Page 538 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

KING HENRY

My Lord of Gloucester, ’tis my special hope
That you will clear yourself from all suspense: [140]
My conscience tells me you are innocent.

GLOUCEST ER

Ah, gracious lord, these days are dangerous:
Virtue is choked with foul ambition
And charity chased hence by rancour’s hand;
Foul subornation is predominant [145]
And equity exiled your highness’ land.
I know their complot is to have my life
And, if my death might make this island happy
And prove the period of their tyranny,
I would expend it with all willingness; [150]
But mine is made the prologue to their play:
For thousands more, that yet suspect no peril,
Will not conclude their plotted tragedy.
Beaufort’s red sparkling eyes blab his heart’s malice,
And Suffolk’s cloudy brow his stormy hate; [155]
Sharp Buckingham unburdens with his tongue
The envious load that lies upon his heart;
And dogged York, that reaches at the moon,
Whose overweening arm I have plucked back,
By false accuse doth level at my life. - [160]
And you, my sovereign lady, with the rest,
Causeless have laid disgraces on my head
And with your best endeavour have stirred up
My liefest liege to be mine enemy:
Ay, all of you have laid your heads together - [165]
Myself had notice of your conventicles -
And all to make away my guiltless life.
I shall not want false witness to condemn me
Nor store of treasons to augment my guilt;
The ancient proverb will be well effected: [170]
A staff is quickly found to beat a dog.

WINCHEST ER

My liege, his railing is intolerable:
If those that care to keep your royal person
From treason’s secret knife and traitor’s rage