Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy house-keeping, Thy late exploits, done in the heart of France, Have made thee fear'd, and honour'd, of the people :Join we together, for the public good; In what we can to bridle and suppress The pride of Suffolk, and the cardinal, With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition; War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the land, And common profit of his country! York. And so says York, for he hath greatest cause. Sal. Then let's make haste away, and look unto the main. War. Unto the main! O father, Maine is lost; That Maine, which by main force Warwick did win, And would have kept, so long as breath did last : Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant Maine; Which I will win from France, or else be slain. [Exeunt WARWICK and SALISBURY. York. Anjou and Maine are given to the French; Paris is lost; the state of Normandy Stands on a tickle point, now they are gone: Suffolk concluded on the articles; The peers agreed; and Henry was well pleas'd, To change two dukedoms for a duke's fair daughter. I cannot blame them all; What is't to them? 'Tis thine they give away, and not their own. Pirates may make cheap pennyworths of their pillage, Weeps over them, and wrings his hapless hands, Unto the prince's heart of Calydon. Anjou and Maine, both given unto the French! A day will come, when York shall claim his own; And make a show of love to proud duke Humphrey ; For that's the golden mark I seek to hit: Whose church-like humours fit not for a crown. To pry into the secrets of the state; Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love, With his new bride, and England's dear-bought queen, And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars : Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose, With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd; [Exit. SCENE II.-The same. A Room in the Duke of GLOS TER'S House. Enter GLOSTER and the Duchess. Duch. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn, Why are thine eyes fixed to the sullen earth, Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold :- We'll both together lift our heads to heaven; And never more abase our sight so low, As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground. Glo. O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord, Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts: And may that thought, when I imagine ill Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry, My troublous dream this night doth make me sad. Duch. What dream'd my lord? tell me, and I'll requite it With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream. Glo. Methought, this staff, mine office-badge in court, Was broke in twain; by whom, I have forgot, But, as I think, it was by the cardinal; And on the pieces of the broken wand Were plac'd the heads of Edmond duke of Somerset, But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke: In the cathedral church of Westminster, And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd; Where Henry, and dame Margaret, kneel'd to me, head did set the diadem. And on my Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: Duch. What, what, my lord! are you so cholerick With Eleanor, for telling but her dream? Next time, I'll keep my dreams unto myself, Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord protector, 'tis his highness' pleasure, You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans, Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk. Glo. I go.-Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us! Duch. Yes, good my lord, I'll follow presently. [Exeunt GLOSTER and Messenger. Follow I must, I cannot go before, While Gloster bears this base and humble mind. I would remove these tedious stumbling blocks, To play my part in fortune's pageant. Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man, We are alone; here's none but thee, and I. Enter HUME. Hume. Jesu preserve your royal majesty! Duch. What say'st thou, majesty! I am but grace. Hume. But, by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, Your grace's title shall be multiplied. Duch. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr'd With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch; And Roger Bolingbroke, the conjuror? |