Glou. As who, my lord ?
SUF.

Why, as you, my lord,
An't like your lordly lord-protectorship.
Glou. Why, Suffolk, England knows thine in-

solence.
QUEEN. And thy ambition, Gloucester.

King. I prithee, peace, good queen,
And whet not on these furious peers;
For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.

Car. Let me be blessed for the peace I make, Against this proud protector, with my sword ! Glou. (A side to CAR.] Faith, holy uncle, would

'twere come to that! CAR. (A side to Glou.] Marry, when thou darest. Glou. [Aside to CAR.] Make up no factious

numbers for the matter; In thine own person answer thy abuse. CAR. (A side to Glov.] Ay, where thou darest not

peep: an if thou darest, This evening, on the east side of the grove. King. How now, my

lords! CAR.

Believe me, cousin Gloucester, Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly, We had had more sport. [Aside to Glou.] Come

with thy two-hand sword. Glou. True, uncle. CAR. [Aside to Glov.] Are ye advised ? the east

side of the grove? Glou. [Aside to Car.] Cardinal, I am with you. KING. Why, how now, uncle Gloucester! Glou. Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.

[Aside to Car.] Now, by God's mother, priest, I'll

shave your crown for this, Or all my fence shall fail,

CAR. [Aside to Glov.] Medice, teipsumProtector, see to't well, protect yourself. KING. The winds grow high; so do your

stomachs, lords. How irksome is this music to

my

heart! When such strings jar, what hope of harmony? I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife. Enter a Townsman of Saint Alban's,

crying A miracle!
Glou. What means this noise ?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim ?

TOWNS. A miracle! a miracle !
Sur. Come to the king and tell him what miracle.
TOWNS. Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's

shrine,
Within this half-hour, hath received his sight;
A man that ne'er saw in his life before.

King. Now, God be praised, that to believing souls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair ! Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's and his brethren,

bearing SIMPcox, between two in a chair, Simpcox's Wife following:

Car. Here comes the townsmen on procession, To present your highness with the man.

KING. Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Although by his sight his sin be multiplied. Glou. Stand by, my masters: bring him near

the king;

с

His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.

King. Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, hast thou been long blind and now restored ?

Simp. Born blind, an't please your grace.
WIFE. Ay, indeed, was he.
SUF. What woman is this?
WIFE. His wife, an't like your worship.
Glou. Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst

have better told. King. Where wert thou born ? Simp. At Berwick in the north, an 't like your

grace. KING. Poor soul, God's goodness hath been great

to thee: Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass, But still remember what the Lord hath done. Queen. Tell me, good fellow, camest thou here

by chance, Or of devotion, to this holy shrine ?

SIMP. God knows, of pure devotion; being callid A hundred times and oftener, in my sleep, By good Saint Alban; who said, Simpcox, come, Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.

WIFE. Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft Myself have heard a voice to call him so.

Car. What, art thou lame?
SIMP.

Ay, God Almighty help me!
Sur. How camest thou so?
SIMP.

A fall off of a tree.

WIFE. A plum-tree, master.
Glou.

How long hast thou been blind?
SIMP. O, born so, master.
Glou.

What, and wouldst climb a tree?
Simp. But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
WIFE. Tootrue; and boughthis climbing very dear.
Glou. Mass, thou lovedst plums well, that

wouldst venture so. SIMP. Alas, good master, my wife desired some

damsons, And made me climb, with danger of my life.

Glou. A subtle knave! but yet it shall not serve. Let me see thine eyes : wink now :

now open them : In

my opinion yet thou see'st not well. Simp. Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God

and Saint Alban. Glou. Say'st thou me so ? What colour is this

cloak of? SIMP. Red master ; red as blood. Glou. Why, that's well said. What colour is

my gown of?

SIMP. Black, forsooth: coal-black as jet.
King. Why, then, thou know'st what colour jet

is of? Suf. And yet, I think, jet did he never see. Glou. But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a

many. WIFE. Never, before this day, in all his life. Glov. Tell me, sirrah, what's my name?

SIMP. Alas, master, I know not.
Glou. What's his name?
SIMP. I know not.
GLOU. Nor his ?
SIMP. No, indeed, master.
GLOU. What's thine own name?
Simp. Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you,

master. Glou. Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou mightst as well have known all our names as thus to name the several colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish of colours, but suddenly to nominate them all, it is impossible. My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle; and would ye not think his cunning to be great, that could restore this cripple to his legs again? SIMP. O master, that

you

could! Glou. My masters of Saint Alban's, have you not beadles in your town, and things called whips ?

May. Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.
Glou. Then send for one presently.
May. Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.

[Exit an Attendant. Glou. Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool and run away. SIMP. Alas, master, I am not able to stand

alone : You go about to torture me in vain.