Stan. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, And go we to attire you for our journey. No, it will hang upon my richest robes, sheet: Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison. 110 [Exeunt. 110. This impatience of a high spirit is very natural. It is not so dreadful to be imprisoned as it is desirable in a state of disgrace to be sheltered from the scorn of gazers.-H. N. H. ACT THIRD SCENE I The Abbey at Bury St. Edmund's. Sound a Sennet. Enter King, Queen, Cardinal Beaufort, Suffolk, York, Buckingham, Salisbury and Warwick to the Parliament. King. I muse my Lord of Gloucester is not come How proud, how peremptory, and unlike him- 10 We know the time since he was mild and affable, That all the court admired him for submission; But meet him now, and, be it in the morn, When every one will give the time of day, Small curs are not regarded when they grin; But great men tremble when the lion roars; And should you fall, he is the next will mount. Respecting what a rancorous mind he bears, rooted; Suffer them now, and they'll o'ergrow the garden, 30 And choke the herbs for want of husbandry. 40 Or else conclude my words effectual. Upon my life, began her devilish practices: 1 50 Yet, by reputing of his high descent, No, no, my sovereign; Gloucester is a man Devise strange deaths for small offences done? York. And did he not, in his protectorship, 60 Levy great sums of money through the realm For soldiers' pay in France, and never sent it? By means whereof the towns each day revolted. Buck. Tut, these are petty faults to faults unknown, Which time will bring to light in smooth Duke King. My lords, at once: the care you have of us, foot, Is worthy praise: but, shall I speak my conscience, Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent From meaning treason to our royal person, 70 The duke is virtuous, mild and too well given 48. “reputing of his high descent," valuing himself on his high descent.-H. N. H. To dream on evil or to work my downfall. Queen. Ah, what's more dangerous than this fond affiance! Seems he a dove? his feathers are but borrow'd, Som. All health unto my gracious sovereign! Som. That all your interest in those territories 80 King. Cold news, Lord Somerset: but God's will be done! York. [Aside] Cold news for me; for I had hope of France As firmly as I hope for fertile England. 90 78. "as is the ravenous wolf"; Rowe's correction of Ff., "as is Wolues"; Malone, "as are... ........................... . .......wolves"; Vaughan, "as the ravenous wolves.”—I. G. 83. Here, again, the Poet anticipates. The parliament at Bury was opened February 10, 1447. On the 28th of the same month Gloster was found dead. Somerset's return from France was not till September, 1450; in fact, he did not enter upon the regency till after this parliament.-H. N. H. |