Yet so he rul'd, and such a prince he was,
As he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
"Was made a wonder, and a pointing stock,
To every idle rascal follower.

But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame;
Nor stir at nothing, till the axe of death

Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will.

For Suffolk, he that can do all in all

With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all,And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest, Have all lim❜d bushes to betray thy wings, And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee: *But fear not thou, until thy foot be snar'd, * Nor never seek prevention of thy foes. * Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all * I must offend, before I be attainted: * And had I twenty times so many foes,

awry;

* And each of them had twenty times their power, * All these could not procure me any scathe,3

* So long as I am loyal, true, and crimeless.

'Would'st have me rescue thee from this reproach?

Why, yet thy scandal were not wip'd away,

'But I in danger for the breach of law.

Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell:

I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;

These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

Enter a Herald.

Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glo. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before!

3

4

any scathe,] Scathe is harm, or mischief.

Thy greatest help is quiet,] The poet has not endeavoured to raise much compassion for the Duchess, who indeed suffers but what she had deserved. JOHNSON.

This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there.
[Exit Herald.
My Nell, I take my leave:-and, master sheriff,
Let not her penance exceed the king's commission.
Sher. An't please your grace, here my com-
mission stays:

And sir John Stanley is appointed now
To take her with him to the isle of Man.

'Glo. Must you, sir John, protect my lady here? Stan. So am I given in charge, may't please your

grace.

Glo. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray You use her well: the world may laugh again:" And I may live to do you kindness, if

You do it her. And so, sir John, farewell.

Duch. What gone, my lord; and bid me not farewell?

'Glo. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. Exeunt GLOSTER and Servants. Duch. Art thou gone too? * All comfort go

with thee!

* For none abides with me: my joy is-death; * Death, at whose name I oft have been afeard, * Because I wish'd this world's eternity.

Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me herce; 'I care not whither, for I beg no favour, Only convey me where thou art commanded. * Stan. Why, madam, that is to the isle of Man; *There to be used according to your state.

*Duch. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: * And shall I then be us'd reproachfully?

* Stan. Like to a duchess, and duke Humphrey's lady,

* According to that state you shall be used.

5the world may laugh again;] That is, the world may look again favourably upon me. JOHNSON.

'Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare; Although thou hast been conduct of my shame!" Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. Duch. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharg'dCome, Stanley, shall we go?

'Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,

• And go we to attire you for our journey. 'Duch. My shame will not be shifted with my

sheet:

* No, it will hang upon my richest robes, * And show itself, attire me how I can.

* Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison."

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I. The Abbey at Bury.

Enter to the Parliament, King HENRY, Queen MarGARET, Cardinal BEAUFORT, SUFFOLK, YORK, BUCKINGHAM, and Others.

8

'K. Hen. I muse, my lord of Gloster is not come: "Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, 'Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now.

'Q. Mar. Can you not see? or will you not observe The strangeness of his alter'd countenance?

• With what a majesty he bears himself; 'How insolent of late he is become,

conduct of my shame!] i. e. conductor.

7 I long to see my prison.] This impatience of a high spirit is very natural. It is not so dreadful to be imprisoned, as it is desirable in a state of disgrace to be sheltered from the scorn of gazers. JOHNSON.

"I muse,] i. e. wonder.

'How proud, peremptory, and unlike himself?
'We know the time, since he was mild and affable;
'And, if we did but glance a far-off look,
'Immediately he was upon his knee,

'That all the court admir'd him for submission;
'But meet him now, and, be it in the morn,
'When every one will give the time of day,
He knits his brow, and shows an angry eye,
And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee,
'Disdaining duty that to us belongs.

• Small curs are not regarded, when they grin;
'But great men tremble, when the lion roars;
And Humphrey is no little man in England.
First, note, that he is near you in descent;
' And should you fall, he is the next will mount.
"Me seemeth then, it is no policy,-

Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears,

And his advantage following your decease,• That he should come about your royal person, 'Or be admitted to your highness' council.

By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts; 'And, when he please to make commotion, "Tis to be fear'd, they all will follow him. 'Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted; Suffer them now, and they'll o'ergrow the garden, And choke the herbs for want of husbandry. 'The reverent care, I bear unto my lord,

'Made me collect' these dangers in the duke. 'If it be fond, call it a woman's fear;

2

Which fear if better reasons can supplant, 'I will subscribe and say-I wrong'd the duke. 'My lord of Suffolk,-Buckingham,—and York,—

9 Me seemeth-] That is, it seemeth to me, a word more grammatical than methinks, which has, I know not how, intruded into its place. JOHNSON.

2

collect] i. e. assemble by observation.

? If it be fond,] i. e. weak, foolish.

Reprove my allegation, if you can; 'Or else conclude my words effectual.

Suf. Well hath your highness seen into this duke;

And, had I first been put to speak my mind, I think, I should have told your grace's tale.' *The duchess, by his subornation,

* Upon my life, began her devilish practices:
* Or if he were not privy to those faults,
*Yet, by reputing of his high descent,*
* (As next the king, he was successive heir,)
*And such high vaunts of his nobility,

* Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess,
* By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall.
Smooth runs the water, where the brook is deep;
* And in his simple show he harbours treason.
The fox barks not, when he would steal the lamb.
No, no, my sovereign; Gloster is a man
Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

* Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, * Devise strange deaths for small offences done? York. And did he not, in his protectorship, * Levy great sums of money through the realm, *For soldiers' pay in France, and never sent it? * By means whereof, the towns each day revolted.

Buck. Tut! these are petty faults to faults unknown,

* Which time will bring to light in smooth duke Humphrey.

*K. Hen. My lords, at once: The care you have

of us,

*To mow down thorns that would annoy our foot,

your grace's tale.] Suffolk uses highness and grace promiscuously to the Queen. Majesty was not the settled title till the time of King James the First. JOHNSON.

4

Yet, by reputing of his high descent,] Reputing of his high descent, is valuing himself upon it.