Page 534 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

And his advantage following your decease, [25]
That he should come about your royal person
Or be admitted to your highness’ council.
By flattery hath he won the commons’ hearts,
And when he please to make commotion,
’Tis to be feared they all will follow him. [30]
Now ’tis the spring and weeds are shallow-rooted;
Suffer them now, and they’ll o’er-grow the garden
And choke the herbs for want of husbandry.
The reverent care I bear unto my lord
Made me collect these dangers in the duke. [35]
If it be fond, call it a woman’s fear;
Which fear, if better reasons can supplant,
I will subscribe, and say I wronged the duke. -
My Lord of Suffolk, Buckingham, and York,
Reprove my allegation, if you can, [40]
Or else conclude my words effectual.

SUFFOLK

Well hath your highness seen into this duke;
And, had I first been put to speak my mind,
I think I should have told your grace’s tale.
The duchess, by his subornation, [45]
Upon my life, began her devilish practices;
Or if he were not privy to those faults,
Yet by reputing of his high descent
As next the king he was successive heir,
And such high vaunts of his nobility, [50]
Did instigate the bedlam brain-sick duchess
By wicked means to frame our sovereign’s fall.
Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep,
And in his simple show he harbours treason.
The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb. - [55]
No, no, my sovereign: Gloucester is a man
Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.

WINCHEST ER

Did he not, contrary to form of law,
Devise strange deaths for small offences done?

Y ORK