A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament, To kill the king at Oxford. DUCH. He shall be none; We'll keep him here: Then what is that to him? Fond woman! were he twenty times my son I would appeach him. DUCH. Hadst thou groan'd for him, As I have done, thou 'dst be more pitiful. But now I know thy mind; thou dost suspect 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, YORK. Make way, unruly woman. DUCH. After, Aumerle; mount thee upon his horse; SCENE III.-Windsor. [Exit. ¡Exennt A Room in the Castle. Enter BOLINGBROKE, as King; PERCY, and other Lords. I would to Heaven, my lords, he might be found: Takes on the point of honour, to support 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. BOLING. As dissolute as desperate: yet through both Which elder days may happily bring forth. Enter AUMERLE, hastily. AUM. BOLING. 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, 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. For ever 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 on 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. 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: 1 do repent me; read not my name there, My heart is not confederate with my hand. YORK. It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down.— Fear, and not love, begets his penitence: A serpent that will sting thee to the heart. BOLING. O heinous, strong, and bold conspiracy! O loyal father of a treacherous son! Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver fountain, From whence this stream through muddy passages Thy overflow of good converts to bad; YORK. So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd; DUCH. [Within.] What ho, my liege! for heaven's sake let me in. BOLING. What shrill-voic'd suppliant makes this eager cry? DUCH. A woman, and thine aunt, great king; 't is 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, And now chang'd to "The Beggar and the King." My dangerous cousin, let your mother in; 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? DUCH. Sweet York, be patient. Hear me, gentle liege. BOLING. Rise up, good aunt. [Kneels. Not yet, I thee beseech: For ever will I kneel upon my knees, By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy. YORK. Against them both my true joints bended be. [Kneels. [Kneels. [Ill mayst thou thrive, if thou grant any grace!] He We prays but faintly, and would be denied; 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 DUCH. Nay, do not say—stand up; But pardon, first; and afterwards, stand up. An if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach, BOLING. Good aunt, stand up. I do not sue to stand, Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. BOLING. I pardon him, as heaven shall pardon me. Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again; Twice saying pardon doth not pardon twain, But makes one pardon strong. 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, Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels. Good uncle, help to order several powers To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are: But I will have them, if I once know where. Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true. DUCH. Come, my old son;-I pray Heaven make thee new. [Exeunt. |