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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；
Before his chaps be stain'd with crimson blood； As Humphrey； prov'd by
reasons； to my liege。 And do not stand on quillets how to slay him； Be it
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by gins； by snares； by subtlety； Sleeping or waking； 'tis no matter how； So
he be dead； for that is good deceit Which mates him first that first intends
deceit。 QUEEN。 Thrice…noble Suffolk； 'tis resolutely spoke。 SUFFOLK。
Not resolute； except so much were done； For things are often spoke and
seldom meant； But that my heart accordeth with my tongue； Seeing the
deed is meritorious； And to preserve my sovereign from his foe； Say but
the word； and I will be his priest。 CARDINAL。 But I would have him dead；
my Lord of Suffolk； Ere you can take due orders for a priest； Say you
consent and censure well the deed； And I'll provide his executioner… I
tender so the safety of my liege。 SUFFOLK。 Here is my hand the deed is
worthy doing。 QUEEN。 And so say I。 YORK。 And I。 And now we three
have spoke it； It skills not greatly who impugns our doom。
Enter a POST
POST。 Great lords； from Ireland am I come amain To signify that
rebels there are up And put the Englishmen unto the sword。 Send succours；
lords； and stop the rage betime； Before the wound do grow uncurable； For；
being green； there is great hope of help。 CARDINAL。 A breach that craves
a quick expedient stop！ What counsel give you in this weighty cause？
YORK。 That Somerset be sent as Regent thither； 'Tis meet that lucky ruler
be employ'd； Witness the fortune he hath had in France。 SOMERSET。 If
York； with all his far…fet policy； Had been the Regent there instead of me；
He never would have stay'd in France so long。 YORK。 No； not to lose it all
as thou hast done。 I rather would have lost my life betimes Than bring a
burden of dishonour home By staying there so long till all were lost。 Show
me one scar character'd on thy skin： Men's flesh preserv'd so whole do
seldom win。 QUEEN。 Nay then； this spark will prove a raging fire； If wind
and fuel be brought to feed it with； No more； good York； sweet Somerset；
be still。 Thy fortune； York； hadst thou been Regent there； Might happily
have prov'd far worse than his。 YORK。 What； worse than nought？ Nay；
then a shame take all！ SOMERSET。 And in the number； thee that wishest
shame！ CARDINAL。 My Lord of York； try what your fortune is。 Th'
uncivil kerns of Ireland are in arms And temper clay with blood of
Englishmen； To Ireland will you lead a band of men； Collected choicely；
from each county some； And try your hap against the Irishmen？ YORK。 I
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will； my lord； so please his Majesty。 SUFFOLK。 Why； our authority is his
consent； And what we do establish he confirms； Then； noble York； take
thou this task in hand。 YORK。 I am content； provide me soldiers； lords；
Whiles I take order for mine own affairs。 SUFFOLK。 A charge； Lord York；
that I will see perform'd。 But now return we to the false Duke Humphrey。
CARDINAL。 No more of him； for I will deal with him That henceforth he
shall trouble us no more。 And so break off； the day is almost spent。 Lord
Suffolk； you and I must talk of that event。 YORK。 My Lord of Suffolk；
within fourteen days At Bristol I expect my soldiers； For there I'll ship
them all for Ireland。 SUFFOLK。 I'll see it truly done； my Lord of York。
Exeunt all but YORK YORK。 Now； York； or never； steel thy fearful
thoughts And change misdoubt to resolution； Be that thou hop'st to be； or
what thou art Resign to death… it is not worth th' enjoying。 Let pale…fac'd
fear keep with the mean…born man And find no harbour in a royal heart。
Faster than spring…time show'rs comes thought on thought； And not a
thought but thinks on dignity。 My brain； more busy than the labouring
spider； Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies。 Well； nobles； well； 'tis
politicly done To send me packing with an host of men。 I fear me you but
warm the starved snake； Who； cherish'd in your breasts； will sting your
hearts。 'Twas men I lack'd； and you will give them me； I take it kindly。 Yet
be well assur'd You put sharp weapons in a madman's hands。 Whiles I in
Ireland nourish a mighty band； I will stir up in England some black storm
Shall blow ten thousand souls to heaven or hell； And this fell tempest shall
not cease to rage Until the golden circuit on my head； Like to the glorious
sun's transparent beams； Do calm the fury of this mad…bred flaw。 And for a
minister of my intent I have seduc'd a headstrong Kentishman； John Cade
of Ashford； To make commotion； as full well he can； Under the tide of
John Mortimer。 In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade Oppose himself
against a troop of kerns； And fought so long tiff that his thighs with darts
Were almost like a sharp…quill'd porpentine； And in the end being rescu'd； I
have seen Him caper upright like a wild Morisco； Shaking the bloody
darts as he his bells。 Full often； like a shag…hair'd crafty kern； Hath he
conversed with the enemy； And undiscover'd come to me again And given
me notice of their villainies。 This devil here shall be my substitute； For
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