YORK. What seal is that that without thy bosom?
Yea, look"st thou pale? Let me see the writing.
AUMERLE. My lord, "tis nothing.
YORK. No matter, then, who see it.
I will be satisfied; let me see the writing.
AUMERLE. I do beseech your Grace to pardon me; It is a matter of small consequence Which for some reasons I would not have seen.
YORK. Which for some reasons, sir, I mean to see.
I fear, I fear- d.u.c.h.eSS. What should you fear?
"Tis nothing but some bond that he is ent"red into For gay apparel "gainst the triumph-day.
YORK. Bound to himself! What doth he with a bond That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool.
Boy, let me see the writing.
AUMERLE. I do beseech you, pardon me; I may not show it.
YORK. I will be satisfied; let me see it, I say.
[He plucks it out of his bosom, and reads it]
Treason, foul treason! Villain! traitor! slave!
d.u.c.h.eSS. What is the matter, my lord?
YORK. Ho! who is within there?
Enter a servant
Saddle my horse.
G.o.d for his mercy, what treachery is here!
d.u.c.h.eSS. Why, York, what is it, my lord?
YORK. Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse.
Exit servant Now, by mine honour, by my life, my troth, I will appeach the villain.
d.u.c.h.eSS. What is the matter?
YORK. Peace, foolish woman.
d.u.c.h.eSS. I will not peace. What is the matter, Aumerle?
AUMERLE. Good mother, be content; it is no more Than my poor life must answer.
d.u.c.h.eSS. Thy life answer!
YORK. Bring me my boots. I will unto the King.
His man enters with his boots
d.u.c.h.eSS. Strike him, Aumerle. Poor boy, thou art amaz"d.
Hence, villain! never more come in my sight.
YORK. Give me my boots, I say.
d.u.c.h.eSS. Why, York, what wilt thou do?
Wilt thou not hide the trespa.s.s of thine own?
Have we more sons? or are we like to have?
Is not my teeming date drunk up with time?
And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age And rob me of a happy mother"s name?
Is he not like thee? Is he not thine own?
YORK. Thou fond mad woman, Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy?
A dozen of them here have ta"en the sacrament, And interchangeably set down their hands To kill the King at Oxford.
d.u.c.h.eSS. He shall be none; We"ll keep him here. Then what is that to him?
YORK. Away, fond woman! were he twenty times my son I would appeach him.
d.u.c.h.eSS. Hadst thou groan"d for him As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful.
But now I know thy mind: thou dost suspect That I have been disloyal to thy bed And that he is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, not thy son.
Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind.
He is as like thee as a man may be Not like to me, or any of my kin, And yet I love him.
YORK. Make way, unruly woman! Exit d.u.c.h.eSS. After, Aumerle! Mount thee upon his horse; Spur post, and get before him to the King, And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee.
I"ll not be long behind; though I be old, I doubt not but to ride as fast as York; And never will I rise up from the ground Till Bolingbroke have pardon"d thee. Away, be gone.
Exeunt
SCENE 3.
Windsor Castle
Enter BOLINGBROKE as King, PERCY, and other LORDS
BOLINGBROKE. Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son?
"Tis full three months since I did see him last.
If any plague hang over us, "tis he.
I would to G.o.d, my lords, he might be found.
Inquire at London, "mongst the taverns there, For there, they say, he daily doth frequent With unrestrained loose companions, Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes And beat our watch and rob our pa.s.sengers, Which he, young wanton and effeminate boy, Takes on the point of honour to support So dissolute a crew.
PERCY. My lord, some two days since I saw the Prince, And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford.
BOLINGBROKE. And what said the gallant?
PERCY. His answer was, he would unto the stews, And from the common"st creature pluck a glove And wear it as a favour; and with that He would unhorse the l.u.s.tiest challenger.
BOLINGBROKE. As dissolute as desperate; yet through both I see some sparks of better hope, which elder years May happily bring forth. But who comes here?
Enter AUMERLE amazed
AUMERLE. Where is the King?
BOLINGBROKE. What means our cousin that he stares and looks So wildly?
AUMERLE. G.o.d save your Grace! I do beseech your Majesty, To have some conference with your Grace alone.
BOLINGBROKE. Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone.
Exeunt PERCY and LORDS What is the matter with our cousin now?
AUMERLE. For ever may my knees grow to the earth, [Kneels]
My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth, Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak.
BOLINGBROKE. Intended or committed was this fault?
If on the first, how heinous e"er it be, To win thy after-love I pardon thee.
AUMERLE. Then give me leave that I may turn the key, That no man enter till my tale be done.
BOLINGBROKE. Have thy desire.
[The DUKE OF YORK knocks at the door and crieth]
YORK. [Within] My liege, beware; look to thyself; Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there.
BOLINGBROKE. [Drawing] Villain, I"ll make thee safe.
AUMERLE. Stay thy revengeful hand; thou hast no cause to fear.
YORK. [Within] Open the door, secure, foolhardy King.
Shall I, for love, speak treason to thy face?
Open the door, or I will break it open.
Enter YORK
BOLINGBROKE. What is the matter, uncle? Speak; Recover breath; tell us how near is danger, That we may arm us to encounter it.
YORK. Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know The treason that my haste forbids me show.
AUMERLE. Remember, as thou read"st, thy promise pa.s.s"d.
I do repent me; read not my name there; My heart is not confederate with my hand.