Enter DUKE OF YORK GREEN Here comes the Duke of York. QUEEN With signs of war about his aged neck:
O, full of careful business are his looks!
Uncle, for God's sake, speak comfortable words. DUKE OF YORK Should I do so, I should belie my thoughts:
Comfort's in heaven; and we are on the earth, Where nothing lives but crosses, cares and grief.
Your husband, he is gone to save far off, Whilst others come to make him lose at home:
Here am I left to underprop his land, Who, weak with age, cannot support myself:
Now comes the sick hour that his surfeit made;
Now shall he try his friends that flatter'd him.
Enter a Servant Servant My lord, your son was gone before I came. DUKE OF YORK He was? Why, so! go all which way it will!
The nobles they are fled, the commons they are cold, And will, I fear, revolt on Hereford's side.
Sirrah, get thee to Plashy, to my sister Gloucester;
Bid her send me presently a thousand pound:
Hold, take my ring. Servant My lord, I had forgot to tell your lordship, To-day, as I came by, I called there;
But I shall grieve you to report the rest. DUKE OF YORK What is't, knave? Servant An hour before I came, the duchess died. DUKE OF YORK God for his mercy! what a tide of woes Comes rushing on this woeful land at once!
I know not what to do: I would to God, So my untruth had not provoked him to it, The king had cut off my head with my brother's.
What, are there no posts dispatch'd for Ireland?
How shall we do for money for these wars?
Come, sister,--cousin, I would say--pray, pardon me.
Go, fellow, get thee home, provide some carts And bring away the armour that is there.
Exit Servant Gentlemen, will you go muster men?
If I know how or which way to order these affairs Thus thrust disorderly into my hands, Never believe me. Both are my kinsmen:
The one is my sovereign, whom both my oath And duty bids defend; the other again Is my kinsman, whom the king hath wrong'd, Whom conscience and my kindred bids to right.
Well, somewhat we must do. Come, cousin, I'll Dispose of you.
Gentlemen, go, muster up your men, And meet me presently at Berkeley.
I should to Plashy too;
But time will not permit: all is uneven, And every thing is left at six and seven.
Exeunt DUKE OF YORK and QUEEN BUSHY The wind sits fair for news to go to Ireland, But none returns. For us to levy power Proportionable to the enemy Is all unpossible. GREEN Besides, our nearness to the king in love Is near the hate of those love not the king. BAGOT And that's the wavering commons: for their love Lies in their purses, and whoso empties them By so much fills their hearts with deadly hate. BUSHY Wherein the king stands generally condemn'd. BAGOT If judgement lie in them, then so do we, Because we ever have been near the king. GREEN Well, I will for refuge straight to Bristol castle:
The Earl of Wiltshire is already there. BUSHY Thither will I with you; for little office The hateful commons will perform for us, Except like curs to tear us all to pieces.
Will you go along with us? BAGOT No; I will to Ireland to his majesty.
Farewell: if heart's presages be not vain, We three here art that ne'er shall meet again. BUSHY That's as York thrives to beat back Bolingbroke. GREEN Alas, poor duke! the task he undertakes Is numbering sands and drinking oceans dry:
Where one on his side fights, thousands will fly.
Farewell at once, for once, for all, and ever. BUSHY Well, we may meet again. BAGOT I fear me, never.