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Henry VI, Part 2 - Act 4, scene 9
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Henry VI, Part 2 - Act 4, scene 9Act 4, scene 9
⌜Scene 9⌝
Synopsis:
As King Henry rejoices at Cade’s defeat, a messenger announces York’s approach with an Irish army ostensibly seeking Somerset’s arrest for treason. Buckingham is sent to tell York that Somerset has been imprisoned in the Tower.
Sound trumpets. Enter King ⌜Henry,⌝ Queen ⌜Margaret,⌝and Somerset on the terrace, ⌜aloft.⌝
KING HENRY
2727 Was ever king that joyed an earthly throne
2728 And could command no more content than I?
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211
2729 No sooner was I crept out of my cradle
2730 But I was made a king at nine months old.
2731 5 Was never subject longed to be a king
2732 As I do long and wish to be a subject!
Enter Buckingham and ⌜old⌝ Clifford.
BUCKINGHAM
2733 Health and glad tidings to your Majesty!
KING HENRY
2734 Why, Buckingham, is the traitor Cade surprised,
2735 Or is he but retired to make him strong?
Enter ⌜below⌝ multitudes with halters about their necks.
CLIFFORD
2736 10 He is fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield
2737 And, humbly thus, with halters on their necks,
2738 Expect your Highness’ doom of life or death.
KING HENRY
2739 Then, heaven, set ope thy everlasting gates
2740 To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!
2741 15 Soldiers, this day have you redeemed your lives
2742 And showed how well you love your prince and
2743 country.
2744 Continue still in this so good a mind,
2745 And Henry, though he be infortunate,
2746 20 Assure yourselves, will never be unkind.
2747 And so with thanks and pardon to you all,
2748 I do dismiss you to your several countries.
ALL 2749 God save the King! God save the King!
⌜The multitudes exit.⌝
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER
2750 Please it your Grace to be advertisèd
2751 25 The Duke of York is newly come from Ireland
2752 And, with a puissant and a mighty power
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213
2753
Of gallowglasses and stout kerns,2754 Is marching hitherward in proud array,
2755 And still proclaimeth, as he comes along,
2756 30 His arms are only to remove from thee
2757 The Duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor.
KING HENRY
2758 Thus stands my state, ’twixt Cade and York
2759 distressed,
2760 Like to a ship that, having scaped a tempest,
2761 35 Is straightway ⌜calmed⌝ and boarded with a pirate.
2762 But now is Cade driven back, his men dispersed,
2763 And now is York in arms to second him.
2764 I pray thee, Buckingham, go and meet him,
2765 And ask him what’s the reason of these arms.
2766 40 Tell him I’ll send Duke Edmund to the Tower.—
2767 And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither
2768 Until his army be dismissed from him.
SOMERSET 2769 My lord,
2770 I’ll yield myself to prison willingly,
2771 45 Or unto death, to do my country good.
KING HENRY, ⌜to Buckingham⌝
2772 In any case, be not too rough in terms,
2773 For he is fierce and cannot brook hard language.
BUCKINGHAM
2774 I will, my lord, and doubt not so to deal
2775 As all things shall redound unto your good.
KING HENRY
2776 50 Come, wife, let’s in, and learn to govern better,
2777 For yet may England curse my wretched reign.
Flourish. They exit.