Glo. Thou art reverent Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life. Roam thither, then. (80) Som. My lord, it were your duty to forbear. War. Ay, see the bishop be not overborne. Som. Methinks my lord should be religious, And know the office that belongs to such. War. Methinks his lordship should be humbler; Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so near. Is not his grace protector to the king? Plan. [aside] Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue, Lest it be said, "Speak, sirrah, when you should; Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?" Else would I have a fling at Winchester. K. Hen. Uncles of Gloster and of Winchester, That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth. [A noise within, "Down with the tawny-coats!" What tumult's this? War. An uproar, I dare warrant, Begun through malice of the bishop's men. [A noise again within, "Stones! stones!" Enter the Mayor of London, attended. May. O, my good lords,-and virtuous Henry, Pity the city of London, pity us! The bishop(81) and the Duke of Gloster's men, That many have their giddy brains knock'd out: Enter, skirmishing, the Serving-men of GLOSTER and WINCHESTER with bloody pates. K. Hen. We charge you, on allegiance to ourself, To hold your slaughtering hands and keep the peace.Pray, uncle Gloster, mitigate this strife. First Serv. Nay, if we be Forbidden stones, we'll fall to't with our teeth. [Skirmish again. Glo. You of my household, leave this peevish broil, And set this unaccustom'd fight aside. Third Serv. My lord, we know your grace to be a man Just and upright; and, for your royal birth, Inferior to none but to his majesty: And, ere that we will suffer such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal, To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate, We, and our wives, and children, all will fight, First Serv. Ay, and the very parings of our nails Glo. An if you love me, as you say you do, Let me persuade you to forbear awhile. [Skirmish again. Stay, stay, I say !(84) K. Hen. O, how this discord doth afflict my soul!Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Who should be pitiful, if you be not? Or who should study to prefer(85) a peace, If holy churchmen take delight in broils? War. My lord protector, yield;(86)-yield, Winchester;— Except you mean, with obstinate repulse, To slay your sovereign, and destroy the realm. Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield. Glo. Compassion on the king commands me stoop; Or I would see his heart out, ere the priest Should ever get that privilege of me. War. Behold, my Lord of Winchester, the duke Why look you still so stern and tragical? Glo. Here, Winchester, I offer thee my hand. K. Hen. Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard you preach That malice was a great and grievous sin; And will not you maintain the thing you teach, But prove a chief offender in the same? War. Sweet king!-the bishop hath a kindly gird.— For shame, my Lord of Winchester, relent! What, shall a child instruct you what to do? Win. Well, Duke of Gloster, I will yield to thee; Love for thy love, and hand for hand I give. Glo. [aside] Ay, but, I fear me, with a hollow heart.See here, my friends and loving countrymen ; This token serveth for a flag of truce Betwixt ourselves and all our followers : So help me God, as I dissemble not! Win. [aside] So help me God, as I intend it not! K. Hen. O loving uncle, kind Duke of Gloster,(87) How joyful am I made by this contráct!— Away, my masters! trouble us no more; But join in friendship, as your lords have done. Sec. Serv. And so will I. Third Serv. And I will see what physic the tavern affords. [Exeunt Serving-men, Mayor, &c. War. Accept this scroll, most gracious sovereign, Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet We do exhibit to your majesty. Glo. Well urg'd, my Lord of Warwick:-for, sweet prince, An if your grace mark every circumstance, You have great reason to do Richard right; Especially for those occasions At Eltham-place I told your majesty. K. Hen. And those occasions, uncle, were of force: War. Let Richard be restored to his blood; Win. As will the rest, so willeth Winchester. That doth belong unto the house of York, Plan. Thy humble servant vows obedience And faithful service till the point of death. (89) K. Hen. Stoop, then, and set your knee against my foot; And, in reguerdon of that duty done, I girt thee with the valiant sword of York: Rise, Richard, like a true Plantagenet, And rise created princely Duke of York. Plan. And so thrive Richard as thy foes may fall! And as my duty springs, so perish they That grudge one thought against your majesty! All. Welcome, high prince, the mighty Duke of York! To cross the seas, and to be crown'd in France: The presence of a king engenders love Amongst his subjects and his loyal friends, As it disanimates his enemies. K. Hen. When Gloster says the word, King Henry goes; For friendly counsel cuts off many foes. Glo. Your ships already are in readiness. [Flourish. Exeunt all except Exeter. Exe. Ay, we may march in England or in France, Not seeing what is likely to ensue. This late dissension grown betwixt the peers And now I fear that fatal prophecy SCENE II. France. Before Rouen. [Exit. Enter LA PUCELLE disguised, and Soldiers dressed like Countrymen, with sacks upon their backs. Puc. These are the city-gates, the gates of Rouen, That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them. First Sol. Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city, And we be lords and rulers over Rouen; Therefore we'll knock. Guard. [within] Qui va là ?(92) Puc. Paysans, pauvres gens de France, Poor market-folks, that come to sell their corn. [Knocks. Guard. [opening the gates] Enter, go in; the market-bell is rung. Puc. Now, Rouen, I'll shake thy bulwarks to the ground. [La Pucelle, &c. enter the town. Enter CHARLES, the Bastard of Orleans, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and Forces. Char. Saint Denis bless this happy stratagem! And once again we'll sleep secure in Rouen. Bast. Here enter'd Pucelle and her practisants; Now she is there, how will she specify Where(93) is the best and safest passage in? |