Shakespeare Portal

Act 1, Scene 2

The Duke of Gloster's House.

  1. [Enter DUKE HUMPHREY and his wife ELEANOR]
  2. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  3. 261 Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn,
  4. 262 Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?
  5. 263 Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
  6. 264 As frowning at the favours of the world?
  7. 265 Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth,
  8. 266 Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
  9. 267 What see'st thou there? King Henry's diadem,
  10. 268 Enchas'd with all the honours of the world?
  11. 269 If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
  12. 270 Until thy head be circled with the same.
  13. 271 Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold.
  14. 272 What, is't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine,
  15. 273 And, having both together heav'd it up,
  16. 274 We'll both together lift our heads to heaven,
  17. 275 And never more abase our sight so low
  18. 276 As to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground.
  19. Duke of Gloucester
  20. 277 O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord,
  21. 278 Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts;
  22. 279 And may that thought when I imagine ill
  23. 280 Against my king and nephew, virtuous Henry,
  24. 281 Be my last breathing in this mortal world!
  25. 282 My troublous dreams this night doth make me sad.
  26. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  27. 283 What dream'd my lord? Tell me, and I'll requite it
  28. 284 With sweet rehearsal of my morning's dream.
  29. Duke of Gloucester
  30. 285 Methought this staff, mine office-badge in court,
  31. 286 Was broke in twain;—by whom I have forgot,
  32. 287 But, as I think, it was by the cardinal,—
  33. 288 And on the pieces of the broken wand
  34. 289 Were plac'd the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset
  35. 290 And William de la Pole, first duke of Suffolk.
  36. 291 This was my dream; what it doth bode, God knows.
  37. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  38. 292 Tut, this was nothing but an argument
  39. 293 That he that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove
  40. 294 Shall lose his head for his presumption.
  41. 295 But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
  42. 296 Methought I sat in seat of majesty
  43. 297 In the cathedral church of Westminster
  44. 298 And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd,
  45. 299 Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneel'd to me
  46. 300 And on my head did set the diadem.
  47. Duke of Gloucester
  48. 301 Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright.
  49. 302 Presumptuous dame, ill-nurtur'd Eleanor,
  50. 303 Art thou not second woman in the realm,
  51. 304 And the protector's wife, belov'd of him?
  52. 305 Hast thou not worldly pleasure at command,
  53. 306 Above the reach or compass of thy thought?
  54. 307 And wilt thou still be hammering treachery,
  55. 308 To tumble down thy husband and thyself
  56. 309 From top of honour to disgrace's feet?
  57. 310 Away from me, and let me hear no more!
  58. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  59. 311 What, what, my lord! are you so choleric
  60. 312 With Eleanor for telling but her dream?
  61. 313 Next time I'll keep my dreams unto myself,
  62. 314 And not be check'd.
  63. Duke of Gloucester
  64. 315 Nay, be not angry; I am pleas'd again.
  65. [Enter Messenger.]
  66. Messenger
  67. 316 My lord protector, 't is his highness' pleasure
  68. 317 You do prepare to ride unto Saint Alban's,
  69. 318 Whereas the king and queen do mean to hawk.
  70. Duke of Gloucester
  71. 319 I go.—Come, Nell, thou wilt ride with us?
  72. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  73. 320 Yes, my good lord, I'll follow presently.
  74. [Exeunt Gloster and Messenger.]
  75. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  76. 321 Follow I must; I cannot go before
  77. 322 While Gloster bears this base and humble mind.
  78. 323 Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood,
  79. 324 I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks
  80. 325 And smooth my way upon their headless necks;
  81. 326 And, being a woman, I will not be slack
  82. 327 To play my part in Fortune's pageant.—
  83. 328 Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man,
  84. 329 We are alone; here's none but thee and I.
  85. [Enter HUME.]
  86. John Hume
  87. 330 Jesus preserve your royal majesty!
  88. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  89. 331 What say'st thou? majesty! I am but grace.
  90. John Hume
  91. 332 But, by the grace of God, and Hume's advice,
  92. 333 Your grace's title shall be multiplied.
  93. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  94. 334 What say'st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr'd
  95. 335 With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch,
  96. 336 With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer?
  97. 337 And will they undertake to do me good?
  98. John Hume
  99. 338 This they have promised,—to show your highness
  100. 339 A spirit rais'd from depth of underground,
  101. 340 That shall make answer to such questions
  102. 341 As by your Grace shall be propounded him.
  103. Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
  104. 342 It is enough; I'll think upon the questions.
  105. 343 When from Saint Alban's we do make return,
  106. 344 We'll see these things effected to the full.
  107. 345 Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man,
  108. 346 With thy confederates in this weighty cause.
  109. [Exit.]
  110. John Hume
  111. 347 Hume must make merry with the duchess' gold,
  112. 348 Marry, and shall. But, how now, Sir John Hume!
  113. 349 Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum;
  114. 350 The business asketh silent secrecy.
  115. 351 Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch;
  116. 352 Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil.
  117. 353 Yet have I gold flies from another coast.
  118. 354 I dare not say, from the rich cardinal
  119. 355 And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk,
  120. 356 Yet I do find it so; for, to be plain,
  121. 357 They, knowing Dame Eleanor's aspiring humour,
  122. 358 Have hired me to undermine the duchess
  123. 359 And buzz these conjurations in her brain.
  124. 360 They say ' A crafty knave does need no broker;'
  125. 361 Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal's broker.
  126. 362 Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near
  127. 363 To call them both a pair of crafty knaves.
  128. 364 Well, so its stands; and thus, I fear, at last
  129. 365 Hume's knavery will be the duchess' wrack,
  130. 366 And her attainture will be Humphrey's fall.
  131. 367 Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all.
  132. [Exit.]