And kept asunder: -You, madam, shall with us:- [Exit DUCHESS from above. [Exeunt Guards, with SOUTHWELL, BOLING- York. Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch'd A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon! The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose: Aio te, acida, Romanos vincere posse. Tell me, what fate awaits the duke of Suffolk? [Reads. Let him shun castles; And hardly understood. 4.85 With him, the husband of this lovely lady: Buck. Your grace shall give me leave, my lord of To be the post, in hope of his reward. York. At your pleasure, my good lord. - Who's within there, ho! ACT II. SCENE I.- Saint Alban's. K. Hen. But what a point, my lord, your falcon And what a pitch she flew above the rest! - Car. I thought as much; he'd be above the clouds. Tantæne animis cœlestibus iræ? Suf. No malice, sir; no more than well becomes 1 The falconer's term for hawking at water-fowl. Car. Let me blessed for the peace I make, This evening on the east side of the grove. [Aside. Glo. True, uncle. [Aside. Car. Are you advis'd?-the east side of the grove? When such strings jar, what hope of harmony? Glo. What means this noise? Suf. Come to the king, and tell him what miracle. shrine, Within this half hour, hath receiv'd his sight; K. Hen. Now, God be prais'd! that to believing Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair! 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 circumstance, That we for thee may glorify the Lord. 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. Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told. K. Hen. Where wert thou born? Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, 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 oft Myself have heard a voice to call him so. Car. What, art thou lame? Simp. 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 wouldst climb a tree? Simp. But that in all my life, when I was a youth. Wife. Too true; and bought his climbing very dear. Glo. 'Mass, thou lov'dst plums well, that wouldst venture so. Simp. Alas, good master, my wife desir'd some damsons, 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 them : In my opinion yet thou seest not well. Simp. Yes, master, clear as day; I thank God, and saint Alban. Glo. Say'st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of? Simp. Red, master; red as blood. Glo. Why, that's well said: What colour is my gown of? Simp. Black, forsooth; coal-black, as jet. Suf. And yet, I think, jet did he never see. Simp. I know not. Glo. Nor his? Simp No, indeed, master. Glo. What's thine own name? Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master. Glo. Then, Saunder, sit thou there, the lyingest knave In Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, 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, seest 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. Glo. But you have done more miracles than I; You made, in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly. Enter BUCKINGHAM. K. Hen. Alas, what mischiefs work the wicked ones; Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby ! Glo. Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, I banish her my bed and company ; K. Hen. Well, for this night, we will repose us here: Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK. York. Now, my good lords of Salisbury and Our simple supper ended, give me leave, In craving your opinion of my title, Which is infallible to England's crown. Sal. My lord, I long to hear it at full. Henry doth claim the crown from John of Gaunt, York. We thank you, lords. king Till I be crown'd: and that my sword be stain'd War. Sweet York, begin: and if thy claim be good, Do you, as I do, in these dangerous days, York. Then thus: Edward the Third, my lords, had seven sons: William of Windsor was the seventh, and last. War. Father, the duke hath told the truth; York. Which now they hold by force, and not by right; For Richard, the first son's heir being dead, Sal. But William of Hatfield died without an heir. York. The third son, duke of Clarence, (from whose line I claim the crown,) had issue - Philippe, a daughter, Weigh. Wink at the duke of Suffolk's insolence, War. My heart assures me, that the earl of War wick Shall one day make the duke of York a king. [Exeunt. SCENE III. 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, In sight of God, and us your guilt is great; [To JOURDAIN, &c. From thence unto the place of execution : 5 Sequestered spot. Shall, after three days' open penance done, Live in your country here, in banishment, With sir John Stanley, in the Isle of 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 Duch. Welcome is banishment, welcome were my not afraid. death. 2 Pren. Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy mas Glo. Eleanor, the law, thou seest, hath judged thee; ter; fight for credit of the prentices. I cannot justify whom the law condemns. [Exeunt the DUCHESS, and the other Prisoners, Mine eyes are full of tears, my heart of grief. Give up thy staff; Henry will to himself years Q. Mar. I see no reason why a king of Glo. My staff?- here, noble Henry, is my staff; As willingly do I the same resign, As e'er thy father Henry made it mine; [Exit. Q. Mar. Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen; And Humphrey, duke of Gloster, scarce himself, 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 am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt so much fence already. Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his in right! sprays; Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days. Q. Mar. Ay, good my lord; for purposely therefore Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried. K. Hen. Then let us see the lists and all things fit; Here let them end it, 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. K. Hen. Go, take hence that traitor from our sight; For, by his death, we do perceive his guilt: And heaven 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. A Street. 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. 1. Not easily. 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. 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! Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke? But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame ; Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; And each of them had twenty times their power, For none abides with me: my joy is death; Stan. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man; There to be used according to your state. Duch. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: And shall I then be used reproachfully? Stan. Like to a duchess, and duke Humphrey's lady, According to that state you shall be used. Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare; Although thou hast been conduct of my shame! Sher. It is my office, madam, pardon me. Duch. Ay, ay, farewell, thy office is discharg’d. — Come, Stanley, shall we go? Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey. Duch. My shame will not be shifted with my sheet: No, it will hang upon my richest robes, • Conductor. [Exeunt. |