Yet so he ruled, and such a prince he was,
As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock
To every idle rascal follower.
But be thou mild and blush not at my shame,
Not stir at nothing till the axe of death
Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will;
For Suffolk-he that can do all in all
With her that hateth thee and hates us all-
And York and impious Beaufort, that false
priest,
Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings,
And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle
thee:
But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,
Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
57. The thirty-one lines of this speech are an expansion, but scarce an improvement of twenty-three in the quarto:
"Ah, Gloster! teach me to forget myself;
For, whilst I think I am thy wedded wife,
The thought of this doth kill my woful heart.
The ruthless flints do cut my tender feet,
And when I start the cruel people laugh,
And bid me be advised how I tread;
And thus, with burning taper in my hand,
Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back,
Ah, Gloster! can I endure this and live?
Sometime I'll say I am Duke Humphrey's wife,
And he a prince, protector of the land;
But so he rul'd, and such a prince he was,
As he stood by, whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
Was led with shame, and made a laughing-stock
To every idle rascal follower.-
Be thou mild, and stir not at my disgrace,
Until the axe of death hang o'er thy head,
As, sure, it shortly will. For Suffolk, he,-
The new-made duke, that may do all in all
Glou. Ah Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry;
I must offend before I be attainted;
And had I twenty times so many foes,
And each of them had twenty times their power,
All these could not procure me any scathe,
So long as I am loyal, true and crimeless.
Wouldst have me rescue thee from this re-
proach?
Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away,
But I in danger for the breach of law.
Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell:
I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.
Enter a Herald.
Her. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament,
Holden at Bury the first of this next month. Glou. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! This is close dealing. Well, I will be there. [Exit Herald. My Nell, I take my leave: and, master sheriff, Let not her penance exceed the king's commission.
Sher. An 't please your grace, here my commission
And Sir John Stanley is appointed now
To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
With her that loves him so, and hates us all,
And impious York, and Beaufort, that false priest,
Have all lim❜d bushes to betray thy wings,
And, fly thou how thou canst, they will entangle thee.”
-H. N. H.
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 favor,
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, 100 Although thou hast been conduct of my shame. Sher. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. Duch. Aye, aye, farewell; thy office is discharged. Come, Stanley, shall we go?
87. "gone too?"; so Ff. 2, 3, 4; F. 1, "gone to?"; Collier MS., "gone so?"-I. G.
|