Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/31

King Henry the Sixth, I. iii

Car. The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags

Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

Som. Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attire

Have cost a mass of public treasury.

Buck. Thy cruelty in execution

Upon offenders hath exceeded law,

And left thee to the mercy of the law.

Queen. Thy sale of offices and towns in France,

If they were known, as the suspect is great,

Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.

Give me my fan: what, minion! can ye not?

She gives the Duchess a box on the ear.

I cry you mercy, madam, was it you?

Duch. Was 't I? yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman:

Could I come near your beauty with my nails,

I'd set my ten commandments in your face.

King. Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will.

Duch. Against her will! Good king, look to 't in time;

She'll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby:

Though in this place most master wear no breeches,

She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unreveng'd.

Exit Eleanor.

Buck. Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,

And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds:

She's tickled now; her fume needs no spurs,

She'll gallop far enough to her destruction.

Exit Buckingham.

 133 sumptuous buildings; cf. n.

134 treasury: treasure

139 suspect: suspicion

142 cry you mercy: beg your pardon

145 my ten commandments: marks of my ten fingers; cf. n.

149 most master: the most masterful spirit

152 listen after: seek news of

153 fume: passion 