Humphrey of Gloster? If thou canst accuse, As I with sudden and extemporal speech Glo. Presumptuous priest! this place commands my patience, Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonored me. Win. Gloster, I do defy thee.-Lords, vouchsafe Glo. Thou bastard of my grandfather!-1 As good? Win. Ay, lordly sir; for what are you, I pray, Glo. Am I not the protector, saucy priest? Glo. Thou art reverent Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life. War. Roam thither then. Som. My lord, it were your duty to forbear. War. Ay, see the bishop be not overborne. Som. Methinks my lord should be religious, And know the office that belongs to such. War. Methinks his lordship should be humbler; It fitteth not a prelate so to plead. Som. Yes, when his holy state is touched so near. War. State holy, or unhallowed, what of that? Is not his grace protector to the king? Plan. Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue; Lest it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you should; Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords? [Aside. K. Hen. Uncles of Gloster, and of Winchester, The special watchmen of our English weal, 1 The bishop of Winchester was an illegitimate son of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, by Katharine Swynford, whom the duke afterwards married. War. An uproar, I dare warrant, Begun through malice of the bishop's men. [A noise again; Stones! stones! Enter the Mayor of London, attended. May. O, my good lords,—and virtuous Henry,— Pity the city of London, pity us! The bishop and the duke of Gloster's men, Have filled their pockets full of pebble-stones; That many have their giddy brains knocked out: Enter, skirmishing, the Retainers of GLOSTER and K. Hen. We charge you, on allegiance to ourself, To hold your slaughtering hands, and keep the peace Pray, uncle Gloster, mitigate this strife. 1 Serv. Nay, if we be Forbidden stones, we'll fall to it with our teeth. 2 Serv. Do what ye dare, we are as resolute. [Skirmish again. Glo. You of my household, leave this peevish broil, And set this unaccustomed fight aside. 3 Serv. My lord, we know your grace to be a man Just and upright; and, for your royal birth, Inferior to none but his majesty ; 1 And ere that we will suffer such a prince, 1 Serv. Ay, and the very parings of our nails Shall pitch a field, when we are dead. [Skirmish again. 1 i. e. a bookish person, a pedant, applied in contempt to a scholar. Glo. Stay, stay, I say' And, if you love me, as you say you do, Let me persuade you to forbear a while. K. Hên. O, how this discord doth afflict my soul !— Can you, my lord of Winchester, behold My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Or who should study to prefer a peace, If holy churchmen take delight in broils? War. My lord protector, yield;—yield, Winchester; Except you mean, with obstinate repulse, To slay your sovereign, and destroy the realm. Should ever get that privilege of me. War. Behold, my lord of Winchester, the duke Hath banished moody, discontented fury, As by his smoothed brows it doth appear. Why look you still so stern and tragical? Glo. Here, Winchester, I offer thee my hand. K. Hen. Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard you preach, That malice was a great and grievous sin; And will not you maintain the thing you teach, But prove a chief offender in the same? War. Sweet king!-the bishop hath a kindly gird.1 For shame, my lord of Winchester! relent. What, shall a child instruct you what to do? Win. Well, duke of Gloster, I will yield to thee; Love for thy love, and hand for hand I give. Glo. Ay; but, I fear me, with a hollow heart.— 1 A kindly gird is a kind or gentle reproof. Others suppose the phrase to mean "some yearnings of kindness. Betwixt ourselves, and all our followers. So help me God, as I dissemble not! Win. So help me God, as I intend it not! [Aside. K. Hen. O, loving uncle, kind duke of Gloster, How joyful am I made by this contract! Away, my masters! trouble us no more; But join in friendship, as your lords have done. 1 Serv. Content; I'll to the surgeon's. 2 Serv. And so will I. 3 Serv. And I will see what physic the tavern affords. [Exeunt Servants, Mayor, &c. War. Accept this scroll, most gracious sovereign; Which, in the right of Richard Plantagenet, We do exhibit to your majesty. Glo. Well urged, my lord of Warwick ;-for, sweet prince, And if your grace mark every circumstance, You have great reason to do Richard right ; At Eltham-place I told your majesty. K. Hen. And those occasions, uncle, were of force War. Let Richard be restored to his blood; That doth belong unto the house of York, From whence you spring by lineal descent. Plan. Thy humble servant vows obedience, And humble service, till the point of death. K. Hen. Stoop then, and set your knee against my foot; And, in reguerdon of that duty done, I girt thee with the valiant sword of York. Plan. And so thrive Richard, as thy foes may fall! |