Act II, Scene 4

A street.

[Enter GLOUCESTER and his Servingmen, in] [p]mourning cloaks]

• Duke of 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. 1160
  Sirs, what's o'clock?

• Servants. Ten, my lord.

• Duke of 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, 1165
  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 1170
  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, 1175
  and Officers]

• Servant. So please your grace, we'll take her from the sheriff.

• Duke of Gloucester. No, stir not, for your lives; let her pass by.

• Eleanor. Come you, my lord, to see my open shame?
  Now thou dost penance too. Look how they gaze! 1180
  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! 1185

• Duke of Gloucester. Be patient, gentle Nell; forget this grief.

• Eleanor. 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, 1190
  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.
  The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet,
  And when I start, the envious people laugh 1195
  And bid me be advised how I tread.
  Ah, Humphrey, can I bear this shameful yoke?
  Trow'st thou that e'er I'll look upon the world,
  Or count them happy that enjoy the sun?
  No; dark shall be my light and night my day; 1200
  To think upon my pomp shall be my hell.
  Sometime I'll say, I am Duke Humphrey's wife,
  And he a prince and ruler of the land:
  Yet so he ruled and such a prince he was
  As he stood by whilst I, his forlorn duchess, 1205
  Was made a wonder and a pointing-stock
  To every idle rascal follower.
  But be thou mild and blush not at my shame,
  Nor stir at nothing till the axe of death
  Hang over thee, as, sure, it shortly will; 1210
  For Suffolk, he that can do all in all
  With her that hateth thee and hates us all,
  And York and impious Beaufort, that false priest,
  Have all limed bushes to betray thy wings,
  And, fly thou how thou canst, they'll tangle thee: 1215
  But fear not thou, until thy foot be snared,
  Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.

• Duke of Gloucester. Ah, Nell, forbear! thou aimest all awry;
  I must offend before I be attainted;
  And had I twenty times so many foes, 1220
  And each of them had twenty times their power,
  All these could not procure me any scathe,
  So long as I am loyal, true and crimeless.
  Wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach?
  Why, yet thy scandal were not wiped away 1225
  But I in danger for the breach of law.
  Thy greatest help is quiet, gentle Nell:
  I pray thee, sort thy heart to patience;
  These few days' wonder will be quickly worn.

[Enter a Herald]

• Herald. I summon your grace to his majesty's parliament,
  Holden at Bury the first of this next month.

• Duke of Gloucester. And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before!
  This is close dealing. Well, I will be there.
  [Exit Herald] 1235
  My Nell, I take my leave: and, master sheriff,
  Let not her penance exceed the king's commission.

• Sheriff. An't please your grace, here my commission stays,
  And Sir John Stanley is appointed now
  To take her with him to the Isle of Man. 1240

• Duke of Gloucester. Must you, Sir John, protect my lady here?

• Sir John Stanley. So am I given in charge, may't please your grace.

• Duke of Gloucester. Entreat her not the worse in that I pray
  You use her well: the world may laugh again;
  And I may live to do you kindness if 1245
  You do it her: and so, Sir John, farewell!

• Eleanor. What, gone, my lord, and bid me not farewell!

• Duke of Gloucester. Witness my tears, I cannot stay to speak.

[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and Servingmen]

• Eleanor. Art thou gone too? all comfort go with thee! 1250
  For none abides with me: my joy is death;
  Death, at whose name I oft have been afear'd,
  Because I wish'd this world's eternity.
  Stanley, I prithee, go, and take me hence;
  I care not whither, for I beg no favour, 1255
  Only convey me where thou art commanded.

• Sir John Stanley. Why, madam, that is to the Isle of Man;
  There to be used according to your state.

• Eleanor. That's bad enough, for I am but reproach:
  And shall I then be used reproachfully? 1260

• Sir John Stanley. Like to a duchess, and Duke Humphrey's lady;
  According to that state you shall be used.

• Eleanor. Sheriff, farewell, and better than I fare,
  Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.

• Sheriff. It is my office; and, madam, pardon me. 1265

• Eleanor. Ay, ay, farewell; thy office is discharged.
  Come, Stanley, shall we go?

• Sir John Stanley. Madam, your penance done, throw off this sheet,
  And go we to attire you for our journey.

• Eleanor. My shame will not be shifted with my sheet: 1270
  No, it will hang upon my richest robes
  And show itself, attire me how I can.
  Go, lead the way; I long to see my prison.

[Exeunt]