With whose sweet smell the air shall be per fum'd; And in my standard bear the arms of York, To grapple with the house of Lancaster; And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown, Whose bookish rule hath pulld fair England down. (Exit. SCENE I I. The same. A Room in the duke of Gloster's house. Enter GLOSTER and the Dutchess. Dutch. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn, Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load ? *Why doth the great duke Humphrey knit his brows, *As frowning at the favours of the world? * Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth, *Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight? • What see'st thou there? king Henry's diadem,; * Inchas'd with all the honours of the world? * If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face, * Until thy head be circled with the same. •Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold: “What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine: * And, having both together heav'd it up, * 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 : 6 "And may that thought, when I imagine ill · Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry, • Be my last breathing in this mortal world! • My troublous dream this night doth make me sad.. • Dutch. 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-badgo 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 Sou merset, • And William de la Poole first duke of Suffolk, * This was my dream; what it doth bode, God knows. • Dutch. Tut, this was nothing but an argu ment, That he, that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove, Shall lose his head for his presumption. • But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke: Methought, I sat in seat of majesty, In the cathedral church of Westminster, And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd; Where Henry, and dame Margaret, kneelid to me, • And on my head did set the diadem. "Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: * Presumptuous dame, ill-nurturd Eleanor ! Art thou not second woman in the realm; And the protector's wife, belov'd of him? * Hast thou not wordly pleasure at command, *Above the reach or compass of thy thought? And wilt thou still be hammering treachery, * To tumble down thy husband, and thyself, 6 * From top of honour to disgrace's feet? cholerick Glo. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas'd again. Enter a Messenger. 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? · Dutch. Yes, my good lord, I'll follow pre sently. [Exeunt GLOSTER and Messenger. Follow I must, I cannot go before, * While Gloster bears this base and humble mind. * Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood, * I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks, * And smooth my way upon their headless necks : ** And, being a woman, I will not be slack * 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! Dutch. What say'st thou, majesty! I am but grace. Hume. But, by the grace of God, and Hume's advice, Your «Your grace's title shall be multiply'd. yet conferr'd your highness A spirit rais'd from depth of under ground, •That shall make answer to such questions, • As by your grace shall be propounded him. Dutch. It is enough; rll think upon the questions: • When from saint Albans we do make return, • We'll see these things effected to the full, • Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man, •With thy confederates in this weighty cause. [Exit Dutchess. * Hume. Hume must make merry with the dut cbels' gold; “Marry, and shall. But, how now, Sir John Hume? •Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum! • The business asketh silent secrecy. * Dame Eleanor gives gold, to bring the witch: * Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil. 'Yet have I gold, flies from another coast: •I dare not say, from the rich cardinal, •And from the great and new.made duke of Suf. folk; *Yet I do find it so: for, to be plain, “They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring humour, • Have hired me to undermine the dutchess, And buz these conjurations in her brain. They say, A crafty knave does need no broker; * Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal's broker. Vol. V. B go near * IIume, if you take not heed, you shall *To call them both -'a pair of crafty knaves. *Well, so it stands: And thus, I fear, at last, * Hume's knavery will be the dutchess' wreck; * And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall : * Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. [E.xit. SCENE III. The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter PETER, and Others, with Petitions. 61. Pet. My masters, let's stand close; my. lord protector will come this way by and by, and 'then we may deliver our supplications in the quill. 62. Pet. Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man! Jesu bless him! Enter SUFFOLK, and Queen MARGARET. * 1. Pet. Here 'a comes, methinks, and the queen *with him: I'll be the first, sure. 62. Pet. Come back, fool; this is the duke of "Suffolk, and not my lord protector. Suf. How now, fellow? would'st any thing with me? '1. Pet. I pray, my lord, pardon me! I took 'ye for my lord protector. 'Q. Mar. [reading the superscription.) To my 'lord protector! are your supplications to his lordship? Let me see them: What is thine ? • I. Pet. Mine is, an't please your grace, against John Goodman, my lord cardinal's man, for keeping my house, and lands, and wife and all, from me. |