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circumspect。 What though the common people favour him； Calling him
'Humphrey； the good Duke of Gloucester；' Clapping their hands； and
crying with loud voice 'Jesu maintain your royal excellence！' With 'God
preserve the good Duke Humphrey！' I fear me； lords； for all this flattering
gloss； He will be found a dangerous Protector。 BUCKINGHAM。 Why
should he then protect our sovereign； He being of age to govern of himself？
Cousin of Somerset； join you with me； And all together； with the Duke of
Suffolk； We'll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from his seat。 CARDINAL。
This weighty business will not brook delay； I'll to the Duke of Suffolk
presently。 Exit SOMERSET。 Cousin of Buckingham； though Humphrey's
pride And greatness of his place be grief to us； Yet let us watch the
haughty cardinal； His insolence is more intolerable Than all the princes in
the land beside； If Gloucester be displac'd； he'll be Protector。
BUCKINGHAM。 Or thou or I； Somerset； will be Protector； Despite Duke
Humphrey or the Cardinal。 Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and SOMERSET
SALISBURY。 Pride went before； ambition follows him。 While these do
labour for their own preferment； Behoves it us to labour for the realm。 I
never saw but Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Did bear him like a noble
gentleman。 Oft have I seen the haughty Cardinal… More like a soldier than
a man o' th' church； As stout and proud as he were lord of all… Swear like a
ruffian and demean himself Unlike the ruler of a commonweal。 Warwick
my son； the comfort of my age； Thy deeds； thy plainness； and thy
housekeeping； Hath won the greatest favour of the commons； Excepting
none but good Duke Humphrey。 And； brother York； thy acts in Ireland； In
bringing them to civil discipline； Thy late exploits done in the heart of
France When thou wert Regent for our sovereign； Have made thee fear'd
and honour'd of the people： Join we together for the public good； In what
we can； to bridle and suppress The pride of Suffolk and the Cardinal； With
Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition； And； as we may； cherish Duke
Humphrey's deeds While they do tend the profit of the land。 WARWICK。
So God help Warwick； as he loves the land And common profit of his
country！ YORK。 And so says York… ＇Aside＇ for he hath greatest cause。
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King Henry VI； Part 2
SALISBURY。 Then let's make haste away and look unto the main。
WARWICK。 Unto the main！ O father； Maine is lost… That Maine which by
main force Warwick did win； And would have kept so long as breath did
last。 Main chance； father； you meant； but I meant Maine； Which I will win
from France； or else be slain。 Exeunt WARWICK and SALISBURY
YORK。 Anjou and Maine are given to the French； Paris is lost； the
state of Normandy Stands on a tickle point now they are gone。 Suffolk
concluded on the articles； The peers agreed； and Henry was well pleas'd
To changes two dukedoms for a duke's fair daughter。 I cannot blame them
all： what is't to them？ 'Tis thine they give away； and not their own。 Pirates
may make cheap pennyworths of their pillage； And purchase friends； and
give to courtezans； Still revelling like lords till all be gone； While as the
silly owner of the goods Weeps over them and wrings his hapless hands
And shakes his head and trembling stands aloof； While all is shar'd and all
is borne away； Ready to starve and dare not touch his own。 So York must
sit and fret and bite his tongue； While his own lands are bargain'd for and
sold。 Methinks the realms of England； France； and Ireland； Bear that
proportion to my flesh and blood As did the fatal brand Althaea burnt Unto
the prince's heart of Calydon。 Anjou and Maine both given unto the French！
Cold news for me； for I had hope of France； Even as I have of fertile
England's soil。 A day will come when York shall claim his own； And
therefore I will take the Nevils' parts； And make a show of love to proud
Duke Humphrey； And when I spy advantage； claim the crown； For that's
the golden mark I seek to hit。 Nor shall proud Lancaster usurp my right；
Nor hold the sceptre in his childish fist； Nor wear the diadem upon his
head； Whose church…like humours fits not for a crown。 Then； York； be still
awhile； till time do serve； Watch thou and wake； when others be asleep； To
pry into the secrets of the state； Till Henry； surfeiting in joys of love With
his new bride and England's dear…bought queen； And Humphrey with the
peers be fall'n at jars； Then will I raise aloft the milk…white rose； With
whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd； And in my standard bear the
arms of York； To grapple with the house of Lancaster； And force perforce
I'll make him yield the crown； Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England
down。 Exit
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King Henry VI； Part 2
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King Henry VI； Part 2
SCENE II。 The DUKE OF GLOUCESTER'S house
Enter DUKE and his wife ELEANOR
DUCHESS。 Why droops my lord； like over…ripen'd corn Hanging the
head at Ceres' plenteous load？ Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit
his brows； As frowning at the favours of the world？ Why are thine eyes
fix'd to the sullen earth； Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight？
What see'st thou there？ King Henry's diadem； Enchas'd with all the
honours of the world？ If so； gaze on； and grovel on thy face Until thy head
be circled with the same。 Put forth thy hand； reach at the glorious gold。
What； is't too short？ I'll lengthen it with mine； And having both together
heav'd it up； We'll both together lift our heads to heaven； And never more
abase our sight so low As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground。
GLOUCESTER。 O Nell； sweet Nell； if thou dost love thy lord； Banish the
canker of ambitious thoughts！ And may that thought； when I imagine ill
Against my king and nephew； virtuous Henry； Be my last breathing in this
mortal world！ My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad。
DUCHESS。 What dream'd my lord？ Tell me； and I'll requite it With sweet
rehearsal of my morning's dream。 GLOUCESTER。 Methought this staff；
mine office…badge in court； Was broke in twain； by whom I have forgot；
But； as I think； it was by th' Cardinal； And on the pieces of the broken
wand Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset And William de
la Pole； first Duke of Suffolk。 This was my dream； what it doth bode God
knows。 DUCHESS。 Tut； this was nothing but an argument That he that
breaks a stick of Gloucester's grove Shall lose his head for his
presumption。 But list to me； my Humphrey； my sweet Duke： Methought I
sat in seat of majesty In the cathedral church of Westminster； And in that
chair where kings and queens were crown'd； Where Henry and Dame
Margaret kneel'd to me； And on my head did set the diadem。
GLOUCESTER。 Nay； Eleanor； then must I chide outright。 Presumptuous
dame； ill…nurtur'd Eleanor！ Art thou not second woman in the realm； And
the Protector's wife； belov'd of him？ Hast thou not worldly pleasure at
command Above the reach or compass of thy thought？ And wilt thou still
be hammering treachery To tumble down thy husband and thyself From
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King Henry VI； Part 2
top of honour to disgrace's feet？ Away from me； and let me hear no more！
DUCHESS。 What； what； my lord！ Are you so choleric With Eleanor for
telling but her dream？ Next time I'll keep my dreams unto myself And not
be check'd。 GLOUCESTER。 Nay； be not angry； I am pleas'd again。
Enter a MESSENGER
MESSENGER。 My Lord Protector； 'tis his Highness' pleasure You do
prepare to ride unto Saint Albans； Where as the King and Queen do mean
to hawk。 GLOUCESTER。 I go。 Come； Nell； thou wilt ride with us？
DUCHESS。 Yes； my good lord； I'll follow presently。 Exeunt
GLOUCESTER and MESSENGER Follow I must； I cannot