Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/20

8

Hath won the greatest favour of the commons,

Excepting none but good Duke Humphrey:

And, brother York, thy acts in Ireland,

In bringing them to civil discipline,

Thy late exploits done in the heart of France,

When thou wert regent for our sovereign,

Have made thee fear'd and honour'd of the people.

Join we together for the public good,

In what we can to bridle and suppress

The pride of Suffolk and the cardinal,

With Somerset's and Buckingham's ambition;

And, as we may, cherish Duke Humphrey's deeds,

While they do tend the profit of the land.

War. So God help Warwick, as he loves the land,

And common profit of his country!

York. And so says York, [Aside.] for he hath greatest cause.

Sal. Then let's make haste away, and look unto the main.

War. Unto the main! O father, Maine is lost!

That Maine which by main force Warwick did win,

And would have kept so long as breath did last.

Main chance, father, you meant; but I meant Maine,

Which I will win from France, or else be slain.

Exit Warwick, and Salisbury. Manet York.

York. Anjou and Maine are given to the French;

Paris is lost; the state of Normandy

Stands on a tickle point now they are gone.

Suffolk concluded on the articles,

The peers agreed, and Henry was well pleas'd

To change two dukedoms for a duke's fair daughter.

 193 Hath; cf. n.

195 brother York; cf. n.

196 civil: orderly

204 cherish: foster, support

209 main: the most important thing at stake (from game of hazard)

217 tickle: slippery

218 concluded: decided 