And try your hap against the Irishmen ? York. I will, my lord, so please his majesty. York. I am content: Provide me soldiers, lords, Suf. A charge, lord York, that I will see perform'd. For there I'll ship them all for Ireland. Suf. I'll see it truly done, my lord of York. [Exeunt all but YORK. York. Now, York, or never, steel thy fearful thoughts, And change misdoubt to resolution : Be that thou hop'st to be; or what thou art Resign to death, it is not worth th' enjoying: Let pale-fac'd fear keep with the mean-born man, And find no harbour in a royal heart. Faster than spring-time showers, comes thought on thought; And not a thought, but thinks on dignity. My brain, more busy than the labouring spider, Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. Well, nobles, well, 'tis politicly done, To send me packing with an host of men : I fear me, you but warm the starved snake, Who, cherish'd in your breasts, will sting your hearts. You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands. [9] Flaw, a sudden violent gust of wind. JOHNSON And, for a minister of my intent, I have seduc'd a head-strong Kentishman, To make commotion, as full well he can, In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade Shaking the bloody darts, as he his bells. SCENE II [Exit. Bury. A room in the palace. Enter certain Murderers, hastily. 1 Mur. Run to my lord of Suffolk; let him know, We have despatch'd the duke, as he commanded. 2 Mur. O, that it were to do !-What have we done? Didst ever hear a man so penitent? Enter SUFFolk. 1 Mur. Here comes my lord. Suf. Now, sirs, have you Read-And fight so long. RITSON. A Moor in a military dance, now called Morris, that is, a Moorish dance. Morrice-dancing, with bells on the legs, is common at this day in Oxfordshire and the adjacent counties, on May-day. Holy Thursday, and Whitsun-ales, attended by the fool, or, as he is generally called, the 'Squire, and also a lord and lady; the latter most probably Maid Marian; "por is the hobby-borse forgot. ' HARRIS Despatch'd this thing? 1 Mur. Ay, my good lord, he's dead. Suf. Why, that's well said. Go, get you to my house; I will reward you for this venturous deed. The king and all the peers are here at hand :— 1 Mur. 'Tis, my good-lord. Suf. Away, begone! [Exeunt Murderers. Enter King HENRY, Queen MARGARET, Cardinal BEAUFORT, SOMERSET, Lords, and others. K. Hen. Go, call our uncle to our presence straight : Say, we intend to try his grace to-day, If he be guilty, as 'tis published. Suf. I'll call him presently, my noble lord. [Exit. K. Hen. Lords, take your places;-And, I pray you all, Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloster, Than from true evidence, of good esteem, He be approv'd in practice culpable. Q. Mar. God forbid any malice should prevail, That faultless may condemn a nobleman! Pray God, he may acquit him of suspicion ! K. Hen. I thank thee, Margaret; these words content me much. Re-enter SUFfolk. How now? why look'st thou pale ? why tremblest thou? Car. God's secret judgment :—I did dream to-night, The duke was dumb, and could not speak a word. [The King swoons. Q. Mar. How fares my lord ?-Help, lords! the king is dead. Som. Rear up his body; wring him by the nose.3 Q. Mar. Run, go, help, help!-O, Henry, ope thine eyes! Q. Mar. How fares my gracious lord? [3] As nothing further is spoken either by Somerset or the Cardinal, or by any one else to show that they continue in the presence, it is to be presumed that they take advantage of the confusion occasioned by the king's swooning, and slip out un perceived. RITSON. Suf. Comfort, my sovereign! gracious Henry, comfort! K. Hen. What, doth my lord of Suffolk comfort me? Came he right now to sing a raven's note, Whose dismal tune bereft my vital powers; And thinks he, that the chirping of a wren, By crying comfort from a hollow breast, Can chace away the first-conceived sound? Hide not thy poison with such sugar'd words Lay not thy hands on me; forbear, I say ; Their touch affrights me, as a serpent's sting. Thou baleful messenger, out of my sight! Upon thy eye-balls murderous tyranny Sits in grim majesty, to fright the world. Look not upon me, for thine eyes are wounding :Yet do not go away;-Come, basilisk, And kill the innocent gazer with thy sight: For in the shade of death I shall find joy ; In life, but double death, now Gloster's dead. - Q. Mar. Why do you rate my lord of Suffolk thus ? Although the duke was enemy to him, Yet he, most christian-like, laments his death : I would be blind with weeping, sick with groans, What know I how the world may deem of me? So shall my name with slander's tongue be wounded, To be a queen, and crown'd with infamy! Hen. Ah, woe is me for Gloster, wretched man! Q. Mar. Be woe for me, more wretched than he is." What, dost thou turn away, and hide thy face? I am no loathsome leper, look on me. What, art thou, like the adder, waxen deaf? Be poisonous too, and kill thy forlorn queen. Is all thy comfort shut in Gloster's tomb ? Why, then dame Margaret was ne'er thy joy : [4] Just now, even now. JOHNSON. [5] That is, Let not woe be to thee for Gloster, but for me. JOHNSON. Erect his statue then, and worship it, And make my image but an alehouse sign. Yet olus would not be a murderer, The pretty vaulting sea refus'd to drown me; As far as I could ken thy chalky cliffs, And threw it towards thy land;-the sea receiv'd it; His father's acts, commenc'd in burning Troy? The verb perish is here used actively. STEEVENS. The poet here is unquestionably alluding to Virgil (nied I.) but he strangely blends fact with fiction. In the first place, it was Cupid in the semblance of Ascanius, who sat in Dido's lap, and was fondled by her. But then it was not Cupid who related to her the process of Troy's destruction; but it was Eneas himself who related this history. MALONE |