Page 525 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Will bring thy head with sorrow to the grave. -
I beseech your majesty, give me leave to go; [20]
Sorrow would solace and mine age would ease.

KING HENRY

Stay, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. Ere thou go,
Give up thy staff: Henry will to himself
Protector be; and God shall be my hope,
My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet. [25]
And go in peace, Humphrey, no less beloved
Than when thou wert Protector to thy king.

MARGARET

I see no reason why a king of years
Should be to be protected like a child.
God and King Henry govern England’s helm: [30]
Give up your staff, sir, and the king his realm.

GLOUCEST ER

My staff? Here, noble Henry, is my staff:
As willingly do I the same resign
As e’er thy father Henry made it mine;
And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it [35]
As others would ambitiously receive it.
Farewell, good king: when I am dead and gone,
May honourable peace attend thy throne.

Exit.

MARGARET

Why, now is Henry king and Margaret queen,
And Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester scarce himself, [40]
That bears so shrewd a maim: two pulls at once -
His lady banished, and a limb lopped off.

[Picks up the staff and places it in the king’s hand.]
This staff of honour raught, there let it stand
Where it best fits to be, in Henry’s hand.

SUFFOLK

Thus droops this lofty pine, and hangs his sprays; [45]
Thus Eleanor’s pride dies in her youngest days.