So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet. Serv. Ten, my lord. Glo. Ten is the hour that was appointed me, To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess: Uneath may she endure the flinty streets, To tread them with her tender-feeling feet. Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook The abject people, gazing on thy face, With envious looks, still laughing at thy shame; That erst did follow thy proud chariot wheels, When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets. But, soft! I think, she comes; and I'll prepare My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. Enter the DUCHESS OF GLOSTER, in a white sheet, with papers pinned upon her back, her feet bare, and a taper burning in her hand: 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. Duch. Come you, my lord, to see my open shame? Now thou dost penance too. Look, how they gaze! See, how the giddy multitude do point, And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee! Ah, Gloster, hide thee from their hateful looks; And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame, And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine. Glo. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. Duch. Ah, Gloster, teach me to forget myself: For, whilst I think I am thy married wife, And thou a prince, protector of this land, Methinks, I should not thus be led along, Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back; And follow'd with a rabble, that rejoice To see my tears, and hear my deep-fet groans. The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet; And, when I start, the envious people laugh, And bid me be advised how I tread. Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke? Trow'st thou, that e'er I'll look upon the world; Or count them happy, that enjoy the sun? 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, Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings, Glo. Ah, Nell, forbear; thou aimest all awry; 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. [Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave :-and master sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the king's commission. [mission stays: Sher. An't please your grace, here my comAnd 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: Stanley, I pr'ythee, go, and take me hence; 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; 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'd. Come, Stanley, shall we go? Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey. No, it will hang upon my richest robes, [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. The Abbey at Bury. Enter to the Parliament, KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, SUFFOLK, YORK, BUCKINGHAM, and Others. K. Hen. I muse, my lord of Gloster is not come; 'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, Whate'er ocasion keeps him from us now. Q. Mar. Can you not see? or will you not observe The strangeness of his alter'd countenance? How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself? We know the time, since he was mild and affable; That all the court admir'd him for submission: Small curs are not regarded, when they grin: Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears, 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, VOL. V. K Made me collect these dangers in the duke. Suff. Well hath your highness seen into this duke; And, had I first been put to speak my mind, Upon my life, began her devilish practices: (As next the king he was successive heir), 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, Is worthy praise: But shall I speak my conscience? Our kinsman Gloster is as innocent From meaning treason to our royal person, Q. Mar. Ah, what's more dangerous than this |