Attracts the same for aidance 'gainst the enemy; But see, his face is black and full of blood, His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd SUF. Why, Warwick, who should do the duke to death? Myself and Beaufort had him in protection; WAR. But both of you were vow'd Duke Humphrey's foes, And you, forsooth, had the good duke to keep: 'Tis like you would not feast him like a friend; And 'tis well seen he found an enemy. QUEEN. Then you, belike, suspect these noble men As guilty of Duke Humphrey's timeless death. WAR. Who finds the heifer dead and bleeding fresh And sees fast by a butcher with an axe, But will suspect 'twas he that made the slaughter? QUEEN. Are you the butcher, Suffolk? Where's your knife? Is Beaufort term'd a kite? Where are his talons? [Exeunt CARDINAL, SOMERSET, and others. WAR. What dares not Warwick, if false Suffolk dare him? QUEEN. He dares not calm his contumelious spirit Nor cease to be an arrogant controller, Though Suffolk dare him twenty thousand times. WAR. Madam, be still; with reverence may I say; For every word you speak in his behalf Is slander to your royal dignity. Sur. Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanour ! If ever lady wrong'd her lord so much, Thy mother took into her blameful bed Was graft with crab-tree slip; whose fruit thou art WAR. But that the guilt of murder bucklers thee Give thee thy hire and send thy soul to hell, SUF. Thou shalt be waking while I shed thy blood, If from this presence thou darest go with me. WAR. Away even now, or I will drag thee hence: Unworthy though thou art, I'll cope with thee And do some service to Duke Humphrey's ghost. [Exeunt SUFFOLK and WARWICK. KING. What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted! Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just, QUEEN. What noise is this? Re-enter SUFFOLK and WARWICK, with their KING. Why, how now, lords! your wrathful weapons drawn Here in our presence! dare you be so bold? SUF. The traitorous Warwick with the men of Bury Set all upon me, mighty sovereign. SAL. [To the Commons, entering] Sirs, stand apart; the king shall know your mind. Dread lord, the commons send you word by me, Unless Lord Suffolk straight be done to death, Or banished fair England's territories, They will by violence tear him from your palace And torture him with grievous lingering death. They say, by him the good Duke Humphrey died; They say, in him they fear your highness' death; And mere instinct of love and loyalty, Free from a stubborn opposite intent, As being thought to contradict your liking, With whose envenomed and fatal sting, COMMONS. [Within] An answer from the king, my SUF. 'Tis like the commons, rude unpolish'd hinds, Could send such message to their sovereign: But you, my lord, were glad to be employ'd, To show how quaint an orator you are: But all the honour Salisbury hath won Is, that he was the lord ambassador Sent from a sort of tinkers to the king. COMMONS. [Within] An answer from the king, or we will all break in! KING. Go, Salisbury, and tell them all from me, Yet did I purpose as they do entreat; He shall not breathe infection in this air QUEEN. O Henry, let me plead for gentle Suffolk! KING. Ungentle queen, to call him gentle Suffolk! No more, I say: if thou dost plead for him, Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath. Had I but said, I would have kept my word, |