MaximumEdge.com | | Search | | E-Mail | | News | | Weather | | Finance | | Directory | | Music | | Lottery Results | | Horoscopes | | Translation | | Games | | E-Cards | | Maps | | Jobs | | Magazines | | DVDs |

MaximumEdge.com
Shakespeare

Home > King Henry VI Part 1 > ACT I - SCENE III. London. Before the Tower.

Search: King Henry VI Part 1


< (Previous) ACT I, SCENE IIACT I, IV (Next) >

ACT I - SCENE III. London. Before the Tower.
Enter GLOUCESTER, with his Serving-men in blue coats

GLOUCESTER
1    I am come to survey the Tower this day:
2    Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.
3    Where be these warders, that they wait not here?
4    Open the gates; 'tis Gloucester that calls.
First Warder
Within
5     Who's there that knocks so imperiously?
First Serving-Man
6    It is the noble Duke of Gloucester.
Second Warder
Within
7     Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.
First Serving-Man
8    Villains, answer you so the lord protector?
First Warder
Within
9     The Lord protect him! so we answer him:
10   We do no otherwise than we are will'd.
GLOUCESTER
11   Who willed you? or whose will stands but mine?
12   There's none protector of the realm but I.
13   Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize.
14   Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?
WOODVILE
15   What noise is this? what traitors have we here?
GLOUCESTER
16   Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear?
17   Open the gates; here's Gloucester that would enter.
WOODVILE
18   Have patience, noble duke; I may not open;
19   The Cardinal of Winchester forbids:
20   From him I have express commandment
21   That thou nor none of thine shall be let in.
GLOUCESTER
22   Faint-hearted Woodvile, prizest him 'fore me?
23   Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate,
24   Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook?
25   Thou art no friend to God or to the king:
26   Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.
Serving-Men
27   Open the gates unto the lord protector,
28   Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
29   How now, ambitious Humphry! what means this?
GLOUCESTER
30   Peel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
31   I do, thou most usurping proditor,
32   And not protector, of the king or realm.
GLOUCESTER
33   Stand back, thou manifest conspirator,
34   Thou that contrivedst to murder our dead lord;
35   Thou that givest whores indulgences to sin:
36   I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
37   If thou proceed in this thy insolence.
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
38   Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot:
39   This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
40   To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.
GLOUCESTER
41   I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back:
42   Thy scarlet robes as a child's bearing-cloth
43   I'll use to carry thee out of this place.
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
44   Do what thou darest; I beard thee to thy face.
GLOUCESTER
45   What! am I dared and bearded to my face?
46   Draw, men, for all this privileged place;
47   Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard,
48   I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly:
49   Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat:
50   In spite of pope or dignities of church,
51   Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
52   Gloucester, thou wilt answer this before the pope.
GLOUCESTER
53   Winchester goose, I cry, a rope! a rope!
54   Now beat them hence; why do you let them stay?
55   Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.
56   Out, tawny coats! out, scarlet hypocrite!
Mayor
57   Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates,
58   Thus contumeliously should break the peace!
GLOUCESTER
59   Peace, mayor! thou know'st little of my wrongs:
60   Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
61   Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
62   Here's Gloucester, a foe to citizens,
63   One that still motions war and never peace,
64   O'ercharging your free purses with large fines,
65   That seeks to overthrow religion,
66   Because he is protector of the realm,
67   And would have armour here out of the Tower,
68   To crown himself king and suppress the prince.
GLOUCESTER
69   I will not answer thee with words, but blows.
Here they skirmish again

Mayor
70   Naught rests for me in this tumultuous strife
71   But to make open proclamation:
72   Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst,
73   Cry.
Officer
74   All manner of men assembled here in arms this day
75   against God's peace and the king's, we charge and
76   command you, in his highness' name, to repair to
77   your several dwelling-places; and not to wear,
78   handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger,
79   henceforward, upon pain of death.
GLOUCESTER
80   Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law:
81   But we shall meet, and break our minds at large.
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
82   Gloucester, we will meet; to thy cost, be sure:
83   Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work.
Mayor
84   I'll call for clubs, if you will not away.
85   This cardinal's more haughty than the devil.
GLOUCESTER
86   Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou mayst.
BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
87   Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head;
88   For I intend to have it ere long.
Mayor
89   See the coast clear'd, and then we will depart.
90   Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear!
91   I myself fight not once in forty year.
Exeunt

< (Previous) ACT I, SCENE IIACT I, IV (Next) >
Scene Index
ACT I
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI


  • ACT II
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V


  • ACT III
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV


  • ACT IV
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI
  • SCENE VII


  • ACT V
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V

  • ©1999-. All rights reserved.Contact
    Part of the MaximumEdge.com Network.Add Bookmark