Enter the DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER in a white sheet,and a taper burning in her hand,with SIR JOHN STANLEY,the SHERIFF,and OFFICERS SERVING-MAN.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 follow'd 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 And bid me be advised how I tread.Ah,Humphrey,can I bear this shameful yoke?Trowest 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;To think upon my pomp shall be my hell.Sometimes I'll say I am Duke Humphrey's wife,
And he a prince,and ruler of the land;Yet so he rul'd,and such a prince he was,As he stood by whilst I,his forlorn duchess,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.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 lim'd bushes to betray thy wings,And,fly thou how thou canst,they'll tangle thee.But fear not thou until thy foot be snar'd,Nor never seek prevention of thy foes.GLOUCESTER.Ah,Nell,forbear!Thou aimest all awry.I must offend before I be attainted;And had I twenty times so many foes,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 wip'd away,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.GLOUCESTER.And my consent ne'er ask'd herein before!This is close dealing.Well,I will be there.Exit HERALD 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.GLOUCESTER.Must you,Sir John,protect my lady here?STANLEY.So am I given in charge,may't please your Grace.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 You do it her.And so,Sir John,farewell.DUCHESS.What,gone,my lord,and bid me not farewell!GLOUCESTER.Witness my tears,I cannot stay to speak.Exeunt GLOUCESTER and servants DUCHESS.Art thou gone too?All comfort go with thee!For none abides with me.My joy is death-Death,at whose name I oft have been afeard,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,Only convey me where thou art commanded.STANLEY.Why,madam,that is to the Isle of Man,There to be us'd according to your state.DUCHESS.That's bad enough,for I am but reproach-And shall I then be us'd reproachfully?STANLEY.Like to a duchess and Duke Humphrey's lady;According to that state you shall be us'd.DUCHESS.Sheriff,farewell,and better than I fare,Although thou hast been conduct of my shame.SHERIFF.It is my office;and,madam,pardon me.DUCHESS.Ay,ay,farewell;thy office is discharg'd.Come,Stanley,shall we go?STANLEY.Madam,your penance done,throw off this sheet,And go we to attire you for our journey.DUCHESS.My shame will not be shifted with my sheet.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