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  • Title: Henry VI, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1594)

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Quarto 1, 1594)

    Houses, of Yorke and Lancaster.
    Queene. Hovv novv, vvhither goes Vavvse so fast?
    2085Vawse. To signifie vnto his Maiestie,
    That Cardinall Bevvford is at point of death,
    Sometimes he raues and cries as he vvere madde,
    2090Sometimes he cals vpon Duke Humphries Ghost,
    And vvhispers to his pillovv as to him,
    And sometime he calles to speake vnto the King,
    And I am going to certifie vnto his grace,
    2095That euen novv he cald aloude for him.
    Queene. Go then good Vavvse and certifie the King.
    2096.1Exet Vawse.
    Oh vvhat is vvorldly pompe, all men must die,
    2097.1And vvoe am I for Bevvfords heauie ende,
    2100But vvhy mourne I for him, vvhilst thou art here?
    Svveete Suffolke hie thee hence to France,
    For if the King do come, thou sure must die.
    2105Suff. And if I go I cannot liue: but here to die,
    What vvere it else, but like a pleasant slumber
    In thy lap?
    Here could I, could I, breath my soule into the aire,
    As milde and gentle as the nevv borne babe,
    2110That dies vvith mothers dugge betvveene his lips,
    Where from thy sight I should be raging madde,
    And call for thee to close mine eyes,
    Or vvith thy lips to stop my dying soule,
    2115That I might breathe it so into thy bodie,
    And then it liu'd in svveete Elyziam,
    By thee to die, vvere but to die in ieast,
    From thee to die, vvere torment more then death,
    O let me staie, befall, vvhat may befall.
    2120Queen. Oh mightst thou staie vvith safetie of thy life,
    Then shouldst thou staie, but heauens deny it,
    And therefore go, but hope ere long to be repelde.
    Suff. I goe.
    Queene. And take my heart vvith thee.
    2124.1She kisseth him.
    Suff. A ievvell lockt into the vvofulst caske,
    That euer yet containde a thing of vvoorth,
    Thus