That I have been disloyal to thy bed, And that he is a bastard, not thy son: Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind Not like to me, or any of my kin, And yet I love him. York. Make way, unruly woman. [Exit. Duch. After, Aumerle; mount thee upon his horse : Spur, post; and get before him to the king, And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Windsor. A Room in the Castle. Enter BOLINGBROKE, as King; PERCY, and other Lords. Boling. Can no man tell of my unthrifty son? 'Tis full three months, since I did see him last : If any plague hang over us, 'tis he. I would to God, my lords, he might be found: Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes, So dissolute a crew. Percy. My lord, some two days since I saw the prince; And told him of these triumphs held at Oxford. Boling. And what said the gallant ? Percy. His answer was,-he would unto the stews; And from the common'st creature pluck a glove, And wear it as a favour; and with that He would unhorse the lustiest challenger. [1] This is a very proper introduction to the future character of Henry the Fifth, to his debaucheries in his youth, and his greatness in his manbood. JOHNSON. Shakespeare seldom attended to chronology. The prince was at this time but twelve years old, for he was born in 1388, and the conspiracy on which the present scene is formed, was discovered in the beginning of the year 1400. MALONE Boling. As dissolute, as desperate: yet, through both I see some sparkles of a better hope, Which elder days may happily bring forth. But who comes here? Enter AUMERLE, hastily. Aum. Where is the king? Boling. What means Our cousin, that he stares and looks so wildly? Aum. God save your grace. I do beseech your majesty, To have some conference with your grace alone. Boling. Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone. [Exeunt PERCY and Lords. -What is the matter with our cousin now? Aum. Forever may my knees grow to the earth, [Kneels. My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth, Unless a pardon, ere I rise, or speak. Boling. Intended, or committed, was this fault? If but the first, how heinous ere it be, To win thy after-love, I pardon thee. Aum. Then give me leave that I may turn the key, That no man enter till my tale be done. Boling. Have thy desire. [AUMERLE locks the door. York. [Within.] My liege, beware; look to thyself; Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there. Boling. Villain, I'll make thee safe. Aum. Stay thy revengeful hand; Thou hast no cause to fear. [Drawing. York. [Within.] Open the door, secure, fool-hardy king: Shall I, for love, speak treason to thy face? Open the door, or I will break it open. [BOLINGBROKE opens the door. Enter YORK. Boling. What is the matter, uncle ? speak; Recover breath; tell us how near is danger, That we may arm us to encounter it. York. Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know The treason that my haste forbids me show. Aum. Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise past : I do repent me; read not my name there, My heart is not confederate with my hand. York. 'Twas, villain, ere thy hand did set it down I tore it from the traitor's bosom, king; Boling. O heinous, strong, and bold conspiracy!-- Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver fountain, York. So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd; L Duch. [Within.] What ho, my liege! for God's sake let me in. Boling. What shrill-voic'd suppliant makes this eager cry? Duch. A woman, and thine aunt, great king; 'tis I. Speak with me, pity me, open the door; A beggar begs, that never begg'd before. Boling. Our scene is alter'd,-from a serious thing, Enter Duchess. Duch. O king, believe not this hard-hearted man ; Love, loving not itself, none other can. York. Thou frantic woman, what dost thou make here? Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear? [2] Sheer, is pellucid, transparent. Transparent muslin is still called sheer Duslin STEEVENS. [3] To digress is to deviate from what is right or regular. STEEVENS. 4 The King and Beggar was perhaps once an interlude. STEEVENS. Duch. Sweet York, be patient: Hear me, gentle liege. Boling. Rise up, good aunt. Duch. Not yet, I thee beseech: Forever will I kneel upon my knees, Till thou give joy; until thou bid me joy, By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy. [Kneels. Aum. Unto my mother's prayers, I bend my knee. [Kneels. York. Against them both, my true joints bended be. Ill may'st thou thrive, if thou grant any grace!! [Kneels. Duch. Pleads he in earnest ? look upon his face ; Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow: Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them have Duch. Nay, do not say--stand up; But, pardon, first; and afterwards, stand up. [5] That is, excuse me, a phrase used when any thing is civilly denied. whole passage is such as I could well wish away. JOHNSON. The Pity may move thee, pardon to rehearse. Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. Boling. I pardon him, as God shall pardon me. Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again; Twice saying pardon, doth not pardon twain, Boling. With all my heart I pardon him. Duch. A god on earth thou art. Boling. But for our trusty brother-in-law, and the abbot, With all the rest of that consorted crew, Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels.- new. SCENE IV. Enter EXTON, and a Servant. Exton. Did'st thou not mark the king, what words he spake ? Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear? Was it not so? Serv. Those were his very words. Exton. Have I no friend? quoth he; he spake it twice, And urg'd it twice together; did he not? Serv. He did. Exton. And, speaking it, he wistfully look'd on me; As who should say,-1 would, thou wert the man That would divorce this terror from my heart; Meaning, the king at Pomfret. Come, let's go; I am the king's friend, and will rid his foe. [Exeunt. [6] The brother-in-law meant, was John duke of Exeter and earl of Huntingdon (own brother to King Richard II.) and who had married with the lady Elizabeth, sister of Henry Bolingbroke. THEOBALD. |