K. Hen. Ay, my good lord: My lord, I should rather: "Tis sin to flatter, good was little better: Good Gloster, and good devil, were alike, say * And both preposterous; therefore, not good lord. *Glo. Sirrah, leave us to ourselves: we must [Exit Lieutenant. *K. Hen. So flies the reckless shepherd from the confer. wolf: *So first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece, * And next his throat unto the butcher's knife.What scene of death hath Roscius now to act? Glo. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer. "K. Hen. The bird, that hath been limed in a bush, With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush : And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird, Have now the fatal object in my eye, Where my poor young was lim'd, was caught, and kill'd. Glo. Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete, 'That taught his son the office of a fowl? And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd. K. Hen. I, Dædalus; my poor boy, Icarus; Thy father, Minos, that denied our course; The sun, that sear'd the wings of my sweet boy, Thy brother Edward; and thyself, the sea, Whose envious gulf did swallow up his life. * Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words! My breast can better brook thy dagger's point, Than can my ears that tragick history. * But wherefore dost thou come? is't for my life? "Glo. Think'st thou I am an executioner? K. Hen. A persecutor, I am sure, thou art; hapless male-] The word male is here used in a very uncommon sense, not for the male of the female, but for the male parent: the sweet bird is evidently his son Prince Edward. 'If murdering innocents be executing, Why, then thou art an executioner. Glo. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption. Thou hadst not liv'd to kill a son of mine. Teeth hadst thou in thy head, when thou wast born, And, if the rest be true which I have heard, 'Thou cam'st— Glo. I'll hear no more;-Die, prophet, in thy speech: [Stabs him. For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. K. Hen. Ay, and for much more slaughter after this. O God! forgive my sins, and pardon thee! [Dies. 9 Which now mistrust no parcel of my fear;] Who suspect no part of what my fears presage. The raven rook'd her -] To rook, or rather to ruck, is a north-country word, signifying to squat down, or lodge on any thing. Glo. What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted. See, how my sword weeps for the poor king's death! 'O, may such purple tears be always shed From those that wish the downfal of our house!- Down, down to hell; and say-I sent thee thither, Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light; And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom. [Erit. 2 But I will sort a pitchy day for thee:] But I will choose out an hour whose gloom shall be as fatal to you. To sort is to select. 10 SCENE VII. The same. A Room in the Palace. King EDWARD is discovered sitting on his Throne ; Queen ELIZABETH with the infant Prince, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and Others, near him. K. Edw. Once more we sit in England's royal throne, Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies. What valiant foe-men, like to autumn's corn, Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound: That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion, Glo. I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid 3 [Aside. K. Edw. Clarence, and Gloster, love my lovely queen; And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks.* 'Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st, 'Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit:- all harm. Aside. K. Edw. Now am I seated as my soul delights, Having my country's peace, and brothers' loves. Clar. What will your grace have done with Margaret? Reignier, her father, to the king of France And hither have they sent it for her ransome. K. Edw. Away with her, and waft her hence to And now what rests, but that we spend the time Sound, drums and trumpets !-farewell, sour annoy! 3 Work thou the way, &c.] He speaks this line, first touching his head, and then looking on his hand. 4 Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks.] In my copy of the second folio, which had belonged to King Charles the First, his Majesty has erased-Cla. and written King, in its stead.Shakspeare, therefore, in the catalogue of his restorers, may STEEVENS. boast of a Royal name. $ With stately triumphs,] Triumphs are publick shows. The three parts of King Henry VI. are suspected, by Mr. Theobald, of being supposititious, and are declared, by Dr. Warburton, to be certainly not Shakspeare's. Mr. Theobald's suspi |