SCENE III A bedchamber, Enter the King, Salisbury, Warwick, to the King. How fares my lord? speak, Beaufort, to thy sovereign. Car. If thou be'st death, I'll give thee England's treasure, Enough to purchase such another island, So thou wilt let me live, and feel no pain. King. Ah, what a sign it is of evil life, Where death's approach is seen so terrible! War. Beaufort, it is thy sovereign speaks to thee. 4. "and feel no pain"; Theobald reads, from Qq., “but one whole year."-I. G. 6. This scene was evidently founded, in part, on a passage in Hall: "Doctor John Baker, his privy counsellor and his chaplain, wrote that he, lying on his death-bed, said these words: 'Why should I die, having so many riches? If the whole realm would save my life, I am able either by policy to get it, or by riches to buy it. Fie! will not death be hired, nor will money do nothing? When my nephew of Bedford died, I thought myself half up the wheel; but when I saw my other nephew of Gloster deceased, 1 thought myself able to be equal with kings, and so thought to increase my treasure in hope to have worn a triple crown. But I see now the world faileth me, and so I am deceived; praying you all to pray for me!" Lingard discredits this story, and adds that three weeks before his death the cardinal had himself carried into the great hall of his palace, where the clergy of the city and monks of the cathedral were assembled. "There he sat or lay while a dirge was sung, the funeral ceremony performed, and his will publicly read. The next morning they were assembled again: a mass of requiem was celebrated, and his will was again read, with the addition of several codicils. He then took leave of all, and was carried back to his chamber."-H. N. H. Car. Bring me unto my trial when you will. 11 Died he not in his bed? where should he die? Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul. Give me some drink; and bid the apothecary Bring the strong poison that I bought of him. King. O thou eternal mover of the heavens, 8. Of this wonderful scene the quarto has a full outline and some of the most Shakespearian touches, which we must needs subjoin: "Card. O, death! if thou wilt let me live But one whole year, I'll give thee as much gold As will purchase such another island. King. O, see, my lord of Salisbury, how he is troubled! Lord cardinal, remember, Christ must save thy soul. Card. Why, died he not in his bed? What would you have me to do then? Can I make men live, whether they will or no? Sirrah, go fetch me the poison which the 'pothecary sent me. And stares me in the face! Look, look! comb down his hair! Sal. See, how the pangs of death do gripe his heart! King. Lord cardinal, if thou diest assur'd of heavenly bliss, Hold up thy hand, and make some sign to us— O see! he dies, and makes no sign at all. O God! forgive his soul. Sal. So bad an end did never none behold; But as his death, so was his life in all. King. Forbear to judge, good Salisbury, forbear, For God will judge us all. Go, take him hence, and see his funerals perform'd.”—H. N. H. Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch! 20 That lays strong siege unto this wretch's soul, And from his bosom purge this black despair! War. See, how the pangs of death do make him grin! Sal. Disturb him not; let him pass peaceably. Lord Cardinal, if thou think'st on heaven's bliss, War. So bad a death argues a monstrous life. 30 [Exeunt. ACT FOURTH SCENE I The coast of Kent. Alarum. Fight at sea. Ordnance goes off. Enter a Captain, a Master, a Master's-Mate, Walter Whitmore, and others; with them Suffolk, and others, prisoners. Cap. The gaudy, blabbing and remorseful day And now loud-howling wolves arouse the jades Who, with their drowsy, slow and flagging Clip dead men's graves, and from their misty Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air. 10 Sc. 1. "a Captain, a Master." On ships of war the master was an officer subordinate to the captain.-C. H. H. 1. "The epithet blabbing, applied to the day by a man about to commit murder, is exquisitely beautiful. Guilt, if afraid of light, considers darkness as a natural shelter, and makes night the confidant of those actions which cannot be trusted to the tell-tale day."Johnson. Or with their blood stain this discolored shore. And thou that art his mate, make boot of this; The other, Walter Whitmore, is thy share. First Gent. What is my ransom, master? let me know. Mast. A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head. Mate. And so much shall you give, or off goes yours. Cap. What, think you much to pay two thousand crowns, And bear the name and port of gentlemen? Cut both the villains' throats; for die you shall: The lives of those which we have lost in fight 21 Be counterpoised with such a petty sum! First Gent. I'll give it, sir; and therefore spare my life. Sec. Gent. And so will I, and write home for it straight. Whit. I lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard, And therefore to revenge it, shalt thou die; [To Suf. And so should these, if I might have my will. Cap. Be not so rash; take ransom, let him live. Suf. Look on my George; I am a gentleman: Rate me at what thou wilt, thou shalt be paid. 30 21, 22. "The lives of those," &c., so Ff., with the exception of the note of exclamation, added by Grant White; Knight prints a note of interrogation; Nicholson, "Shall the lives shall, "The lives sum?" Marshall they Be conterpoised," &c.—I. G. 29. "my George," the image of St. George, a badge worn by members of the Order of the Garter.-C. H. H. |