Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully.— Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. The same. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. A Street. Enter GLOSTER and Servants, in mourning cloaks. Glo. Thus, sometimes, hath the brightest day a cloud; And, after summer, evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: Serv. Ten, my lord. Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, With envious looks still laughing at thy shame; My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. Enter the Duchess of GLOSTER, in a white sheet, with papers pinn'd upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand; with Sir JOHN STANLEY, a Sheriff, and Officers. Serv. So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff. Glo. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by. And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee! Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. For, whilst I think I am thy married wife, [3] To fleet is to change. STEEV.-Dr. Johnson supposes to fleet (as here used) to be the same as to flit; that is, to be in a flux or transient state, to pass away. MALONE. [4] Eath is the ancient word for ease or easy, and is thus used by Spenser. eath is commonly used by the same author for not easily. STEEVENS. Un And thou a prince, protector of this land, Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke? But be thou mild, and blush not at my shame; With her, that hateth thee, and hates us all, And York, and impious Beaufort, that false priest, And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee: Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; I must offend, before I be attainted: And had I twenty times so many foes, And each of them had twenty times their power, 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: [5] Wrapped up; bundled up in disgrace; alluding to the sheet of penance JOHNSON. [6] i. e. deep-fetched. STEEVENS. [7] Scathe is harm, or mischief. Chaucer, Spenser, and all our ancient writers. are frequent in their use of this word. STEEVENS. [8] The poet has not endeavoured to raise much compassion for the Dutchess, who indeed suffered but what she had deserved. JOHNSON. VOL. VI. K 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! This is close dealing.-Well, I will be there. [Ex. Her. My Nell, I take my leave :-and, master sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the king's commission. She. An't please your grace, here my commission 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 not her 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 afear'd, Because I wish'd this world's eternity.— Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me hence; 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 us'd 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. Duch. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare; 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, [9] ie. The world may look again favourably upon me. JOHNSON. 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. King Henry. I MUSE, my lord of Gloster is not come : Q. Mar. Can you not see? or will you not observe How insolent of late he is become, How proud, peremptory, and unlike himself? We know the time, since he was mild and affable; ! Immediately he was upon his knee, That all the court admir'd him for submission: [1] 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. [2] i. e. It seemeth to me; a word more grammatical than methinks, which has I know not how, intruded into its place. JOHNSON, Now 'tis the spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted; Or else conclude my words effectual. Suf. Well hath your highness seen into this duke; I think, I should have told your grace's tale. Upon my life, began her devilish practices: Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess, By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall. Car. Did he not, contrary to form of law, 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, Is worthy praise: But shall I speak my conscience? Our kinsman Gloster is as innocent From meaning treason to our royal person, As is the sucking lamb, or harmless dove : [3] i. e. assemble by observation. [4] i. e. weak, foolish. STEEVEN6. |