Act III
Scene I
The Abbey at Bury St. Edmund’s.
Sound a sennet. Enter the King, the Queen, Cardinal Beaufort, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury and Warwick to the Parliament. | |
King |
I muse my Lord of Gloucester is not come:
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Queen |
Can you not see? or will ye not observe
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Suffolk |
Well hath your highness seen into this duke;
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Cardinal |
Did he not, contrary to form of law,
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York |
And did he not, in his protectorship,
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Buckingham |
Tut, these are petty faults to faults unknown,
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King |
My lords, at once: the care you have of us,
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Queen |
Ah, what’s more dangerous than this fond affiance!
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Enter Somerset. | |
Somerset | All health unto my gracious sovereign! |
King | Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France? |
Somerset |
That all your interest in those territories
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King | Cold news, Lord Somerset: but God’s will be done! |
York |
Aside. Cold news for me; for I had hope of France
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Enter Gloucester. | |
Gloucester |
All happiness unto my lord the king!
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Suffolk |
Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon,
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Gloucester |
Well, Suffolk, thou shalt not see me blush
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York |
’Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France,
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Gloucester |
Is it but thought so? what are they that think it?
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Cardinal | It serves you well, my lord, to say so much. |
Gloucester | I say no more than truth, so help me God! |
York |
In your protectorship you did devise
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Gloucester |
Why, ’tis well known that, whiles I was protector,
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Suffolk |
My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answer’d:
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King |
My lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope
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Gloucester |
Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous:
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Cardinal |
My liege, his railing is intolerable:
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Suffolk |
Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here
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Queen | But I can give the loser leave to chide. |
Gloucester |
Far truer spoke than meant: I lose, indeed;
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Buckingham |
He’ll wrest the sense and hold us here all day:
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Cardinal | Sirs, take away the duke, and guard him sure. |
Gloucester |
Ah! thus King Henry throws away his crutch
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King |
My lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best,
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Queen | What, will your highness leave the parliament? |
King |
Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown’d with grief,
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Queen |
Free lords, cold snow melts with the sun’s hot beams.
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Cardinal |
That he should die is worthy policy;
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Suffolk |
But, in my mind, that were no policy:
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York | So that, by this, you would not have him die. |
Suffolk | Ah, York, no man alive so fain as I! |
York |
’Tis York that hath more reason for his death.
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Queen | So the poor chicken should be sure of death. |
Suffolk |
Madam, ’tis true; and were’t not madness, then,
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Queen | Thrice-noble Suffolk, ’tis resolutely spoke. |
Suffolk |
Not resolute, except so much were done;
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Cardinal |
But I would have him dead, my Lord of Suffolk,
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Suffolk | Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing. |
Queen | And so say I. |
York |
And I: and now we three have spoke it,
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Enter a Post. | |
Post |
Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain,
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Cardinal |
A breach that craves a quick expedient stop!
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York |
That Somerset be sent as regent thither:
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Somerset |
If York, with all his far-fet policy,
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York |
No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done:
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Queen |
Nay, then, this spark will prove a raging fire,
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York | What, worse than nought? nay, then, a shame take all! |
Somerset | And, in the number, thee that wishest shame! |
Cardinal |
My Lord of York, try what your fortune is.
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York | I will, my lord, so please his majesty. |
Suffolk |
Why, our authority is his consent,
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York |
I am content: provide me soldiers, lords,
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Suffolk |
A charge, Lord York, that I will see perform’d.
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Cardinal |
No more of him; for I will deal with him
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York |
My Lord of Suffolk, within fourteen days
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Suffolk | I’ll see it truly done, my Lord of York. Exeunt all but York. |
York |
Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts,
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Scene II
Bury St. Edmund’s. A room of state.
Enter certain Murderers, hastily. | |
First Murderer |
Run to my Lord of Suffolk; let him know
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Second Murderer |
O that it were to do! What have we done?
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Enter Suffolk. | |
First Murderer | Here comes my lord. |
Suffolk | Now, sirs, have you dispatch’d this thing? |
First Murderer | Ay, my good lord, he’s dead. |
Suffolk |
Why, that’s well said. Go, get you to my house;
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First Murderer | ’Tis, my good lord. |
Suffolk | Away! be gone. Exeunt Murderers. |
Sound trumpets. Enter the King, the Queen, Cardinal Beaufort, Somerset, with Attendants. | |
King |
Go, call our uncle to our presence straight;
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Suffolk | I’ll call him presently, my noble lord. Exit. |
King |
Lords, take your places; and, I pray you all,
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Queen |
God forbid any malice should prevail,
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King | I thank thee, Meg; these words content me much. |
Re-enter Suffolk. | |
How now! why look’st thou pale? why tremblest thou?
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Suffolk | Dead in his bed, my lord; Gloucester is dead. |
Queen | Marry, God forfend! |
Cardinal |
God’s secret judgment: I did dream to-night
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Queen | How fares my lord? Help, lords! the king is dead. |
Somerset | Rear up his body; wring him by the nose. |
Queen | Run, go, help, help! O Henry, ope thine eyes! |
Suffolk | He doth revive again: madam, be patient. |
King | O heavenly God! |
Queen | How fares my gracious lord? |
Suffolk | Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry, comfort! |
King |
What, doth my Lord of Suffolk comfort me?
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Queen |
Why do you rate my Lord of Suffolk thus?
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King | Ah, woe is me for Gloucester, wretched man! |
Queen |
Be woe for me, more wretched than he is.
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Noise within. Enter Warwick, Salisbury, and many Commons. | |
Warwick |
It is reported, mighty sovereign,
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King |
That he is dead, good Warwick, ’tis too true;
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Warwick |
That shall I do, my liege. Stay, Salisbury,
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King |
O Thou that judgest all things, stay my thoughts,
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Re-enter Warwick and others, bearing Gloucester’s body on a bed. | |
Warwick | Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body. |
King |
That is to see how deep my grave is made;
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Warwick |
As surely as my soul intends to live
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Suffolk |
A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue!
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Warwick |
See how the blood is settled in his face.
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Suffolk |
Why, Warwick, who should do the duke to death?
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Warwick |
But both of you were vow’d Duke Humphrey’s foes,
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Queen |
Then you, belike, suspect these noblemen
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Warwick |
Who finds the heifer dead and bleeding fresh
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Queen |
Are you the butcher, Suffolk? Where’s your knife?
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Suffolk |
I wear no knife to slaughter sleeping men;
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Warwick | What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him? |
Queen |
He dares not calm his contumelious spirit
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Warwick |
Madam, be still; with reverence may I say;
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Suffolk |
Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor!
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Warwick |
But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee
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Suffolk |
Thou shalt be waking well I shed thy blood,
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Warwick |
Away even now, or I will drag thee hence:
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King |
What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted!
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Queen | What noise is this? |
Re-enter Suffolk and Warwick, with their weapons drawn. | |
King |
Why, how now, lords! your wrathful weapons drawn
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Suffolk |
The traitorous Warwick with the men of Bury
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Salisbury |
To the Commons, entering. Sirs, stand apart; the king shall know your mind.
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Commons | Within. An answer from the king, my Lord of Salisbury! |
Suffolk |
’Tis like the commons, rude unpolish’d hinds,
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Commons | Within. An answer from the king, or we will all break in! |
King |
Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me,
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Queen | O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk! |
King |
Ungentle queen, to call him gentle Suffolk!
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Queen |
Mischance and sorrow go along with you!
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Suffolk |
Cease, gentle queen, these execrations
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Queen |
Fie, coward woman and soft-hearted wretch!
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Suffolk |
A plague upon them! wherefore should I curse them?
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Queen |
Enough, sweet Suffolk; thou torment’st thyself;
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Suffolk |
You bade me ban, and will you bid me leave?
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Queen |
O, let me entreat thee cease. Give me thy hand,
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Suffolk |
Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banished;
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Enter Vaux. | |
Queen | Wither goes Vaux so fast? what news, I prithee? |
Vaux |
To signify unto his majesty
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Queen |
Go tell this heavy message to the king. Exit Vaux.
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Suffolk |
If I depart from thee, I cannot live;
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Queen |
Away! though parting be a fretful corrosive,
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Suffolk | I go. |
Queen | And take my heart with thee. |
Suffolk |
A jewel, lock’d into the woefull’st cask
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Queen | This way for me. Exeunt severally. |
Scene III
A bedchamber.
Enter the King, Salisbury, Warwick, to the Cardinal in bed. | |
King | How fares my lord? speak, Beaufort, to thy sovereign. |
Cardinal |
If thou be’st death, I’ll give thee England’s treasure,
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King |
Ah, what a sign it is of evil life,
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Warwick | Beaufort, it is thy sovereign speaks to thee. |
Cardinal |
Bring me unto my trial when you will.
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King |
O thou eternal Mover of the heavens,
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Warwick | See, how the pangs of death do make him grin! |
Salisbury | Disturb him not; let him pass peaceably. |
King |
Peace to his soul, if God’s good pleasure be!
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Warwick | So bad a death argues a monstrous life. |
King |
Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.
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