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him with grievous ling'ring death。 They say by him the good Duke
Humphrey died； They say in him they fear your Highness' death； And
mere instinct of love and loyalty； Free from a stubborn opposite intent； As
being thought to contradict your liking； Makes them thus forward in his
banishment。 They say； in care of your most royal person； That if your
Highness should intend to sleep And charge that no man should disturb
your rest； In pain of your dislike or pain of death； Yet； notwithstanding
such a strait edict； Were there a serpent seen with forked tongue That slily
glided towards your Majesty； It were but necessary you were wak'd； Lest；
being suffer'd in that harmful slumber； The mortal worm might make the
sleep eternal。 And therefore do they cry； though you forbid； That they will
guard you； whe'er you will or no； From such fell serpents as false Suffolk
is； With whose envenomed and fatal sting Your loving uncle； twenty times
his worth； They say； is shamefully bereft of life。 COMMONS。 ＇Within＇ An
answer from the King； my Lord of Salisbury！ SUFFOLK。 'Tis like the
commons； rude unpolish'd hinds； Could send such message to their
sovereign； But you； my lord； were glad to be employ'd； To show how
quaint an orator you are。 But all the honour Salisbury hath won Is that he
was the lord ambassador Sent from a sort of tinkers to the King。
COMMONS。 ＇Within＇ An answer from the King； or we will all break in！
KING HENRY。 Go； Salisbury； and tell them all from me I thank them for
their tender loving care； And had I not been cited so by them； Yet did I
purpose as they do entreat； For sure my thoughts do hourly prophesy
Mischance unto my state by Suffolk's means。 And therefore by His
Majesty I swear； Whose far unworthy deputy I am； He shall not breathe
infection in this air But three days longer； on the pain of death。 Exit
SALISBURY QUEEN。 O Henry； let me plead for gentle Suffolk！ KING
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HENRY。 Ungentle Queen； to call him gentle Suffolk！ No more； I say； if
thou dost plead for him； Thou wilt but add increase unto my wrath。 Had I
but said； I would have kept my word； But when I swear； it is irrevocable。
If after three days' space thou here be'st found On any ground that I am
ruler of； The world shall not be ransom for thy life。 Come； Warwick； come；
good Warwick； go with me； I have great matters to impart to thee。 Exeunt
all but QUEEN and SUFFOLK QUEEN。 Mischance and sorrow go along
with you！ Heart's discontent and sour affliction Be playfellows to keep
you company！ There's two of you； the devil make a third； And threefold
vengeance tend upon your steps！ SUFFOLK。 Cease； gentle Queen； these
execrations； And let thy Suffolk take his heavy leave。 QUEEN。 Fie；
coward woman and soft…hearted wretch； Has thou not spirit to curse thine
enemy？ SUFFOLK。 A plague upon them！ Wherefore should I curse them？
Would curses kill as doth the mandrake's groan； I would invent as bitter
searching terms； As curst； as harsh； and horrible to hear； Deliver'd strongly
through my fixed teeth； With full as many signs of deadly hate； As lean…
fac'd Envy in her loathsome cave。 My tongue should stumble in mine
earnest words； Mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint； Mine hair be
fix'd an end； as one distract； Ay； every joint should seem to curse and ban；
And even now my burden'd heart would break； Should I not curse them。
Poison be their drink！ Gall； worse than gall； the daintiest that they taste！
Their sweetest shade a grove of cypress trees！ Their chiefest prospect
murd'ring basilisks！ Their softest touch as smart as lizards' stings！ Their
music frightful as the serpent's hiss； And boding screech…owls make the
consort full！ all the foul terrors in dark…seated hell… QUEEN。 Enough；
sweet Suffolk； thou torment'st thyself； And these dread curses； like the sun
'gainst glass； Or like an overcharged gun； recoil； And turns the force of
them upon thyself。 SUFFOLK。 You bade me ban； and will you bid me
leave？ Now； by the ground that I am banish'd from； Well could I curse
away a winter's night； Though standing naked on a mountain top Where
biting cold would never let grass grow； And think it but a minute spent in
sport。 QUEEN。 O； let me entreat thee cease！ Give me thy hand； That I may
dew it with my mournful tears； Nor let the rain of heaven wet this place To
wash away my woeful monuments。 O； could this kiss be printed in thy
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hand； That thou might'st think upon these by the seal； Through whom a
thousand sighs are breath'd for thee！ So； get thee gone； that I may know
my grief； 'Tis but surmis'd whiles thou art standing by； As one that surfeits
thinking on a want。 I will repeal thee or； be well assur'd； Adventure to be
banished myself； And banished I am； if but from thee。 Go； speak not to me；
even now be gone。 O； go not yet！ Even thus two friends condemn'd
Embrace； and kiss； and take ten thousand leaves； Loather a hundred times
to part than die。 Yet now； farewell； and farewell life with thee！ SUFFOLK。
Thus is poor Suffolk ten times banished； Once by the King and three times
thrice by thee； 'Tis not the land I care for； wert thou thence； A wilderness is
populous enough； So Suffolk had thy heavenly company； For where thou
art； there is the world itself； With every several pleasure in the world； And
where thou art not； desolation。 I can no more： Live thou to joy thy life；
Myself no joy in nought but that thou liv'st。
Enter VAUX
QUEEN。 Whither goes Vaux so fast？ What news； I prithee？ VAUX。
To signify unto his Majesty That Cardinal Beaufort is at point of death；
For suddenly a grievous sickness took him That makes him gasp； and stare；
and catch the air； Blaspheming God； and cursing men on earth。 Sometime
he talks as if Duke Humphrey's ghost Were by his side； sometime he calls
the King And whispers to his pillow； as to him； The secrets of his
overcharged soul； And I am sent to tell his Majesty That even now he cries
aloud for him。 QUEEN。 Go tell this heavy message to the King。 Exit
VAUX Ay me！ What is this world！ What news are these！ But wherefore
grieve I at a