Shakespeare's First Folio Part 372

Armorer. Masters, I am come hither as it were vpon my Mans instigation, to proue him a Knaue, and my selfe an honest man: and touching the Duke of Yorke, I will take my death, I neuer meant him any ill, nor the King, nor the Queene: and therefore Peter haue at thee with a downe-right blow

Yorke. Dispatch, this Knaues tongue begins to double.

Sound Trumpets, Alarum to the Combattants.

They fight, and Peter strikes him downe.

Armorer. Hold Peter, hold, I confesse, I confesse Treason

Yorke. Take away his Weapon: Fellow thanke G.o.d, and the good Wine in thy Masters way

Peter. O G.o.d, haue I ouercome mine Enemies in this presence? O Peter, thou hast preuayl'd in right

King. Goe, take hence that Traytor from our sight, For by his death we doe perceiue his guilt, And G.o.d in Iustice hath reueal'd to vs The truth and innocence of this poore fellow, Which he had thought to haue murther'd wrongfully.

Come fellow, follow vs for thy Reward.

Sound a flourish. Exeunt.

Enter Duke Humfrey and his Men in Mourning Cloakes.

Glost. Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a Cloud: And after Summer, euermore succeedes Barren Winter, with his wrathfull nipping Cold; So Cares and Ioyes abound, as Seasons fleet.

Sirs, what's a Clock?

Seru. Tenne, my Lord

Glost. Tenne is the houre that was appointed me, To watch the comming of my punisht d.u.c.h.esse: Vnneath may shee endure the Flintie Streets, To treade them with her tender-feeling feet.

Sweet Nell, ill can thy n.o.ble Minde abrooke The abiect People, gazing on thy face, With enuious Lookes laughing at thy shame, That erst did follow thy prowd Chariot-Wheeles, When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.

But soft, I thinke she comes, and Ile prepare My teare-stayn'd eyes, to see her Miseries.

Enter the d.u.c.h.esse in a white Sheet, and a Taper burning in her hand, with the Sherife and Officers.

Seru. So please your Grace, wee'le take her from the Sherife

Gloster. No, stirre not for your liues, let her pa.s.se by

Elianor. Come you, my Lord, to see my open shame?

Now thou do'st Penance too. Looke how they gaze, See how the giddy mult.i.tude doe point, And nodde their heads, and throw their eyes on thee.

Ah Gloster, hide thee from their hatefull lookes, And in thy Closet pent vp, rue my shame, And banne thine Enemies, both mine and thine

Glost. Be patient, gentle Nell, forget this griefe

Elianor. Ah Gloster, teach me to forget my selfe: For whilest I thinke I am thy married Wife, And thou a Prince, Protector of this Land; Me thinkes I should not thus be led along, Mayl'd vp in shame, with Papers on my back, And follow'd with a Rabble, that reioyce To see my teares, and heare my deepe-fet groanes.

The ruthlesse Flint doth cut my tender feet, And when I start, the enuious people laugh, And bid me be aduised how I treade.

Ah Humfrey, can I beare this shamefull yoake?

Trowest thou, that ere Ile looke vpon the World, Or count them happy, that enioyes the Sunne?

No: Darke shall be my Light, and Night my Day.

To thinke vpon my Pompe, shall be my h.e.l.l.

Sometime Ile say, I am Duke Humfreyes Wife, And he a Prince, and Ruler of the Land: Yet so he rul'd, and such a Prince he was, As he stood by, whilest I, his forlorne d.u.c.h.esse, Was made a wonder, and a pointing stock To euery idle Rascall follower.

But be thou milde, and blush not at my shame, Nor stirre at nothing, till the Axe of Death Hang ouer thee, as sure it shortly will.

For Suffolke, he that can doe all in all With her, that hateth thee and hates vs all, And Yorke, and impious Beauford, that false Priest, Haue all lym'd Bushes to betray thy Wings, And flye thou how thou canst, they'le tangle thee.

But feare not thou, vntill thy foot be snar'd, Nor neuer seeke preuention of thy foes

Glost. Ah Nell, forbeare: thou aymest all awry.

I must offend, before I be attainted: And had I twentie times so many foes, And each of them had twentie times their power, All these could not procure me any scathe, So long as I am loyall, true, and crimelesse.

Would'st haue me rescue thee from this reproach?

Why yet thy scandall were not wipt away, But I in danger for the breach of Law.

Thy greatest helpe is quiet, gentle Nell: I pray thee sort thy heart to patience, These few dayes wonder will be quickly worne.

Enter a Herald.

Her. I summon your Grace to his Maiesties Parliament, Holden at Bury, the first of this next Moneth

Glost. And my consent ne're ask'd herein before?

This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.

My Nell, I take my leaue: and Master Sherife, Let not her Penance exceede the Kings Commission

Sh. And't please your Grace, here my Commission stayes: And Sir Iohn Stanly is appointed now, To take her with him to the Ile of Man

Glost. Must you, Sir Iohn, protect my Lady here?

Stanly. So am I giuen in charge, may't please your Grace

Glost. Entreat her not the worse, in that I pray You vse her well: the World may laugh againe, And I may liue to doe you kindnesse, if you doe it her.

And so Sir Iohn, farewell

Elianor. What, gone my Lord, and bid me not farewell?

Glost. Witnesse my teares, I cannot stay to speake.

Exit Gloster.

Elianor. Art thou gone to? all comfort goe with thee, For none abides with me: my Ioy, is Death; Death, at whose Name I oft haue beene afear'd, Because I wish'd this Worlds eternitie.

Stanley, I prethee goe, and take me hence, I care not whither, for I begge no fauor; Onely conuey me where thou art commanded

Stanley. Why, Madame, that is to the Ile of Man, There to be vs'd according to your State

Elianor. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: And shall I then be vs'd reproachfully?

Stanley. Like to a d.u.c.h.esse, and Duke Humfreyes Lady, According to that State you shall be vs'd

Elianor. Sherife farewell, and better then I fare, Although thou hast beene Conduct of my shame

Sherife. It is my Office, and Madame pardon me

Elianor. I, I, farewell, thy Office is discharg'd: Come Stanley, shall we goe?

Stanley. Madame, your Penance done, Throw off this Sheet, And goe we to attyre you for our Iourney

Elianor. My shame will not be s.h.i.+fted with my Sheet: No, it will hang vpon my richest Robes, And shew it selfe, attyre me how I can.

Goe, leade the way, I long to see my Prison.

Exeunt.

Sound a Senet. Enter King, Queene, Cardinall, Suffolke, Yorke, Buckingham, Salisbury, and Warwicke, to the Parliament.

King. I muse my Lord of Gloster is not come: 'Tis not his wont to be the hindmost man, What e're occasion keepes him from vs now