SCENE III. 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 heaven, my lords, he might be found : Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes, Percy. My lord, some two days since I saw the prince; And told him of these triumphs held at Oxford. Percy. His answer was,- he would unto the stews; And from the common'st creature pluck a glove, Boling. As dissolute, as desperate! yet through both I see some sparkles of a better hope, Which elder days may happily bring forth. Enter AUMERLE hastily. Aum. Where is the king? What means Our cousin, that he stares and looks so wildly? Aum. God save your grace. I do beseech your majesty, alone. To have some conference with your grace Boling. Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here [Exeunt PERCY and Lords. alone. What is the matter with our cousin now? Boling. Intended, or committed, was this fault? If but the first, how heinous e'er 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. [Drawing. Aum. Stay thy revengeful hand; Thou hast no cause to fear. York. [Within.] Open the door, secure, fool- Shall I, for love, speak treason to thy face? [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. I tore it from the traitor's bosom, king: Thou sheer*, immaculate, and silver fountain, York. So shall he spend mine honour with his As thriftless sons their scraping fathers' gold. Boling. What shrill-voic'd suppliant makes this Duch. A woman, and thine aunt, great king; Speak with me, pity me, open the door; 4 Transparent. This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rests sound; Enter Duchess. Duch. O king, believe not this hard-hearted man. York. Thou frantick woman, what dost thou make here? Duch. Sweet York, be patient: Hear me gentle [Kneels. liege. Boling. Rise up, good aunt. And never see day-that the happy sees, be. [Kneels. Ill may'st thou thrive, if thou grant any grace! Duch. Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face; His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest ; His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast: He prays but faintly, and would be denied ; We pray with heart, and soul, and all beside : His weary joints would gladly rise, I know; Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow: His prayers are full of false hypocrisy ; Ours, of true zeal and deep integrity. Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them have That mercy which true prayers ought to have. Boling. Good aunt, stand up. Duch. Nay, do not say—stand up; But, pardon, first; and afterwards, stand up. An if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach, Pardon should be the first word of thy speech. I never long'd to hear a word till now; Say-pardon, king; let pity teach thee how : The word is short, but not so short as sweet; Boling. Good aunt, stand up. Duch. I do not sue to stand, Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. Boling. I pardon him, as God shall pardon me. Duch. O happy vantage of a kneeling knee! Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again; Twice saying pardon, doth not pardon twain, Boling. I pardon him. Duch. With all my heart 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,- Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true. Duch. Come, my old son; -I pray Heaven [Exeunt. make thee new. SCENE IV. Enter EXTON and a Servant. Exton. Didst thou not mark the king, what words Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear? Serv. Those were his very words. |