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  • Title: Henry VI, Part 2 (Folio 1, 1623)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry VI, Part 2 (Folio 1, 1623)

    The second Part of Henry the Sixt.129

    1115 Enter at one Doore the Armorer and his Neighbors, drinking
    to him so much, that hee is drunke; and he enters with a
    Drumme before him, and his Staffe, with a Sand-bagge
    fastened to it: and at the other Doore his Man, with a
    Drumme and Sand-bagge, and Prentices drinking to him.

    11201. Neighbor. Here Neighbour Horner, I drinke to you
    in a Cup of Sack; and feare not Neighbor, you shall doe
    well enough.
    2. Neighbor. And here Neighbour, here's a Cuppe of
    Charneco.
    11253. Neighbor. And here's a Pot of good Double-Beere
    Neighbor: drinke, and feare not your Man.
    Armorer. Let it come yfaith, and Ile pledge you all,
    and a figge for Peter.
    1. Prent. Here Peter, I drinke to thee, and be not a-
    1130fraid.
    2. Prent. Be merry Peter, and feare not thy Master,
    Fight for credit of the Prentices.
    Peter. I thanke you all: drinke, and pray for me, I pray
    you, for I thinke I haue taken my last Draught in this
    1135World. Here Robin, and if I dye, I giue thee my Aporne;
    and Will, thou shalt haue my Hammer: and here Tom,
    take all the Money that I haue. O Lord blesse me, I pray
    God, for I am neuer able to deale with my Master, hee
    hath learnt so much fence already.
    1140Salisb. Come, leaue your drinking, and fall to blowes.
    Sirrha, what's thy Name?
    Peter. Peter forsooth.
    Salisb. Peter? what more?
    Peter. Thumpe.
    1145Salisb. Thumpe? Then see thou thumpe thy Master
    well.
    Armorer. Masters, I am come hither as it were vpon
    my Mans instigation, to proue him a Knaue, and my selfe
    an honest man: and touching the Duke of Yorke, I will
    1150take my death, I neuer meant him any ill, nor the King,
    nor the Queene: and therefore Peter haue at thee with a
    downe-right blow.
    Yorke. Dispatch, this Knaues tongue begins to double.
    Sound Trumpets, Alarum to the Combattants.
    1155They fight, and Peter strikes him downe.
    Armorer. Hold Peter, hold, I confesse, I confesse Trea-
    son.
    Yorke. Take away his Weapon: Fellow thanke God,
    and the good Wine in thy Masters way.
    1160Peter. O God, haue I ouercome mine Enemies in this
    presence? O Peter, thou hast preuayl'd in right.
    King. Goe, take hence that Traytor from our sight,
    For by his death we doe perceiue his guilt,
    And God in Iustice hath reueal'd to vs
    1165The truth and innocence of this poore fellow,
    Which he had thought to haue murther'd wrongfully.
    Come fellow, follow vs for thy Reward.
    Sound a flourish. Exeunt.

    Enter Duke Humfrey and his Men in
    1170Mourning Cloakes.

    Glost. Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a Cloud:
    And after Summer, euermore succeedes
    Barren Winter, with his wrathfull nipping Cold;
    So Cares and Ioyes abound, as Seasons fleet.
    1175Sirs, what's a Clock?
    Seru. Tenne, my Lord.
    Glost. Tenne is the houre that was appointed me,
    To watch the comming of my punisht Duchesse:
    Vnneath may shee endure the Flintie Streets,
    1180To treade them with her tender-feeling feet.
    Sweet Nell, ill can thy Noble Minde abrooke
    The abiect People, gazing on thy face,
    With enuious Lookes laughing at thy shame,
    That erst did follow thy prowd Chariot-Wheeles,
    1185When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
    But soft, I thinke she comes, and Ile prepare
    My teare-stayn'd eyes, to see her Miseries.

    Enter the Duchesse in a white Sheet, and a Taper
    burning in her hand, with the Sherife
    1190and Officers.

    Seru. So please your Grace, wee'le take her from the
    Sherife.
    Gloster. No, stirre not for your liues, let her passe
    by.
    1195Elianor. Come you, my Lord, to see my open shame?
    Now thou do'st Penance too. Looke how they gaze,
    See how the giddy multitude doe point,
    And nodde their heads, and throw their eyes on thee.
    Ah Gloster, hide thee from their hatefull lookes,
    1200And in thy Closet pent vp, rue my shame,
    And banne thine Enemies, both mine and thine.
    Glost. Be patient, gentle Nell, forget this griefe.
    Elianor. Ah Gloster, teach me to forget my selfe:
    For whilest I thinke I am thy married Wife,
    1205And thou a Prince, Protector of this Land;
    Me thinkes I should not thus be led along,
    Mayl'd vp in shame, with Papers on my back,
    And follow'd with a Rabble, that reioyce
    To see my teares, and heare my deepe-set groanes.
    1210The ruthlesse Flint doth cut my tender feet,
    And when I start, the enuious people laugh,
    And bid me be aduised how I treade.
    Ah Humfrey, can I beare this shamefull yoake?
    Trowest thou, that ere Ile looke vpon the World,
    1215Or count them happy, that enioyes the Sunne?
    No: Darke shall be my Light, and Night my Day.
    To thinke vpon my Pompe, shall be my Hell.
    Sometime Ile say, I am Duke Humfreyes Wife,
    And he a Prince, and Ruler of the Land:
    1220Yet so he rul'd, and such a Prince he was,
    As he stood by, whilest I, his forlorne Duchesse,
    Was made a wonder, and a pointing stock
    To euery idle Rascall follower.
    But be thou milde, and blush not at my shame,
    1225Nor stirre at nothing, till the Axe of Death
    Hang ouer thee, as sure it shortly will.
    For Suffolke, he that can doe all in all
    With her, that hateth thee and hates vs all,
    And Yorke, and impious Beauford, that false Priest,
    1230Haue all lym'd Bushes to betray thy Wings,
    And flye thou how thou canst, they'le tangle thee.
    But feare not thou, vntill thy foot be snar'd,
    Nor neuer seeke preuention of thy foes.
    Glost. Ah Nell, forbeare: thou aymest all awry.
    1235I must offend, before I be attainted:
    And had I twentie times so many foes,
    And each of them had twentie times their power,
    All these could not procure me any scathe,
    So long as I am loyall, true, and crimelesse.
    1240Would'st haue me rescue thee from this reproach?
    n Why
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