'd;
But with advice, and silent secrecy.

Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days,
Wink at the duke of Suffolk's insolence,
At Beaufort's pride, at Somerset's ambition,
At Buckingham, and all the crew of them,
Till they have snar'd the shepherd of the flock,
That virtuous prince, the good duke Humphrey :
'Tis that they seek; and they, in seeking that,
Shall find their deaths, if York can prophesy.
Sal. My lord, break we off; we know your mind
at full.
[Warwick
War. My heart assures me, that the earl of
Shall one day make the duke of York a king.

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.[Exeunt. SCENE III-The same. A Hall of Justice. Trumpets sounded. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, GLOSTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, and SALISBURY; the Duchess of GLOSTER, MARGERY JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, HUME, and BOLINGBROKE, under guard.

K. Hen. Stand forth, dame Eleanor Cobham,
Gloster's wife:

In sight of God, and us, your guilt is great;
Receive the sentence of the law, for sins
Such as by God's book are adjudg'd to death.-
You four, from hence to prison back again;
(To Jourd. &c.)

From thence, unto the place of execution:
The witch in Smithfield shall be burn'd to ashes,
And you three shall be strangled on the gallows.-
You, madam, for you are more nobly born,
Despoiled of your honour in your life,
Shall, after three days' open penance done,
Live in your country here, in banishment,
With, sir John Stanley, in the isle of Man.
Duch. Welcome is banishment, welcome were
my death.
[thee;
Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged
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,

Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself
Protector be: and God shall be my hope,
My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet;
And go in peace, Humphrey; no less belov'd,
Than when thou wert protector to thy king.

Q. Mar. I see no reason, why a king of years
Should be to be protected like a child.-
God and king Henry govern England's helm:
Give up your staff, sir, and the king his realm.

Glo. My staff?-here, noble Henry, is my staff: As willingly do I the same resign,

As ere 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 shrewd 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 maThis is the day appointed for the combat; [jesty, And ready are the appellant and defendant, The armourer and his man, to enter the lists, So please your highness to behold the fight. Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely thereLeft I the court, to see this quarrel tried. [fore 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 bested, 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 similar staff; accompanied by Prentices drinking to him.

1 Neigh. Here, neighbour Horner, I drink to you in a cup of sack; And fear not, neighbour, you shall do well enough. [charneco. 2 Neigh. And here, neighbour, here's a cup of 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.

[well. Sal. Thump! then see thou thump thy master 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,―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, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Ascapart.

York. Despatch:-this knave's tongue begins to double.

Sound trumpets, alarum to the combatants. (Alarum. They fight, and Peter strikes down his master.

treason.

Hor. Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess (Dies.) York. Take away his weapon:-Fellow, thank God, and 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! [sight;

K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our 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.

Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV.-The same. A Street.

Enter GLOSTER and Servants, in mourning cloaks.
Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day a
And, after summer, evermore succeeds [cloud;
Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:
So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
Sirs, what's o'clock?

Serv.

Ten, my lord.

Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess: Uneath may she endure the flinty streets, To tread them with her tender-feeling feet. Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook The abject people, gazing on thy face, With envious looks still laughing at thy shame; That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels, When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets. But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.

Enter the Duchess of GLOSTER, in a white sheet, with papers pinn'd 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.

Gło. 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!
Ah, Gloster, hide thee from their hateful looks;
And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,
And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine.

Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
Duch. Ah, Gloster, teach me to forget myself:
For, whilst I think I am thy married wife,
And thou a prince, protector of this land,
Methinks, I should not thus be led along,
Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back;
And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice
To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet groans.
The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet;
And, when I start, the envious people laugh,
And bid me be advised how I tread.
Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
Trow'st thou, that e'er I'll look upon the world;
Or count them happy, that enjoy the sun?
No; dark shall be my light, and night my day;
To think upon my pomp, shall be my hell.
Sometime I'll say, I am duke Humphrey's wife;
And he a prince, and ruler of the land: