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Henry VI, Part 2 - Act 4, scene 4
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Henry VI, Part 2 - Act 4, scene 4Act 4, scene 4
⌜Scene 4⌝
Synopsis:
King Henry flees London and Queen Margaret mourns Suffolk’s death. Lord Saye, whom the rebels hate, decides to hide in London.
Enter King ⌜Henry,⌝ with a supplication, andQueen ⌜Margaret⌝ with Suffolk’s head, the Duke
of Buckingham, and the Lord Saye.
QUEEN MARGARET, ⌜aside⌝
2430 Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind
2431 And makes it fearful and degenerate.
2432 Think therefore on revenge, and cease to weep.
2433 But who can cease to weep and look on this?
2434 5 Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast,
2435 But where’s the body that I should embrace?
BUCKINGHAM, ⌜to King Henry⌝
2436 What answer makes your Grace to the rebels’
2437 supplication?
KING HENRY
2438 I’ll send some holy bishop to entreat,
2439 10 For God forbid so many simple souls
2440 Should perish by the sword! And I myself,
2441 Rather than bloody war shall cut them short,
2442 Will parley with Jack Cade, their general.
2443 But stay, I’ll read it over once again.⌜He reads.⌝
QUEEN MARGARET, ⌜aside⌝
2444 15 Ah, barbarous villains! Hath this lovely face
2445 Ruled, like a wandering planet, over me,
2446 And could it not enforce them to relent
2447 That were unworthy to behold the same?
KING HENRY
2448 Lord Saye, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.
SAYE
2449 20 Ay, but I hope your Highness shall have his.
KING HENRY 2450 How now, madam?
2451 Still lamenting and mourning for Suffolk’s death?
2452 I fear me, love, if that I had been dead,
2453 Thou wouldst not have mourned so much for me.
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191
QUEEN MARGARET 2454 25 No, my love, I should not mourn, but die for thee.
Enter a Messenger.
KING HENRY
2455 How now, what news? Why com’st thou in such
2456 haste?
MESSENGER
2457 The rebels are in Southwark. Fly, my lord!
2458 Jack Cade proclaims himself Lord Mortimer,
2459 30 Descended from the Duke of Clarence’ house,
2460 And calls your Grace usurper, openly,
2461 And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
2462 His army is a ragged multitude
2463 Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless.
2464 35 Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother’s death
2465 Hath given them heart and courage to proceed.
2466 All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen
2467 They call false caterpillars and intend their death.
KING HENRY
2468 O, graceless men, they know not what they do!
BUCKINGHAM
2469 40 My gracious lord, retire to Killingworth
2470 Until a power be raised to put them down.
QUEEN MARGARET
2471 Ah, were the Duke of Suffolk now alive,
2472 These Kentish rebels would be soon appeased!
KING HENRY 2473 Lord Saye, the traitors hateth thee;
2474 45 Therefore away with us to Killingworth.
SAYE
2475 So might your Grace’s person be in danger.
2476 The sight of me is odious in their eyes;
2477 And therefore in this city will I stay
2478 And live alone as secret as I may.
Enter another Messenger.
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193
⌜SECOND⌝ MESSENGER 2479 50 Jack Cade hath gotten London Bridge.
2480 The citizens fly and forsake their houses.
2481 The rascal people, thirsting after prey,
2482 Join with the traitor, and they jointly swear
2483 To spoil the city and your royal court.
BUCKINGHAM
2484 55 Then linger not, my lord. Away! Take horse!
KING HENRY
2485 Come, Margaret. God, our hope, will succor us.
QUEEN MARGARET
2486 My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceased.
KING HENRY, ⌜to Saye⌝
2487 Farewell, my lord. Trust not the Kentish rebels.
BUCKINGHAM
2488 Trust nobody, for fear you ⌜be⌝ betrayed.
SAYE
2489 60 The trust I have is in mine innocence,
2490 And therefore am I bold and resolute.
They exit.