The Second Part Of King Henry The Sixth

1 Enter Gloucester and his Servingmen in mourning cloaks.
2 GLOUCESTER.
3 Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud,
4 And after summer evermore succeeds
5 Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold;
6 So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
7 Sirs, what’s o’clock?
8 SERVINGMEN.
9 Ten, my lord.
10 GLOUCESTER.
11 Ten is the hour that was appointed me
12 To watch the coming of my punished duchess.
13 Uneath may she endure the flinty streets,
14 To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
15 Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook
16 The abject people gazing on thy face
17 With envious looks, laughing at thy shame,
18 That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels
19 When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
20 But, soft! I think she comes; and I’ll prepare
21 My tear-stained eyes to see her miseries.
22 Enter the Duchess of Gloucester in a white sheet, and a taper burning
23 in her hand; with Sir John Stanley, the Sheriff, and Officers.
24 SERVINGMEN.
25 So please your Grace, we’ll take her from the sheriff.
26 GLOUCESTER.
27 No, stir not for your lives; let her pass by.
28 ELEANOR.
29 Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
30 Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze!
31 See how the giddy multitude do point,
32 And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee.
33 Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks,
34 And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,
35 And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine!
36 GLOUCESTER.
37 Be patient, gentle Nell, forget this grief.
38 ELEANOR.
39 Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself!
40 For whilst I think I am thy married wife
41 And thou a prince, Protector of this land,
42 Methinks I should not thus be led along,
43 Mailed up in shame, with papers on my back,
44 And followed with a rabble that rejoice
45 To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.
46 The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
47 And when I start, the envious people laugh
48 And bid me be advised how I tread.
49 Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
50 Trowest thou that e’er I’ll look upon the world,
51 Or count them happy that enjoy the sun?
52 No, dark shall be my light and night my day;
53 To think upon my pomp shall be my hell.
54 Sometimes I’ll say, I am Duke Humphrey’s wife,
55 And he a prince and ruler of the land;
56 Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was
57 As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
58 Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock
59 To every idle rascal follower.
60 But be thou mild and blush not at my shame,
61 Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death
62 Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will.
63 For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
64 With her that hateth thee and hates us all,
65 And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
66 Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings;
67 And fly thou how thou canst, they’ll tangle thee.
68 But fear not thou until thy foot be snared,
69 Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
70 GLOUCESTER.
71 Ah, Nell, forbear! Thou aimest all awry.
72 I must offend before I be attainted;
73 And had I twenty times so many foes,
74 And each of them had twenty times their power,
75 All these could not procure me any scathe
76 So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.
77 Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?
78 Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away,
79 But I in danger for the breach of law.
80 Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell.
81 I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
82 These few days’ wonder will be quickly worn.
83 Enter a Herald.
84 HERALD.
85 I summon your grace to his majesty’s parliament,
86 Holden at Bury the first of this next month.
87 GLOUCESTER.
88 And my consent ne’er asked herein before?
89 This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.
90 [_Exit Herald._]
91 My Nell, I take my leave; and, master sheriff,
92 Let not her penance exceed the King’s commission.
93 SHERIFF.
94 An ’t please your grace, here my commission stays,
95 And Sir John Stanley is appointed now
96 To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
97 GLOUCESTER.
98 Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?
99 STANLEY.
100 So am I given in charge, may ’t please your grace.
101 GLOUCESTER.
102 Entreat her not the worse in that I pray
103 You use her well. The world may laugh again,
104 And I may live to do you kindness if
105 You do it her. And so, Sir John, farewell.
106 ELEANOR.
107 What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell?
108 GLOUCESTER.
109 Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.
110 [_Exeunt Gloucester and Servingmen._]
111 ELEANOR.
112 Art thou gone too? All comfort go with thee,
113 For none abides with me; my joy is death;
114 Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard,
115 Because I wished this world’s eternity.
116 Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence,
117 I care not whither, for I beg no favour,
118 Only convey me where thou art commanded.
119 STANLEY.
120 Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man,
121 There to be used according to your state.
122 ELEANOR.
123 That’s bad enough, for I am but reproach;
124 And shall I then be used reproachfully?
125 STANLEY.
126 Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey’s lady;
127 According to that state you shall be used.
128 ELEANOR.
129 Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare,
130 Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.
131 SHERIFF.
132 It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.
133 ELEANOR.
134 Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharged.
135 Come, Stanley, shall we go?
136 STANLEY.
137 Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,
138 And go we to attire you for our journey.
139 ELEANOR.
140 My shame will not be shifted with my sheet,
141 No, it will hang upon my richest robes
142 And show itself, attire me how I can.
143 Go, lead the way, I long to see my prison.
144 [_Exeunt._]