William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (44 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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BUCKINGHAM
All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.
WARWICK
Warwick may live to be the best of all.
SALISBURY
Peace, son; (to Buckingham) and show some reason, Buckingham,
Why Somerset should be preferred in this.
QUEEN MARGARET
Because the King, forsooth, will have it so.
GLOUCESTER
Madam, the King is old enough himself
To give his censure. These are no women’s matters.
To give his censure. These are no women’s matters.
QUEEN MARGARET
If he be old enough, what needs your grace
To be Protector of his excellence?
To be Protector of his excellence?
GLOUCESTER
Madam, I am Protector of the realm,
And at his pleasure will resign my place.
And at his pleasure will resign my place.
SUFFOLK
Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king—as who is king but thou?—
The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack,
The Dauphin hath prevailed beyond the seas,
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
Since thou wert king—as who is king but thou?—
The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack,
The Dauphin hath prevailed beyond the seas,
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
CARDINAL BEAUFORT (to Gloucester)
The commons hast thou racked, the clergy’s bags
Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
SOMERSET (to Gloucester)
Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife’s attire
Have cost a mass of public treasury.
Have cost a mass of public treasury.
BUCKINGHAM (to Gloucester)
Thy cruelty in execution
Upon offenders hath exceeded law
And left thee to the mercy of the law.
Upon offenders hath exceeded law
And left thee to the mercy of the law.
QUEEN MARGARET (to Gloucester)
Thy sale of offices and towns in France—
If they were known, as the suspect is great—
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.
If they were known, as the suspect is great—
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.
Exit Gloucester
Queen Margaret lets fall her fan
(To the Duchess)
Give me my fan—what, minion, can ye not?
She gives the Duchess a box on the ear
I cry you mercy, madam! Was it you ?
DUCHESS
Was’t I? Yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman!
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I’d set my ten commandments in your face.
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I’d set my ten commandments in your face.
KING HENRY
Sweet aunt, be quiet—’twas against her will.
DUCHESS
Against her will? Good King, look to’t in time!
She’ll pamper thee and dandle thee like a baby.
Though in this place most master wear no breeches,
She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged ! Exit
She’ll pamper thee and dandle thee like a baby.
Though in this place most master wear no breeches,
She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged ! Exit
BUCKINGHAM
(aside to Cardinal Beaufort)
(aside to Cardinal Beaufort)
Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor
And listen after Humphrey how he proceeds.
She’s tickled now, her fury needs no spurs—
She’ll gallop far enough to her destruction. Exit
And listen after Humphrey how he proceeds.
She’s tickled now, her fury needs no spurs—
She’ll gallop far enough to her destruction. Exit
Enter Duke Humphrey of Gloucester
GLOUCESTER
Now, lords, my choler being overblown
With walking once about the quadrangle,
I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spiteful false objections,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law.
But God in mercy so deal with my soul
As I in duty love my King and country.
But to the matter that we have in hand—
I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
To be your regent in the realm of France.
With walking once about the quadrangle,
I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spiteful false objections,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law.
But God in mercy so deal with my soul
As I in duty love my King and country.
But to the matter that we have in hand—
I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
To be your regent in the realm of France.
SUFFOLK
Before we make election, give me leave
To show some reason of no little force
That York is most unmeet of any man.
To show some reason of no little force
That York is most unmeet of any man.
YORK
I’ll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet:
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My lord of Somerset will keep me here
Without discharge, money, or furniture,
Till France be won into the Dauphin’s hands.
Last time I danced attendance on his will
Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost.
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My lord of Somerset will keep me here
Without discharge, money, or furniture,
Till France be won into the Dauphin’s hands.
Last time I danced attendance on his will
Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost.
WARWICK
That can I witness, and a fouler fact
Did never traitor in the land commit.
Did never traitor in the land commit.
SUFFOLK Peace, headstrong Warwick.
WARWICK
Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?
Enter, guarded, Horner the armourer and Peter his man
SUFFOLK
Because here is a man accused of treason—
Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!
Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!
YORK
Doth anyone accuse York for a traitor?
KING HENRY
What mean’st thou, Suffolk? Tell me, what are these?
SUFFOLK
Please it your majesty, this is the man
He indicates Peter
That doth accuse his master
(indicating Horner)
of high
treason.
His words were these: that Richard Duke of York
Was rightful heir unto the English crown,
And that your majesty was an usurper.
(indicating Horner)
of high
treason.
His words were these: that Richard Duke of York
Was rightful heir unto the English crown,
And that your majesty was an usurper.
KING HENRY (to Horner) Say, man, were these thy words?
HORNER An’t shall please your majesty, I never said nor thought any such matter. God is my witness, I am falsely accused by the villain.
PETER ⌈
raising his hands
⌉ By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak them to me in the garret one night as we were scouring my lord of York’s armour.
raising his hands
⌉ By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak them to me in the garret one night as we were scouring my lord of York’s armour.
YORK
Base dunghill villain and mechanical,
I’ll have thy head for this thy traitor’s speech !
(To King Henry) I do beseech your royal majesty,
Let him have all the rigour of the law.
I’ll have thy head for this thy traitor’s speech !
(To King Henry) I do beseech your royal majesty,
Let him have all the rigour of the law.
HORNER Alas, my lord, hang me if ever I spake the words. My accuser is my prentice, and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me. I have good witness of this, therefore, I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain’s accusation.
KING HENRY
(to Gloucester)
(to Gloucester)
Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
GLOUCESTER
This doom, my lord, if I may judge by case:
Let Somerset be regent o’er the French,
Because in York this breeds suspicion.
(Indicating Horner and Peter)
And let these have a day appointed them
For single combat in convenient place,
For he (indicating Horner) hath witness of his servant’s
malice.
This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey’s doom.
Let Somerset be regent o’er the French,
Because in York this breeds suspicion.
(Indicating Horner and Peter)
And let these have a day appointed them
For single combat in convenient place,
For he (indicating Horner) hath witness of his servant’s
malice.
This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey’s doom.
KING HENRY
Then be it so. (To Somerset) My lord of Somerset,
We make you regent o‘er the realm of France
There to defend our rights ’gainst foreign foes.
We make you regent o‘er the realm of France
There to defend our rights ’gainst foreign foes.
SOMERSET
I humbly thank your royal majesty.
HORNER
And I accept the combat willingly.
PETER ⌈
to Gloucester
⌉ Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God’s sake, pity my case! The spite of man prevaileth against me.
O
Lord, have mercy upon me—I shall never be able to fight a blow ! O Lord, my heart !
to Gloucester
⌉ Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God’s sake, pity my case! The spite of man prevaileth against me.
O
Lord, have mercy upon me—I shall never be able to fight a blow ! O Lord, my heart !
GLOUCESTER
Sirrah, or you must fight or else be hanged.
KING HENRY
Away with them to prison, and the day
Of combat be the last of the next month.
Come, Somerset, we’ll see thee sent away.
Of combat be the last of the next month.
Come, Somerset, we’ll see thee sent away.
Flourish. Exeunt
1.4Enter Margery Jordan, a witch; Sir John Hume and John Southwell, two priests; and Roger Bolingbroke, a conjuror
Hume Come, my masters, the Duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises.
BOLINGBROKE Master Hume, we are therefore provided. Will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?
HUME Ay, what else? Fear you not her courage.
BOLINGBROKE I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit. But it shall be convenient, Master Hume, that you be by her, aloft, while we be busy below. And so, I pray you, go in God’s name and leave us. Exit Hume Mother Jordan, be you prostrate and grovel on the earth.
She lies down upon her face.
⌈
Enter Eleanor, the Duchess of Gloucester, aloft
⌉
John Southwell, read you and let us to our work.
DUCHESS Well said, my masters, and welcome all. To this gear the sooner the better.
⌈
Enter Hume aloft
⌉
BOLINGBROKE
Patience, good lady—wizards know their times.
Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire,
The time when screech-owls cry and bandogs howl,
And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves—
That time best fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, sit you, and fear not. Whom we raise
We will make fast within a hallowed verge.
Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night,
The time of night when Troy was set on fire,
The time when screech-owls cry and bandogs howl,
And spirits walk, and ghosts break up their graves—
That time best fits the work we have in hand.
Madam, sit you, and fear not. Whom we raise
We will make fast within a hallowed verge.
Here do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle. Southwell reads ‘Coniuro te’,
&c.
It thunders and lightens terribly, then the spirit Asnath riseth
ASNATH
Adsum.
Adsum.
WITCH Asnath,
By the eternal God whose name and power
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask,
For till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask,
For till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.
ASNATH
Ask what thou wilt, that I had said and done.
BOLINGBROKE
(reads)
(reads)
‘First, of the King: what shall of him become ?’
ASNATH
The Duke yet lives that Henry shall depose,
But him outlive, and die a violent death.
But him outlive, and die a violent death.
As the spirit speaks,
⌈
Southwell
⌉
writes
the
answer
BOLINGBROKE
(reads)
(reads)
‘Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk.’
ASNATH
By water shall he die, and take his end.
BOLINGBROKE
(reads)
(reads)
‘What shall betide the Duke of Somerset?’
ASNATH
Let him shun castles. Safer shall he be
Upon the sandy plains than where castles mounted
stand.
Have done—for more I hardly can endure.
Upon the sandy plains than where castles mounted
stand.
Have done—for more I hardly can endure.
BOLINGBROKE
Descend to darkness and the burning lake! False fiend, avoid!
Thunder and lightning. The spirit sinks down again
Enter, breaking in, the Dukes of York and
Buckingham with their guard, among them Sir
Humphrey Stafford
YORK
Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash.
⌈
Bolingbroke, Southwell, and Jordan are taken
prisoner. Buckingham takes the writings from
Bolingbroke and Southwell
⌉
(To Jordan) Beldam, I think we watched you at an inch.
(To the Duchess) What, madam, are you there? The
King and common weal
Are deep indebted for this piece of pains.
My lord Protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdoned for these good deserts.
(To the Duchess) What, madam, are you there? The
King and common weal
Are deep indebted for this piece of pains.
My lord Protector will, I doubt it not,
See you well guerdoned for these good deserts.
DUCHESS
Not half so bad as thine to England’s king,
Injurious Duke, that threatest where’s no cause.
Injurious Duke, that threatest where’s no cause.
BUCKINGHAM
True, madam, none at all—
⌈
He raises the writings
⌉what call you this?
(To his men) Away with them. Let them be clapped up
close
And kept asunder. (To the Duchess) You, madam, shall
with us.
close
And kept asunder. (To the Duchess) You, madam, shall
with us.
Stafford, take her to thee.
Exeunt Stafford
⌈
and others
⌉
to the Duchess
⌈
and Hume
⌉
above
⌈
and others
⌉
to the Duchess
⌈
and Hume
⌉
above
We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming.
All away!
All away!
Exeunt below Jordan, Southwell, and
Bolingbroke, guarded, and, above,
⌈
Hume and
⌉
the Duchess guarded by Stafford
⌈
and others.
York and Buckingham remain
⌉
Bolingbroke, guarded, and, above,
⌈
Hume and
⌉
the Duchess guarded by Stafford
⌈
and others.
York and Buckingham remain
⌉
YORK
Lord Buckingham, methinks you watched her well.
A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon.
Now pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ.
A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon.
Now pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ.
⌈
Buckingham gives him the writings
⌉
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