Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/50

38  King. Stay, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester: ere thou go,

Give up thy staff: Henry will to himself

Protector be; and God shall be my hope,

My stay, my guide, and lantern to my feet.

And go in peace, Humphrey; no less belov'd

Than when thou wert protector to thy king.

Queen. I see no reason why a king of years

Should be to be protected like a child.

God and King Henry govern England's realm.

Give up your staff, sir, and the king his realm.

Glo. My staff! here, noble Henry, is my staff:

As willingly do I the same resign

As e'er thy father Henry made it mine;

And even as willingly at thy feet I leave it

As others would ambitiously receive it.

Farewell, good king! when I am dead and gone,

May honourable peace attend thy throne.

Exit Gloucester.

Queen. Why, now is Henry king, and Margaret queen;

And Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, scarce himself,

That bears so shrewd a maim: two pulls at once;

His lady banish'd, and a limb lopp'd off,

This staff of honour raught: there let it stand,

Where it best fits to be, in Henry's hand.

Suf. Thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays;

Thus Eleanor's pride dies in her youngest days.

York. Lords, let him go. Please it your majesty

This is the day appointed for the combat;

And ready are the appellant and defendant,

 23 staff: badge of office

29 be to be: need to be

41 so maim: so sore a mutilation

pulls: pluckings of feathers (?)

43 raught: seized

46 youngest: latest, most recent (?); cf. n.

49 appellant: challenger 