Second 'Prentice Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight for credit of the 'prentices. PETER I thank you all: drink, and pray for me, I pray you; for I think I have taken my last draught in this world. Here, Robin, an if I die, I give thee my apron: and, Will, thou shalt have my hammer:
and here, Tom, take all the money that I have.
OLord bless me! I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master, he hath learnt me so much fence already. SALISBURY Come, leave your drinking, and fall to blows.
Sirrah, what's thy name? PETER Peter, forsooth. SALISBURY Peter! what more? PETER Thump. SALISBURY Thump! then see thou thump thy master well. HORNER Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation, to prove him a knave and myself an honest man: and touching the Duke of York, I will take my death, I never meant him any ill, nor the king, nor the queen: and therefore, Peter, have at thee with a downright blow! YORK Dispatch: this knave's tongue begins to double.
Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants!
Alarum. They fight, and PETER strikes him down HORNER Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.
Dies YORK Take away his weapon. Fellow, thank God, and the good wine in thy master's way. PETER O God, have I overcome mine enemy in this presence?
O Peter, thou hast prevailed in right! KING HENRY VI Go, take hence that traitor from our sight;For his death we do perceive his guilt:
And God in justice hath revealed to us The truth and innocence of this poor fellow, Which he had thought to have murder'd wrongfully.
Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.
Sound a flourish. Exeunt SCENE IV. A street. Enter GLOUCESTER and his Servingmen, in mourning cloaks GLOUCESTER Thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud;And after summer evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold:
So cares and joys abound, as seasons fleet.
Sirs, what's o'clock? Servants Ten, my lord. GLOUCESTER Ten is the hour that was appointed me To watch the coming of my punish'd duchess:
Uneath may she endure the flinty streets, To tread them with her tender-feeling feet.
Sweet Nell, ill can thy noble mind abrook The abject people gazing on thy face, With envious looks, laughing at thy shame, That erst did follow thy proud chariot-wheels When thou didst ride in triumph through the streets.
But, soft! I think she comes; and I'll prepare My tear-stain'd eyes to see her miseries.
Enter the DUCHESS in a white sheet, and a taper burning in her hand;with STANLEY, the Sheriff, and Officers Servant So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff. GLOUCESTER No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by. DUCHESS Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze!
See how the giddy multitude do point, And nod their heads, and throw their eyes on thee!
Ah, Gloucester, hide thee from their hateful looks, And, in thy closet pent up, rue my shame, And ban thine enemies, both mine and thine! GLOUCESTER Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief. DUCHESS Ah, Gloucester, teach me to forget myself!
For whilst I think I am thy married wife And thou a prince, protector of this land, Methinks I should not thus be led along, Mail'd up in shame, with papers on my back, And followed with a rabble that rejoice To see my tears and hear my deep-fet groans.