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Henry VI, Pt. 2: Act I, Scene 2

Henry VI, Pt. 2
Act I, Scene 2

London. A room in Gloucester’s house.

  1. Enter Duke Humphrey of Gloucester and his wife Eleanor the
  2. Duchess.

Duchess

1 - 16
  1. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen’d corn
  2. Hanging the head at Ceres’ plenteous load?
  3. Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
  4. As frowning at the favors of the world?
  5. Why are thine eyes fix’d to the sullen earth,
  6. Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
  7. What seest thou there? King Henry’s diadem,
  8. Enchas’d with all the honors of the world?
  9. If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
  10. Until thy head be circled with the same.
  11. Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold.
  12. What, is’t too short? I’ll lengthen it with mine,
  13. And having both together heav’d it up,
  14. We’ll both together lift our heads to heaven,
  15. And never more abase our sight so low
  16. As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.

Duke of Gloucester

17 - 22
  1. O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
  2. Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts!
  3. And may that thought, when I imagine ill
  4. Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,
  5. Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
  6. My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad.

Duchess

23 - 24
  1. What dream’d my lord? Tell me, and I’ll requite it
  2. With sweet rehearsal of my morning’s dream.

Duke of Gloucester

25 - 31
  1. Methought this staff, mine office-badge in court,
  2. Was broke in twain (by whom I have forgot,
  3. But, as I think, it was by th’ Cardinal),
  4. And on the pieces of the broken wand
  5. Were plac’d the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset,
  6. And William de la Pole, first Duke of Suffolk.
  7. This was my dream, what it doth bode God knows.

Duchess

32 - 40
  1. Tut, this was nothing but an argument
  2. That he that breaks a stick of Gloucester’s grove
  3. Shall lose his head for his presumption.
  4. But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
  5. Methought I sate in seat of majesty
  6. In the cathedral church of Westminster,
  7. And in that chair where kings and queens were crown’d,
  8. Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneel’d to me,
  9. And on my head did set the diadem.

Duke of Gloucester

41 - 50
  1. Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright.
  2. Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtur’d Eleanor,
  3. Art thou not second woman in the realm?
  4. And the Protector’s wife, belov’d of him?
  5. Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command
  6. Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
  7. And wilt thou still be hammering treachery,
  8. To tumble down thy husband and thyself
  9. From top of honor to disgrace’s feet?
  10. Away from me, and let me hear no more!

Duchess

51 - 54
  1. What, what, my lord? Are you so choleric
  2. With Eleanor, for telling but her dream?
  3. Next time I’ll keep my dreams unto myself,
  4. And not be check’d.

Duke of Gloucester

55
  1. Nay, be not angry, I am pleas’d again.
  1. Enter Messenger.

First Royal Messenger

56 - 58
  1. My Lord Protector, ’tis his Highness’ pleasure
  2. You do prepare to ride unto Saint Albans,
  3. Where as the King and Queen do mean to hawk.

Duke of Gloucester

59
  1. I go. Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?

Duchess

60 - 69
  1. Yes, my good lord, I’ll follow presently.
  2. Exit Humphrey with Messenger.
  3. Follow I must, I cannot go before
  4. While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind.
  5. Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
  6. I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks,
  7. And smooth my way upon their headless necks;
  8. And, being a woman, I will not be slack
  9. To play my part in Fortune’s pageant.
  10. Where are you there? Sir John! Nay, fear not, man,
  11. We are alone, here’s none but thee and I.
  1. Enter Hume.

John Hume

70
  1. Jesus preserve your royal Majesty!

Duchess

71
  1. What say’st thou? Majesty? I am but Grace.

John Hume

72 - 73
  1. But, by the grace of God and Hume’s advice,
  2. Your Grace’s title shall be multiplied.

Duchess

74 - 77
  1. What say’st thou, man? Hast thou as yet conferr’d
  2. With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,
  3. With Roger Bolingbrook, the conjurer?
  4. And will they undertake to do me good?

John Hume

78 - 81
  1. This they have promised, to show your Highness
  2. A spirit rais’d from depth of under ground,
  3. That shall make answer to such questions
  4. As by your Grace shall be propounded him.

Duchess

82 - 86
  1. It is enough, I’ll think upon the questions.
  2. When from Saint Albans we do make return,
  3. We’ll see these things effected to the full.
  4. Here, Hume, take this reward. Make merry, man,
  5. With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
  1. Exit Eleanor.

John Hume

87 - 107
  1. Hume must make merry with the Duchess’ gold;
  2. Marry, and shall. But how now, Sir John Hume?
  3. Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum;
  4. The business asketh silent secrecy.
  5. Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch;
  6. Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.
  7. Yet have I gold flies from another coast
  8. I dare not say from the rich Cardinal
  9. And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk;
  10. Yet I do find it so; for, to be plain,
  11. They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humor,
  12. Have hired me to undermine the Duchess,
  13. And buzz these conjurations in her brain.
  14. They say, A crafty knave does need no broker,”
  15. Yet am I Suffolk and the Cardinal’s broker.
  16. Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
  17. To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
  18. Well, so it stands; and thus, I fear, at last
  19. Hume’s knavery will be the Duchess’ wrack,
  20. And her attainture will be Humphrey’s fall.
  21. Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.
  1. Exit.
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