The Second Part Of King Henry The Sixth

1 Enter Duke Humphrey of Gloucester and his wife Eleanor.
2 ELEANOR.
3 Why droops my lord, like over-ripened corn
4 Hanging the head at Ceres’ plenteous load?
5 Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
6 As frowning at the favours of the world?
7 Why are thine eyes fixed to the sullen earth,
8 Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
9 What seest thou there? King Henry’s diadem,
10 Enchased with all the honours of the world?
11 If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
12 Until thy head be circled with the same.
13 Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold.
14 What, is’t too short? I’ll lengthen it with mine;
15 And, having both together heaved it up,
16 We’ll both together lift our heads to heaven,
17 And never more abase our sight so low
18 As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.
19 GLOUCESTER.
20 O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
21 Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts.
22 And may that hour when I imagine ill
23 Against my King and nephew, virtuous Henry,
24 Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
25 My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad.
26 ELEANOR.
27 What dreamed my lord? Tell me, and I’ll requite it
28 With sweet rehearsal of my morning’s dream.
29 GLOUCESTER.
30 Methought this staff, mine office-badge in court,
31 Was broke in twain; by whom I have forgot,
32 But, as I think, it was by th’ Cardinal,
33 And on the pieces of the broken wand
34 Were placed the heads of Edmund, Duke of Somerset
35 And William de la Pole, first Duke of Suffolk.
36 This was my dream; what it doth bode, God knows.
37 ELEANOR.
38 Tut, this was nothing but an argument
39 That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester’s grove
40 Shall lose his head for his presumption.
41 But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet Duke:
42 Methought I sat in seat of majesty
43 In the cathedral church of Westminster
44 And in that chair where kings and queens are crowned,
45 Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneeled to me
46 And on my head did set the diadem.
47 GLOUCESTER.
48 Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright.
49 Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtured Eleanor,
50 Art thou not second woman in the realm,
51 And the Protector’s wife, beloved of him?
52 Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
53 Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
54 And wilt thou still be hammering treachery
55 To tumble down thy husband and thyself
56 From top of honour to disgrace’s feet?
57 Away from me, and let me hear no more!
58 ELEANOR.
59 What, what, my lord! Are you so choleric
60 With Eleanor for telling but her dream?
61 Next time I’ll keep my dreams unto myself,
62 And not be checked.
63 GLOUCESTER.
64 Nay, be not angry, I am pleased again.
65 Enter Messenger.
66 MESSENGER.
67 My Lord Protector, ’tis his highness’ pleasure
68 You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans,
69 Whereas the King and Queen do mean to hawk.
70 GLOUCESTER.
71 I go. Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?
72 ELEANOR.
73 Yes, my good lord, I’ll follow presently.
74 [_Exeunt Gloucester and Messenger._]
75 Follow I must; I cannot go before
76 While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.
77 Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
78 I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks
79 And smooth my way upon their headless necks;
80 And, being a woman, I will not be slack
81 To play my part in Fortune’s pageant.—
82 Where are you there? Sir John! Nay, fear not, man,
83 We are alone; here’s none but thee and I.
84 Enter Hume.
85 HUME.
86 Jesus preserve your royal majesty!
87 ELEANOR.
88 What sayst thou? Majesty! I am but grace.
89 HUME.
90 But, by the grace of God, and Hume’s advice,
91 Your grace’s title shall be multiplied.
92 ELEANOR.
93 What sayst thou, man? Hast thou as yet conferred
94 With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,
95 With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
96 And will they undertake to do me good?
97 HUME.
98 This they have promised, to show your highness
99 A spirit raised from depth of underground,
100 That shall make answer to such questions
101 As by your Grace shall be propounded him.
102 ELEANOR.
103 It is enough, I’ll think upon the questions.
104 When from Saint Albans we do make return,
105 We’ll see these things effected to the full.
106 Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,
107 With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
108 [_Exit._]
109 HUME.
110 Hume must make merry with the Duchess’ gold.
111 Marry, and shall. But, how now, Sir John Hume!
112 Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum;
113 The business asketh silent secrecy.
114 Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch;
115 Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.
116 Yet have I gold flies from another coast.
117 I dare not say, from the rich cardinal
118 And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk,
119 Yet I do find it so. For, to be plain,
120 They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humour,
121 Have hired me to undermine the Duchess
122 And buzz these conjurations in her brain.
123 They say “A crafty knave does need no broker”,
124 Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal’s broker.
125 Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
126 To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
127 Well, so its stands; and thus, I fear, at last
128 Hume’s knavery will be the Duchess’ wrack,
129 And her attainture will be Humphrey’s fall.
130 Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.
131 [_Exit._]