TPTT The Second Part of Henry the Sixth: ACT II
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
SCENE I. Saint Alban's.
SCENE II. London. YORK'S garden.
SCENE III. A hall of justice.
SCENE IV. A street.
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE IV. A street.
Enter GLOUCESTER and his Servingmen, in mourning cloaks
GLOUCESTER
      Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud;
      And after summer evermore succeeds
      Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:
      So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
5     Sirs, what's o'clock?
Servants
      Ten, my lord.
GLOUCESTER
      Ten is the hour that was appointed me
      To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess:
      Uneath may she endure the flinty streets,
10    To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
      Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook
      The abject people gazing on thy face,
      With envious looks, laughing at thy shame,
      That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels
15    When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
      But, soft! I think she comes; and I'll prepare
      My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.
Enter the DUCHESS in a white sheet, and a taper burning in her hand; with STANLEY, the Sheriff, and Officers
Servant
      So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff.
GLOUCESTER
      No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by.
DUCHESS
20    Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
      Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze!
      See how the giddy multitude do point,
      And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee!
      Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks,
25    And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame,
      And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine!
GLOUCESTER
      Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.
DUCHESS
      Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself!
      For whilst I think I am thy married wife
30    And thou a prince, protector of this land,
      Methinks I should not thus be led along,
      Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back,
      And followed with a rabble that rejoice
      To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.
35    The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
      And when I start, the envious people laugh
      And bid me be advised how I tread.
      Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
      Trow'st thou that e'er I'll look upon the world,
40    Or count them happy that enjoy the sun?
      No; dark shall be my light and night my day;
      To think upon my pomp shall be my hell.
      Sometime I'll say, I am Duke Humphrey's wife,
      And he a prince and ruler of the land:
45    Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was
      As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess,
      Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock
      To every idle rascal follower.
      But be thou mild and blush not at my shame,
50    Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death
      Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will;
      For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
      With her that hateth thee and hates us all,
      And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
55    Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings,
      And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee:
      But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,
      Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.
GLOUCESTER
      Ah, Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry;
60    I must offend before I be attainted;
      And had I twenty times so many foes,
      And each of them had twenty times their power,
      All these could not procure me any scathe,
      So long as I am loyal, true and crimeless.
65    Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?
      Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away
      But I in danger for the breach of law.
      Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell:
      I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
70    These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.
Enter a Herald
Herald
      I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament,
      Holden at Bury the first of this next month.
GLOUCESTER
      And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before!
      This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.

Exit Herald

75    My Nell, I take my leave: and, master sheriff,
      Let not her penance exceed the king's commission.
Sheriff
      An't please your grace, here my commission stays,
      And Sir John Stanley is appointed now
      To take her with him to the Isle of Man.
GLOUCESTER
80    Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?
STANLEY
      So am I given in charge, may't please your grace.
GLOUCESTER
      Entreat her not the worse in that I pray
      You use her well: the world may laugh again;
      And I may live to do you kindness if
85    You do it her: and so, Sir John, farewell!
DUCHESS
      What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell!
GLOUCESTER
      Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.
Exeunt GLOUCESTER and Servingmen
DUCHESS
      Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee!
      For none abides with me: my joy is death;
90    Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd,
      Because I wish'd this world's eternity.
      Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence;
      I care not whither, for I beg no favour,
      Only convey me where thou art commanded.
STANLEY
95    Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man;
      There to be used according to your state.
DUCHESS
      That's bad enough, for I am but reproach:
      And shall I then be used reproachfully?
STANLEY
      Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey's lady;
100   According to that state you shall be used.
DUCHESS
      Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare,
      Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.
Sheriff
      It is my office; and, madam, pardon me.
DUCHESS
      Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharged.
105   Come, Stanley, shall we go?
STANLEY
      Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,
      And go we to attire you for our journey.
DUCHESS
      My shame will not be shifted with my sheet:
      No, it will hang upon my richest robes
110   And show itself, attire me how I can.
      Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison.
Exeunt
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