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never heard of； That England was defam'd by tyranny。 GLOUCESTER。
Why； 'tis well known that whiles I was Protector Pity was all the fault that
was in me； For I should melt at an offender's tears； And lowly words were
ransom for their fault。 Unless it were a bloody murderer； Or foul felonious
thief that fleec'd poor passengers； I never gave them condign punishment。
Murder indeed； that bloody sin； I tortur'd Above the felon or what trespass
else。 SUFFOLK。 My lord； these faults are easy； quickly answer'd； But
mightier crimes are laid unto your charge； Whereof you cannot easily
purge yourself。 I do arrest you in His Highness' name； And here commit
you to my Lord Cardinal To keep until your further time of trial。 KING
HENRY。 My Lord of Gloucester； 'tis my special hope That you will clear
yourself from all suspense。 My conscience tells me you are innocent。
GLOUCESTER。 Ah； gracious lord； these days are dangerous！ Virtue is
chok'd with foul ambition； And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand；
Foul subornation is predominant； And equity exil'd your Highness' land。 I
know their complot is to have my life； And if my death might make this
island happy And prove the period of their tyranny； I would expend it with
all willingness。 But mine is made the prologue to their play； For thousands
more that yet suspect no peril Will not conclude their plotted tragedy。
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Beaufort's red sparkling eyes blab his heart's malice； And Suffolk's cloudy
brow his stormy hate； Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue The
envious load that lies upon his heart； And dogged York； that reaches at the
moon； Whose overweening arm I have pluck'd back； By false accuse doth
level at my life。 And you； my sovereign lady； with the rest； Causeless have
laid disgraces on my head； And with your best endeavour have stirr'd up
My liefest liege to be mine enemy； Ay； all of you have laid your heads
together… Myself had notice of your conventicles… And all to make away
my guiltless life。 I shall not want false witness to condemn me Nor store
of treasons to augment my guilt。 The ancient proverb will be well effected：
'A staff is quickly found to beat a dog。' CARDINAL。 My liege； his railing
is intolerable。 If those that care to keep your royal person From treason's
secret knife and traitor's rage Be thus upbraided； chid； and rated at； And
the offender granted scope of speech； 'Twill make them cool in zeal unto
your Grace。 SUFFOLK。 Hath he not twit our sovereign lady here With
ignominious words； though clerkly couch'd； As if she had suborned some
to swear False allegations to o'erthrow his state？ QUEEN。 But I can give
the loser leave to chide。 GLOUCESTER。 Far truer spoke than meant： I
lose indeed。 Beshrew the winners； for they play'd me false！ And well such
losers may have leave to speak。 BUCKINGHAM。 He'll wrest the sense；
and hold us here all day。 Lord Cardinal； he is your prisoner。 CARDINAL。
Sirs； take away the Duke； and guard him sure。 GLOUCESTER。 Ah； thus
King Henry throws away his crutch Before his legs be firm to bear his
body！ Thus is the shepherd beaten from thy side； And wolves are gnarling
who shall gnaw thee first。 Ah； that my fear were false！ ah； that it were！ For；
good King Henry； thy decay I fear。 Exit； guarded KING HENRY。 My lords；
what to your wisdoms seemeth best Do or undo； as if ourself were here。
QUEEN。 What； will your Highness leave the Parliament？ KING HENRY。
Ay； Margaret； my heart is drown'd with grief； Whose flood begins to flow
within mine eyes； My body round engirt with misery… For what's more
miserable than discontent？ Ah； uncle Humphrey； in thy face I see The map
of honour； truth； and loyalty！ And yet； good Humphrey； is the hour to
come That e'er I prov'd thee false or fear'd thy faith。 What louring star now
envies thy estate That these great lords； and Margaret our Queen； Do seek
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subversion of thy harmless life？ Thou never didst them wrong； nor no man
wrong； And as the butcher takes away the calf； And binds the wretch； and
beats it when it strays； Bearing it to the bloody slaughter…house； Even so；
remorseless； have they borne him hence； And as the dam runs lowing up
and down； Looking the way her harmless young one went； And can do
nought but wail her darling's loss； Even so myself bewails good
Gloucester's case With sad unhelpful tears； and with dimm'd eyes Look
after him； and cannot do him good； So mighty are his vowed enemies。 His
fortunes I will weep； and 'twixt each groan Say 'Who's a traitor？
Gloucester he is none。' Exit QUEEN。 Free lords； cold snow melts with the
sun's hot beams： Henry my lord is cold in great affairs； Too full of foolish
pity； and Gloucester's show Beguiles him as the mournful crocodile With
sorrow snares relenting passengers； Or as the snake； roll'd in a flow'ring
bank； With shining checker'd slough； doth sting a child That for the beauty
thinks it excellent。 Believe me； lords； were none more wise than I… And yet
herein I judge mine own wit good… This Gloucester should be quickly rid
the world To rid us from the fear we have of him。 CARDINAL。 That he
should die is worthy policy； But yet we want a colour for his death。 'Tis
meet he be condemn'd by course of law。 SUFFOLK。 But； in my mind； that
were no policy： The King will labour still to save his life； The commons
haply rise to save his life； And yet we have but trivial argument； More
than mistrust； that shows him worthy death。 YORK。 So that； by this； you
would not have him die。 SUFFOLK。 Ah； York； no man alive so fain as I！
YORK。 'Tis York that hath more reason for his death。 But； my Lord
Cardinal； and you； my Lord of Suffolk； Say as you think； and speak it
from your souls： Were't not all one an empty eagle were set To guard the
chicken from a hungry kite As place Duke Humphrey for the King's
Protector？ QUEEN。 So the poor chicken should be sure of death。
SUFFOLK。 Madam； 'tis true； and were't not madness then To make the fox
surveyor of the fold？ Who being accus'd a crafty murderer； His guilt
should be but idly posted over； Because his purpose is not executed。 No；
let him die； in that he is a fox； By nature prov'd an enemy to the flock；