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King Henry VI； Part 2
ACT III。
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King Henry VI； Part 2
SCENE I。 The Abbey at Bury St。 Edmunds
Sound a sennet。Enter the KING； the QUEEN； CARDINAL；
SUFFOLK； YORK； BUCKINGHAM； SALISBURY； and WARWICK；
to the Parliament
KING HENRY。 I muse my Lord of Gloucester is not come。 'Tis not
his wont to be the hindmost man； Whate'er occasion keeps him from us
now。 QUEEN。 Can you not see； or will ye not observe The strangeness of
his alter'd countenance？ With what a majesty he bears himself； How
insolent of late he is become； How proud； how peremptory； and unlike
himself？ We know the time since he was mild and affable； And if we did
but glance a far…off look Immediately he was upon his knee； That all the
court admir'd him for submission。 But meet him now and be it in the morn；
When every one will give the time of day； He knits his brow and shows an
angry eye And passeth by with stiff unbowed knee； Disdaining duty that to
us belongs。 Small curs are not regarded when they grin； But great men
tremble when the lion roars； And Humphrey is no little man in England。
First note that he is near you in descent； And should you fall he is the next
will mount； Me seemeth； then； it is no policy… Respecting what a
rancorous mind he bears； And his advantage following your decease… That
he should come about your royal person Or be admitted to your Highness'
Council。 By flattery hath he won the commons' hearts； And when he
please to make commotion； 'Tis to be fear'd they all will follow him。 Now
'tis the spring； and weeds are shallow…rooted； Suffer them now； and they'll
o'ergrow the garden And choke the herbs for want of husbandry。 The
reverent care I bear unto my lord Made me collect these dangers in the
Duke。 If it be fond； can it a woman's fear； Which fear if better reasons can
supplant； I will subscribe； and say I wrong'd the Duke。 My Lord of Suffolk；
Buckingham； and York； Reprove my allegation if you can； Or else
conclude my words effectual。 SUFFOLK。 Well hath your Highness seen
into this duke； And had I first been put to speak my mind； I think I should
have told your Grace's tale。 The Duchess； by his subornation； Upon my
life； began her devilish practices； Or if he were not privy to those faults；
Yet by reputing of his high descent… As next the King he was successive
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King Henry VI； Part 2
heir… And such high vaunts of his nobility； Did instigate the bedlam
brainsick Duchess By wicked means to frame our sovereign's fall。 Smooth
runs the water where the brook is deep； And in his simple show he
harbours treason。 The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb。 No； no；
my sovereign； Gloucester is a man Unsounded yet； and full of deep deceit。
CARDINAL。 Did he not； contrary to form of law； Devise strange deaths
for small offences done？ YORK。 And did he not； in his protectorship；
Levy great sums of money through the realm For soldiers' pay in France；
and never sent it？ By means whereof the towns each day revolted。
BUCKINGHAM。 Tut； these are petty faults to faults unknown Which time
will bring to light in smooth Duke Humphrey。 KING HENRY。 My lords； at
once： the care you have of us； To mow down thorns that would annoy our
foot； Is worthy praise； but shall I speak my conscience？ Our kinsman
Gloucester is as innocent From meaning treason to our royal person As is
the sucking lamb or harmless dove： The Duke is virtuous； mild； and too
well given To dream on evil or to work my downfall。 QUEEN。 Ah； what's
more dangerous than this fond affiance？ Seems he a dove？ His feathers are
but borrow'd； For he's disposed as the hateful raven。 Is he a lamb？ His skin
is surely lent him； For he's inclin'd as is the ravenous wolf。 Who cannot
steal a shape that means deceit？ Take heed； my lord； the welfare of us all
Hangs on the cutting short that fraudful man。
Enter SOMERSET
SOMERSET。 All health unto my gracious sovereign！ KING HENRY。
Welcome； Lord Somerset。 What news from France？ SOMERSET。 That all
your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you； all is lost。 KING
HENRY。 Cold news； Lord Somerset； but God's will be done！ YORK。
＇Aside＇ Cold news for me； for I had hope of France As firmly as I hope for
fertile England。 Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud； And caterpillars
eat my leaves away； But I will remedy this gear ere long； Or sell my title
for a glorious grave。Enter GLOUCESTER
GLOUCESTER。 All happiness unto my lord the King！ Pardon； my
liege； that I have stay'd so long。 SUFFOLK。 Nay； Gloucester； know that
thou art come too soon； Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art。 I do
arrest thee of high treason here。 GLOUCESTER。 Well； Suffolk； thou shalt
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not see me blush Nor change my countenance for this arrest： A heart
unspotted is not easily daunted。 The purest spring is not so free from mud
As I am clear from treason to my sovereign。 Who can accuse me？ Wherein
am I guilty？ YORK。 'Tis thought； my lord； that you took bribes of France
And； being Protector； stay'd the soldiers' pay； By means whereof his
Highness hath lost France。 GLOUCESTER。 Is it but thought so？ What are
they that think it？ I never robb'd the soldiers of their pay Nor ever had one
penny bribe from France。 So help me God； as I have watch'd the night… Ay；
night by night… in studying good for England！ That doit that e'er I wrested
from the King； Or any groat I hoarded to my use； Be brought against me at
my trial…day！ No； many a pound of mine own proper store； Because I
would not tax the needy commons； Have I dispursed to the garrisons； And
never ask'd for restitution。 CARDINAL。 It serves you well； my lord； to say
so much。 GLOUCESTER。 I say no more than truth； so help me God！
YORK。 In your protectorship you did devise Strange tortures for offenders；
never heard of； That England was defam'd by tyranny。 GLOUC