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Henry VI, Pt. 2: Act IV, Scene 4

Henry VI, Pt. 2
Act IV, Scene 4

London. A room in the palace.

  1. Enter the King with a supplication and the Queen with
  2. Suffolk’s head, the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Say.

Queen Margaret

1 - 6
  1. Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind,
  2. And makes it fearful and degenerate;
  3. Think therefore on revenge and cease to weep.
  4. But who can cease to weep and look on this?
  5. Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast;
  6. But where’s the body that I should embrace?

Duke of Buckingham

7
  1. What answer makes your Grace to the rebels’ supplication?

King Henry the Sixth

8 - 13
  1. I’ll send some holy bishop to entreat;
  2. For God forbid so many simple souls
  3. Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
  4. Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
  5. Will parley with Jack Cade their general.
  6. But stay, I’ll read it over once again.

Queen Margaret

14 - 17
  1. Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face
  2. Rul’d like a wandering planet over me,
  3. And could it not enforce them to relent,
  4. That were unworthy to behold the same?

King Henry the Sixth

18
  1. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

Lord Say

19
  1. Ay, but I hope your Highness shall have his.

King Henry the Sixth

20 - 23
  1. How now, madam?
  2. Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk’s death?
  3. I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
  4. Thou wouldst not have mourn’d so much for me.

Queen Margaret

24
  1. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.
  1. Enter Second Royal Messenger.

King Henry the Sixth

25
  1. How now? What news? Why com’st thou in such haste?

Second Royal Messenger

26 - 36
  1. The rebels are in Southwark; fly, my lord!
  2. Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
  3. Descended from the Duke of Clarence’ house,
  4. And calls your Grace usurper, openly,
  5. And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
  6. His army is a ragged multitude
  7. Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless.
  8. Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother’s death
  9. Hath given them heart and courage to proceed.
  10. All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,
  11. They call false caterpillars, and intend their death.

King Henry the Sixth

37
  1. O graceless men! They know not what they do.

Duke of Buckingham

38 - 39
  1. My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth,
  2. Until a power be rais’d to put them down.

Queen Margaret

40 - 41
  1. Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
  2. These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas’d!

King Henry the Sixth

42 - 43
  1. Lord Say, the traitors hateth thee,
  2. Therefore away with us to Killingworth.

Lord Say

44 - 47
  1. So might your Grace’s person be in danger.
  2. The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
  3. And therefore in this city will I stay
  4. And live alone as secret as I may.
  1. Enter Third Royal Messenger.

Third Royal Messenger

48 - 52
  1. Jack Cade hath gotten London Bridge:
  2. The citizens fly and forsake their houses;
  3. The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
  4. Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear
  5. To spoil the city and your royal court.

Duke of Buckingham

53
  1. Then linger not, my lord, away, take horse.

King Henry the Sixth

54
  1. Come, Margaret, God, our hope, will succor us.

Queen Margaret

55
  1. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas’d.

King Henry the Sixth

56
  1. Farewell, my lord, trust not the Kentish rebels.

Duke of Buckingham

57
  1. Trust nobody, for fear you be betray’d.

Lord Say

58 - 59
  1. The trust I have is in mine innocence,
  2. And therefore am I bold and resolute.
  1. Exeunt.
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