The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare/Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso/shakes/text/02/01_03

Text File | 1991-04-10 | 5KB | 138 lines

London. Before the Tower.
 Enter the Duke of GLOUCESTER, with his SERVINGMEN in blue coats.

Gloucester    I am come to survey the Tower this day:
    Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.
    Where be these warders that they wait not here?
    Open the gates! 'Tis Gloucester that calls.

1st Warder    [Within.] Who's there that knocketh so imperiously?

1st Servant    It is the noble Duke of Gloucester.

2nd Warder    [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.

1st Servant    Villains, answer you so the Lord Protector?

1st Warder    [Within.] 'The Lord protect him!' - so we answer him.
    We do no otherwise than we are willed.

Gloucester    Who willd you, or whose will stands but mine?
    There's none Protector of the realm but I.
    Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize.
    Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?
                    [Gloucester's MEN rush at the Tower gates, and
                           WOODVILLE the Lieutenant speaks within.

Woodville    [Within.] What noise is this? What traitors have we here?

Gloucester    Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear?
    Open the gates; here's Gloucester that would enter.

Woodville    [Within.] Have patience, noble duke; I may not open:
    The Cardinal of Winchester forbids.
    From him I have express commandment
    That thou nor none of thine shall be let in.

Gloucester    Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me?
    Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate
    Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook!
    Thou art no friend to God or to the king.
    Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.

Servingmen    Open the gates unto the Lord Protector,
    Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.

          Enter, to the Protector at the Tower gates, WINCHESTER
                       and his MEN in tawny coats.

Winchester    How now, ambitious Humphrey! What means this?

Gloucester    Peeled priest, dost thou command me be shut out?

Winchester    I do, thou most usurping proditor,
    And not Protector of the king or realm.

Gloucester    Stand back, thou manifest conspirator;
    Thou that contrived'st to murder our dead lord,
    Thou that giv'st whores indulgences to sin.
    I'll canvas thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
    If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Winchester    Nay, stand thou back! I will not budge a foot.
    This be Damascus, be thou cursd Cain,
    To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Gloucester    I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back.
    Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth,
    I'll use to carry thee out of this place.

Winchester    Do what thou dar'st, I beard thee to thy face.

Gloucester    What, am I dared and bearded to my face?
    Draw, men, for all this privilegd place.
    Blue coats to tawny coats! Priest, beware your beard;
    I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly.
    Under my feet I'll stamp thy cardinal's hat,
    In spite of pope or dignities of church,
    Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.

Winchester    Gloucester, thou'lt answer this before the pope.

Gloucester    Winchester goose! I cry, 'A rope! a rope!'
    Now beat them hence: - why do you let them stay?
    Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.
    Out, tawny coats! Out, scarlet hypocrite!

            Here Gloucester's MEN beat out the Cardinal's MEN;
   and enter, in the hurly-burly, the MAYOR of London and his OFFICERS.

Mayor    Fie, lords! That you, being supreme magistrates,
    Thus contumeliously should break the peace!

Gloucester    Peace, mayor! Thou know'st little of my wrongs.
    Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
    Hath here distrained the Tower to his use.

Winchester    Here's Gloucester, a foe to citizens,
    One that still motions war, and never peace,
    O'ercharging your free purses with large fines,
    That seeks to overthrow religion,
    Because he is Protector of the realm,
    And would have armour here out of the Tower,
    To crown himself king and suppress the prince.

Gloucester    I will not answer thee with words, but blows.
                                            [Here they skirmish again.

Mayor    Nought rests for me in this tumultuous strife
    But to make open proclamation.
    Come, officer, as loud as e'er thou canst.

Officer    All manner of men assembled here in arms this day against
    God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in
    his highness' name, to repair to your several dwelling-
    places, and not to wear, handle, or use, any sword, weapon,
    or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death.

Gloucester    Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law;
    But we shall meet and break our minds at large.

Winchester    Gloucester, we will meet to thy cost, be sure:
    Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work.

Mayor    I'll call for clubs if you will not away.
    This cardinal's more haughty than the devil.

Gloucester    Mayor, farewell; thou dost but what thou mayst.

Winchester    Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head,
    For I intend to have it ere long.
                                [Exeunt, severally, GLOUCESTER and
                                 WINCHESTER with their SERVINGMEN.

Mayor    See the coast cleared, and then we will depart.
    Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear!
    I myself fight not once in forty year.
                                                    [Exeunt.