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fellow； Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully。 Come； fellow；
follow us for thy reward。 Sound a flourish。 Exeunt
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King Henry VI； Part 2
SCENE IV。 London。 A street
Enter DUKE HUMPHREY and his men； 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。 Sirs； what's o'clock？
SERVING…MAN。 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 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 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 OF GLOUCESTER in a white sheet； and a taper
burning in her hand； with SIR JOHN STANLEY； the SHERIFF； and
OFFICERS
SERVING…MAN。 So please your Grace； we'll take her from the
sheriff。 GLOUCESTER。 No； stir not for your lives； let her pass by。
DUCHESS。 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； 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 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 follow'd with a rabble that rejoice
To see my tears and hear my deep…fet groans。 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？
Trowest thou that e'er I'll look upon the world 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。 Sometimes I'll say I am Duke Humphrey's wife；
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King Henry VI； Part 2
And he a prince； and ruler of the land； Yet so he rul'd； 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； 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； Have all lim'd bushes to betray thy wings； And； fly thou how thou
canst； they'll tangle thee。 But fear not thou until thy foot be snar'd； Nor
never seek prevention of thy foes。 GLOUCESTER。 Ah； Nell； forbear！
Thou aimest all awry。 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。 Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach？ Why； yet thy
scandal were not wip'd 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；
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 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。 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 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 servants DUCHESS。
Art thou gone too？ All comfort go with thee！ For none abides with me。 My
joy is death… Death； at whose name I oft have been afeard； 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
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King Henry VI； Part 2
commanded。 STANLEY。 Why； madam； that is to the Isle of Man； There to
be us'd according to your state。 DUCHESS。 That's bad enough； for I am
but reproach… And shall I then be us'd reproachfully？ STANLEY。 Like to a
duchess and Duke Humphrey's lady； According to that state you shall be
us'd。 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 discharg'd。 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
And show itself； attire me how I can。 Go； lead the way； I long to see my
prison。 Exeunt