| ACT II SCENE IV | A street. | |
| [
Enter GLOUCESTER and his Servingmen, in
mourning cloaks
] |
| GLOUCESTER | Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud; |
| And after summer evermore succeeds |
| Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold: |
| So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet. |
| Sirs, what's o'clock? | 5 |
| Servants | Ten, my lord. |
| GLOUCESTER | Ten is the hour that was appointed me |
| To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess: |
| Uneath may she endure the flinty streets, |
| To tread them with her tender-feeling feet. | 10 |
| Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook |
| The abject people gazing on thy face, |
| With envious looks, laughing at thy shame, |
| That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels |
| When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets. | 15 |
| But, soft! I think she comes; and I'll prepare |
| My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries. |
| [
Enter the DUCHESS in a white sheet, and a taper
burning in her hand; with STANLEY, the Sheriff,
and Officers
] |
| Servant | So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff. |
| GLOUCESTER | No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by. |
| DUCHESS | Come you, my lord, to see my open shame? | 20 |
| Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze! |
| See how the giddy multitude do point, |
| And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee! |
| Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks, |
| And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame, | 25 |
| And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine! |
| GLOUCESTER | Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. |
| DUCHESS | Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself! |
| For whilst I think I am thy married wife |
| And thou a prince, protector of this land, | 30 |
| Methinks I should not thus be led along, |
| Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back, |
| And followed with a rabble that rejoice |
| To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans. |
| The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet, | 35 |
| And when I start, the envious people laugh |
| And bid me be advised how I tread. |
| Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke? |
| Trow'st thou that e'er I'll look upon the world, |
| Or count them happy that enjoy the sun? | 40 |
| No; dark shall be my light and night my day; |
| To think upon my pomp shall be my hell. |
| Sometime I'll say, I am Duke Humphrey's wife, |
| And he a prince and ruler of the land: |
| Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was | 45 |
| As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess, |
| Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock |
| To every idle rascal follower. |
| But be thou mild and blush not at my shame, |
| Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death | 50 |
| Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will; |
| For Suffolk, he that can do all in all |
| With her that hateth thee and hates us all, |
| And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest, |
| Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings, | 55 |
| And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee: |
| But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared, |
| Nor never seek prevention of thy foes. |
| GLOUCESTER | Ah, Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry; |
| I must offend before I be attainted; | 60 |
| And had I twenty times so many foes, |
| And each of them had twenty times their power, |
| All these could not procure me any scathe, |
| So long as I am loyal, true and crimeless. |
| Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach? | 65 |
| Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away |
| But I in danger for the breach of law. |
| Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell: |
| I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience; |
| These few days' wonder will be quickly worn. | 70 |
| [Enter a Herald] |
| Herald | I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament, |
| Holden at Bury the first of this next month. |
| GLOUCESTER | And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before! |
| This is close dealing. Well, I will be there. |
[Exit Herald] |
| My Nell, I take my leave: and, master sheriff, | 75 |
| Let not her penance exceed the king's commission. |
| Sheriff | An't please your grace, here my commission stays, |
| And Sir John Stanley is appointed now |
| To take her with him to the Isle of Man. |
| GLOUCESTER | Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here? | 80 |
| STANLEY | So am I given in charge, may't please your grace. |
| GLOUCESTER | Entreat her not the worse in that I pray |
| You use her well: the world may laugh again; |
| And I may live to do you kindness if |
| You do it her: and so, Sir John, farewell! | 85 |
| DUCHESS | What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell! |
| GLOUCESTER | Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak. |
| [Exeunt GLOUCESTER and Servingmen] |
| DUCHESS | Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee! |
| For none abides with me: my joy is death; |
| Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd, | 90 |
| Because I wish'd this world's eternity. |
| Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence; |
| I care not whither, for I beg no favour, |
| Only convey me where thou art commanded. |
| STANLEY | Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man; | 95 |
| There to be used according to your state. |
| DUCHESS | That's bad enough, for I am but reproach: |
| And shall I then be used reproachfully? |
| STANLEY | Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey's lady; |
| According to that state you shall be used. | 100 |
| DUCHESS | Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare, |
| Although thou hast been conduct of my shame. |
| Sheriff | It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. |
| DUCHESS | Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharged. |
| Come, Stanley, shall we go? | 105 |
| STANLEY | Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet, |
| And go we to attire you for our journey. |
| DUCHESS | My shame will not be shifted with my sheet: |
| No, it will hang upon my richest robes |
| And show itself, attire me how I can. | 110 |
| Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison. |
| [Exeunt] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)