*

* And shakes his head, and trembling stands aloof, * While all is shar'd, and all is borne away; * Ready to starve,

and dare not touch his own. * So York must sit, and fret, and bile his tougue,

While his own lands are bargain’d for, and sold. Methinks, the realms of England, France, and

Ireland, * Bear that proportion to my flesh and blood,

As did the fatal brand Althea burn'ü. * Unto the Prince's heart of Calvdon. Anjou and Maine , both given uto the French! Coid news for me; for I had hope of France, Even as I have of fertile England's soil. And day will come, when York shall claim his own; Aud therefore. I will take the Nevils' parts, And make a show of love to proud Duke Humphrey, And, when I spy advantage, claim the crown, For that's the golden mark I seek to hit: Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right, Nor bold the scepter in his childish fist, Nor wear the diadem upon his head, Whose church - like humours fit not for a crown. Then, York, be still a while, till time do serve : Watch thou, and wake, when 'other's be asleep, To pry into the secrets of the state; Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love, With his new bride, and England's dear a bought

Queen, And Humphrey with the Peers bc fall’n at jars : Then will I raise aloft the milk - white rose, With wbose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'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 pull'd fair Eugland down.

[Lxit.

SCENE H.
The same. A Room in the Duke of Gloster's

house.

*

Duch. Why droops my Lord, like over – ri

pen'd corn,
Hanging the head at Ceres' plentéous load?
* Why doth the great Duke Humphrey kuit his

brows,
* As frowning at the favours of the world?

Why are thine eye's fix'd to the fullen earth,
* Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
" What see'st thou there? King Henry's diadem,
* Bn'chas'd with all the honours of the world?
* If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
* Until thy head he 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 :
• Aud inay 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.
• Duch. What dream'd my Lord ? tell me,

and

['ll requite it
"With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.

6

ter

13
* Glo. Methought, this staff, mine office-badge

in court,
Was broke in twain; by whoin, I bave 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

Somerset,
- And William de la Poole first Duke of Suffon
This was my dream; what it doth bode, God

knows.
* Duch. Tnt, this was nothing but an argument,
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 jare

crown'd;
Where Henry, and dame Margaret, kneel'd to me,
And on my head did set the diadein.

• Glo. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright:
* Presumptuous dame, ill-ourtur'd Eleanor!
Art thou not second woman in the realm ;
And the Protector's wife, belov'd of him?
* Hast thou not worldly 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,

Trom top of honour to disgrace's feet?
Away from me, and let me hear no more.
• Duch. What, what, my Lord! are you so

cholerick
• With Eleanor, for telling but her dream,?
• Next time, I'll keep my dreams unto myself,
And not be check'd.
· Glo. Nay, be not avgry, I am pleas'd again.

.

Enter a Messenger. " Mess. My Lord Protector , 'tis his Highness

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? • Duch. Yes, my good Lord, I'll follow presently,

[Exeunt Gloster and Messenger. • Follow I most, 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 sinooth

my way upon their headless necks : * And, being a woman; I will not be slack

To play my part in fortuna's pageant. " Where are you there? Sir John! way, fear.

not, man, We are alone; here's none but thee, and I.

Enter HUME Hume. Jesu preserve your royal Majesty! · Duch. What say'st thou, Majesty! I am but

Grace. Hume. But, by the grace of God, and Hu

me's advice, " Your Grace's title shall be inultiply'd. Duch. What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet

conferr'd With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch; And Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer ? And will they undertake to do me good? * Hume. This they have promised, to show

your Highness A spirit rais’d from depth of under ground, « That shall make answer to such questions,

.

dea:

• As by your Grace shall be propounded him. Dúch. It is enough ; I'll think upon the

questions :
( When from saint Albans we do make return,
" We'll see these things éffected to the full.
• Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry,

man,
• With thy confederates in this weighty cause,

(Exit Duchess. * Hume. Hume must make merry with the Du

chess' 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

Suffolk; • Yet I do find it so: for, to be plain, • They, knowing dame Eleanor's aspiring huinotir, * Have hired me to undermine the Duchess, • 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. * Hume, if you

take not heed, you shall go near * To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.

Well, so it stands : And thus, I fear, at last,
* Hume's kvavery will be the Duchess' wreck;
* And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall:
Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.

[Erit.

t

gel

*

VOL. XI.