* Is he a lamb? his skin is surely lent him, For he's inclin'd as are the ravenous wolves. Who cannot steal a shape, that means deceit ? * Take heed, my Lord; the welfare of us all * Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man. " Enter SOMERSET. Som. All health unto my gracious Sovereign! K. Hen. Welcome, Lord Somerset. What news from France? 'Som. That all your interest in those territories 'Is utterly bereft you; all is lost. K. Hen. Gold news, Lord Somerset: But God's will be done!! York. Cold news for me; for I had hope of France, As firmly as I hope, for fertile England. Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, But I will remedy this gear ere long, * Or sell my title for a glorious grave. [Aside. Enter GLOSTER. Glo. All happiness unto my Lord the King! Pardon, my Liege, that I have staid so long. Suf Nay Gloster, know, that thou art come too soon, Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art: 1 do arrest thee of high treason here. Glo. Well, Suffolk, yet t thou shalt not see T%1$$!u*g}(EE{9 GY me blush, Nor change my countenance for this arrest; *A heart unspotted is not easily daunted. 2 *The purest spring is not so free from mud, As I am clear from treason to my Sovereign: Who can accuse me? wherein am I guilty? York. 'Tis thought, my Lord, that you took bribes of France, And, being Protector, stay'd the soldiers' pay; By means whereof, his Highness hath lost France, Glo. Is it but thought so? What are they, that think it? I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay, -- England! That doit that e'er I wrested from the King, Be brought against me at my trial day! And never ask'd for restitution, Car. It serves you well, my Lord, to say Glo. I say no more than truth, so help me York. In your protectorship, you did devise Strange tortures for offenders, never heard of, That England was defam'd by tyranny. Glo. Why, 'tis well known, that whiles 1 was Protector, Pity was all the fault that was in me; * For I should melt at an offender's tears, And lowly words were ransom for their fault. Unless it were a bloody murderer, Or foul felonious thief, that fleec'd poor pas- sengers, I never gave them condign punishment: Murder, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd Above the feion, or what trespass else. Suf. My Lord, these faults are answerd; easy, quickly But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge, Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself. I do arrest you in his Highness' name; And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal To keep, until your further time of trial. K. Hen. My Lord of Gloster, 'tis my special hope, That you will clear yourself from all suspects; My conscience tells me, you are innocent. Glo. Ah, gracious Lord, these days are dangerous! Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition, And charity chas'd hence by raucour's hand; Foul subornation is predominaut, * And equity exil'd your Highness' land. I would expend it with all willingness: And Suffolk's cloudy brow his stórmy hate; wwwww.. ⚫ Canseless have laid disgraces on my head; And, with your best endeavour, have stirr'd up My liefest Liege to be mine enemy: Ay, all of you have lais your heads together, *Myself had notice of your conventicles, And all to make away my guiltless life: I shall not want false witness to condemn me, A staff is quickly found to beat a dog. *Car. My Lege, his railing is intolerable: *If those, that care to keep your royal person From treason's secret knife, and traitors' rage, *Be thus upbraided, chid, aud rated at, *And the offender granted scope of speech, *Twill make them cool in zeal unto your Grace. Suf. Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here, With ignominious words, though clerkly couch'd, As if she had suborned some to swear False allegations to o'erthrow his state? Q. Mar. But I can give the loser leave to chide. Glo. Far truer spoke, than meant: I lose indeed; Beshrew the winners, for they play'd me * And well such losers may have leave so speak. Buck. He'll wrest the sense, and hold us here all day: Lord Cardinal, he is your prisoner. Car. Sirs, take away the Duke, and guard him sure. Glo. Ah, thus King Henry throws away his Before his legs be firm to bear his body: And wolves are gnarling who shall gnaw thee first. Ah, that my fear were false! ah, that it were! 'For, good King Henry, thy decay I fear. [Exeunt Attendants, with GLOSTER. K. Hen. My Lords, what to your wisdoms seemeth best Do, or undo, as if ourself were here. 食 食 Q. Mar. What, will your Highness leave the parliameut? K. Hen. Ay, Margaret; my heart is drown'd with grief, Whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes; My body round eugirt with misery; For what's more miserable than discontent? Ah, uncle Humphrey! in thy face I sre *The map of honour, truth, and loyalty; - *And yet, good Humphrey, is the hour to come, * That e'er I prov'd thee false, or fear'd thy faith. * What low'ring star now envies thy estate, That these great lords, and Margaret our Queen, * Do seek subversion of thy harmless life? *Thou never didst them wrong, nor no man wrong: And as the butcher takes away the calf, shays, Bearing it to the bloody slaughter-house; Even so, remorseless, have they bone him hence. *And as the dam runs lowing up and down, Looking the way her harmless young one went, And can do nought but wail her darling's loss; *Even so myself bewails good Gloster's case, |