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his new bride and England's dear…bought queen； And Humphrey with the
peers be fall'n at jars； Then will I raise aloft the milk…white rose； With
whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd； And in my standard bear the
arms of York； To grapple with the house of Lancaster； And force perforce
I'll make him yield the crown； Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England
down。 Exit
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King Henry VI； Part 2
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King Henry VI； Part 2
SCENE II。 The DUKE OF GLOUCESTER'S house
Enter DUKE and his wife ELEANOR
DUCHESS。 Why droops my lord； like over…ripen'd corn Hanging the
head at Ceres' plenteous load？ Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit
his brows； As frowning at the favours of the world？ Why are thine eyes
fix'd to the sullen earth； Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight？
What see'st thou there？ King Henry's diadem； Enchas'd with all the
honours of the world？ If so； gaze on； and grovel on thy face Until thy head
be circled with the same。 Put forth thy hand； reach at the glorious gold。
What； is't too short？ I'll lengthen it with mine； And having both together
heav'd it up； We'll both together lift our heads to heaven； And never more
abase our sight so low As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground。
GLOUCESTER。 O Nell； sweet Nell； if thou dost love thy lord； Banish the
canker of ambitious thoughts！ And may that thought； when I imagine ill
Against my king and nephew； virtuous Henry； Be my last breathing in this
mortal world！ My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad。
DUCHESS。 What dream'd my lord？ Tell me； and I'll requite it With sweet
rehearsal of my morning's dream。 GLOUCESTER。 Methought this staff；
mine office…badge in court； Was broke in twain； by whom I have forgot；
But； as I think； it was by th' Cardinal； And on the pieces of the broken
wand Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset And William de
la Pole； first Duke of Suffolk。 This was my dream； what it doth bode God
knows。 DUCHESS。 Tut； this was nothing but an argument That he that
breaks a stick of Gloucester's grove Shall lose his head for his
presumption。 But list to me； my Humphrey； my sweet Duke： Methought I
sat in seat of majesty In the cathedral church of Westminster； And in that
chair where kings and queens were crown'd； Where Henry and Dame
Margaret kneel'd to me； And on my head did set the diadem。
GLOUCESTER。 Nay； Eleanor； then must I chide outright。 Presumptuous
dame； ill…nurtur'd Eleanor！ Art thou not second woman in the realm； And
the Protector's wife； belov'd of him？ Hast thou not worldly pleasure at
command Above the reach or compass of thy thought？ And wilt thou still
be hammering treachery To tumble down thy husband and thyself From
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King Henry VI； Part 2
top of honour to disgrace's feet？ Away from me； and let me hear no more！
DUCHESS。 What； what； my lord！ Are you so choleric With Eleanor for
telling but her dream？ Next time I'll keep my dreams unto myself And not
be check'd。 GLOUCESTER。 Nay； be not angry； I am pleas'd again。
Enter a MESSENGER
MESSENGER。 My Lord Protector； 'tis his Highness' pleasure You do
prepare to ride unto Saint Albans； Where as the King and Queen do mean
to hawk。 GLOUCESTER。 I go。 Come； Nell； thou wilt ride with us？
DUCHESS。 Yes； my good lord； I'll follow presently。 Exeunt
GLOUCESTER and MESSENGER Follow I must； I cannot go before；
While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind。 Were I a man； a duke；
and next of blood； I would remove these tedious stumbling…blocks And
smooth my way upon their headless necks； And； being a woman； I will not
be slack To play my part in Fortune's pageant。 Where are you there； Sir
John？ Nay； fear not； man； We are alone； here's none but thee and I。
Enter HUME
HUME。 Jesus preserve your royal Majesty！ DUCHESS。 What say'st
thou？ Majesty！ I am but Grace。 HUME。 But； by the grace of God and
Hume's advice； Your Grace's title shall be multiplied。 DUCHESS。 What
say'st thou； man？ Hast thou as yet conferr'd With Margery Jourdain； the
cunning witch of Eie； With Roger Bolingbroke； the conjurer？ And will
they undertake to do me good？ HUME。 This they have promised； to show
your Highness A spirit rais'd from depth of underground That shall make
answer to such questions As by your Grace shall be propounded him
DUCHESS。 It is enough； I'll think upon the questions； When from Saint
Albans we do make return We'll see these things effected to the full。 Here；
Hume； take this reward； make merry； man； With thy confederates in this
weighty cause。 Exit HUME。 Hume must make merry with the Duchess'
gold； Marry； and shall。 But； how now； Sir John Hume！ Seal up your lips
and give no words but mum： The business asketh silent secrecy。 Dame
Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch： Gold cannot come amiss were she a
devil。 Yet have I gold flies from another coast… I dare not say from the rich
Cardinal； And from the great and new…made Duke of Suffolk； Yet I do find
it so； for； to be plain； They； knowing Dame Eleanor's aspiring humour；
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King Henry VI； Part 2
Have hired me to undermine the Duchess； And buzz these conjurations in
her brain。 They say 'A crafty knave does need no broker'； Yet am I Suffolk
and the Cardinal's broker。 Hume； if you take not heed； you shall go near
To call them both a pair of crafty knaves。 Well； so its stands； and thus； I
fear； at last Hume's knavery will be the Duchess' wreck； And her attainture
will be Humphrey's fall Sort how it will； I shall have gold for all。 Exit
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King Henry VI； Part 2
SCENE III。 London。 The palace
Enter three or four PETITIONERS； PETER； the Armourer's man；
being one
FIRST PETITIONER。 My masters； let's stand close； my Lord
Protector will come this way by and by； and then we may deliver our
supplications in the qui