Aum. 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. Boling. Intended, or committed, was this fault? If but the first, how heinous ere it be, To win thy after-love, I pardon thee. Aum. Then give me leave that I may turn the key, That no man enter till my tale be done. Boling. Have thy desire. [AUMERLE locks the door. York. [Within] My Liege, beware; look to thyself; Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there. Aum. Stay thy revengeful hand; Thou hast no cause to fear. [Drawing. York. [Within.] Open the door, secure, fool hardy King: Shall I, for love, speak treason to thy face? [BOLINGBROKE opens the door. Enter YORK. Boling. 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. Aum. Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise past: I do repent me; read not my name there, VOL. VIII. 13 My heart is not confederate with my hand. I tore it from the traitor's bosom, King; O loyal father of a treacherous son! Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver fountain, York. So shall my virtue be his vice's hawd; Boling. What shrill-voic'd suppliant makes this eager cry ? Duch. A woman, and thine aunt, great King; Speak with me, pity me, open the door; Boling. Our scene is alter'd, from a serious thing, And now chang'd to The Beggar and the King.— York. If thou do pardon, whosoever pray, More sins, for this forgiveness, prosper may. This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rests sound; This, let alone, will all the rest confound. Enter Duchess. Duch. O King, believe not this hard-hearted man; Love, loving not itself, none other can. York. Thou frantick woman, what dost thou Shall thy old dugs once make here? more a traitor rear? Boling. Rise up, good aunt. Duch. Not yet, I thee beseech: For ever will I kneel upon my knees, And never see day that the happy sees, Till thou give joy; until thou bid me joy, By pardouing Rutland, my transgressing boy. Aum. Unto my mother's prayers, I bend my knee. [Kneels. York. Against them both, my true joints bend ed be. [Kneels. Ill may'st thou thrive, if thou grant any grace! Duch. Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face; His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest: His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast: He prays but faintly, and would be denied; We pray with heart, and soul, and all beside: His weary joints would gladly rise, I know; Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow: His prayers are full of false hypocrisy; Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them have Duch. Nay, do not say. stand up; But, pardon, first; and afterwards, stand up. And if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach, Pardon - should be the first word of thy speech. I never long'd to hear a word till now; Say-pardon, King; let pity teach thee how : The word is short, but not so short as sweet; No word like, pardon, for Kings' mouths so meet. York. Speak it in French, King; say, pardonnez moy. Duch. Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy? Ah, my sour husband, my hard-hearted Lord, Duch. I do not sue to stand, Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. Boling. I pardon him, as God shall pardon me. Duch. O happy vantage of a kneeling knee! Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again; Twice saying pardon, doth not pardon twain, But makes one pardon strong. Boling. With all my heart I pardon him. Duch. A god on earth thou art. Boling. But for our trusty brother-in-law,and the Abbot, With all the rest of that consorted crew, SCENE IV, Enter EXTON, and a Servant. Exton. Didst thou not mark the King, what words he spake? Have I not friend will rid me of this living Was it not so? fear? Serv. Those were his very words. Exton. Have I nofriend? quoth he he spake it twice, And urg'd it twice together; did he not? Serv. He did. Exton. And, speaking it, he wistly look'd on me; As who should say, I would, thou wert the man That would divorce this terror from my heart; |