Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester A Tragedy |
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| 6. | SCENE VI. |
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 | Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester |  |
SCENE VI.
Queen. Beaufort. York.Queen.
O, tell me!—
Say, noble York,—
Beauf.
Alass, my Nephew!—Is he
Departed?—
York.
Murder'd!—
Beauf.
Murder'd?—
Queen.
Heaven forbid!—
Murder'd?—By Whom?—And, in the Palace!
York.
Yes:—
Barbarously, murder'd!—Basely, in his Bed!
Beauf.
How?—By Whom?—What Assurance of the Fact?
York.
Concurring Circumstances!—
71
Speak them, then!
York.
The hasty Summons of this Parliament:
The Banishment of Eleanor: His Confinement:
The Imprisoning his Servants:—
Queen.
Pardon me,
My Lord; if, in all, you urge so vehemently,
I can discern no Circumstance of Murder.
Beauf.
This is a Tale!—A Plot, to raise Rebellion!—
Queen.
Give plainer Tokens, York!—Have you examin'd
The Body?
Beauf.
Is there any Blood upon the Sheets?
Queen.
Make Proof!—What Marks of Violence appear?
York.
O, Madam; many Witnesses, with Me,
Have seen, have read, the Characters of Murder!
Have seen, have read, the Characters of Murder!
Where Sickness kills, oft' have I seen the Corse
Of ashy Semblance; meagre; pale; and bloodless:
The darken'd Eyes, in-sunk; the Nose, compress'd.
But, the Duke's Face is black; and full of Blood!
His Eye-Balls, farther out, than when he liv'd;
Staring, full-ghastly; like a strangled Man!
His Nostrils, stretch'd with strugling! His Mouth, a-gasp
For vital Breath! His ruffled Hair, up-rear'd!
His Hands, a-broad display'd; as One, that grasp'd,
And tugg'd for Life; and was subdued by Force!
Of ashy Semblance; meagre; pale; and bloodless:
The darken'd Eyes, in-sunk; the Nose, compress'd.
But, the Duke's Face is black; and full of Blood!
His Eye-Balls, farther out, than when he liv'd;
Staring, full-ghastly; like a strangled Man!
His Nostrils, stretch'd with strugling! His Mouth, a-gasp
For vital Breath! His ruffled Hair, up-rear'd!
His Hands, a-broad display'd; as One, that grasp'd,
And tugg'd for Life; and was subdued by Force!
Beauf.
Your Majesty sees, This is concerted Malice!—
Queen.
Treason, against the King!—As, who should say,
He sign'd a Warrant for his Uncle's Murder.
Beauf.
York is not ignorant, that Many die,
Without the Mercy of a timely Warning!—
Do we not, daily, petition against suddain Death?—
Or,—may not Gloucester, conscious of some Guilt,
Have taken Poison?—But; produce the Murderer!
72
Thou may'st remember; there is a Prelate, living,
Once, placed an Ambush for his Life.—
Beauf.
'Tis false!—
I clear'd my self of that unworthy Charge,
Long ago:—When our most gracious Sovereign
(May he not rue the Day!) made Thee a Duke;
In Token of his Joy, that Beaufort did forgive
This dear, departed, Man; then, my Accuser.
| Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester | |