Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully. Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward. [Sound a flourish. Exeunt. SCENE IV. A street. Enter GLOUCESTER and his Serving-men, in GLOU. Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; And after summer evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: SERV. Ten, my lord. GLOU. 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, 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 GLOUCESTER in a white sheet, and a taper burning in her hand; with SIR JOHN STANLEY, the Sheriff, and Officers. SERV. So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff. GLOU. 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, 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, GLOU. Ah, Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry; And each of them had twenty times their power, HER. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, Holden at Bury the first of this next month. My Nell, I take my leave: and, master sheriff, D my commis SHER. An't please your grace, here sion stays, And Sir John Stanley is appointed now To take her with him to the Isle of Man. GLOU. Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here? STAN. So am I given in charge, may 't please your grace. GLOU. 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! GLOU. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. [Exeunt GLOUCESTER and Serving-men. 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 prithee, 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 used according to your state. DUCH. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: And shall I then be used 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 discharged. Come, Stanley, shall we go? 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 And show itself, attire me how I can. Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison. [Exeunt. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. The Abbey at Bury St. Edmund's. Sound a sennet. Enter the KING, the QUEEN, CARDINAL BEAUFORT, SUFFOLK, YORK, BUCKINGHAM, SALISBURY and WARWICK to the Parliament. KING. I muse my Lord of Gloucester is not come : 'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, Whate'er occasion keeps him from us now. QUEEN. Can you not see? or will ye not observe The strangeness of his alter'd countenance? With what a majesty he bears himself, How insolent of late he is become, How proud, how peremptory, and unlike himself? We know the time since he was mild and affable, |