Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/22

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Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love,

With his new bride and England's dear-bought queen,

And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars:

Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,

With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd,

And in my standard bear the arms of York,

To grapple with the house of Lancaster;

And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown,

Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down.

Exit York.

Elea. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn

Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?

Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,

As frowning at the favours of the world?

Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth,

Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?

What seest thou there? King Henry's diadem,

Enchas'd with all the honours of the world?

If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,

Until thy head be circled with the same.

Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold:

What! is 't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine;

And having both together heav'd it up,

We'll both together lift our heads to heaven,

And never more abase our sight so low

 254 at jars: into squabbles

259 force perforce: by violent compulsion

 1 corn: wheat (or other cereal grain)

8 Enchas'd: adorned

9 grovel face; cf. n. 