Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/62

50

That England was defam'd by tyranny.

Glo. Why, 'tis well known that, whiles I was protector,

Pity was all the fault that was in me;

For I should melt at an offender's tears,

And lowly words were ransom for their fault.

Unless it were a bloody murtherer,

Or foul felonious thief that fleec'd poor passengers,

I never gave them condign punishment:

Murther, indeed, that bloody sin, I tortur'd

Above the felon or what trespass else.

Suf. My lord, these faults are easy, quickly answer'd:

But mightier crimes are laid unto your charge,

Whereof you cannot easily purge yourself.

I do arrest you in his highness' name,

And here commit you to my Lord Cardinal

To keep until your further time of trial.

King. My Lord of Gloucester, 'tis my special hope

That you will clear yourself from all suspect:

My conscience tells me you are innocent.

Glo. Ah! gracious lord, these days are dangerous.

Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition,

And charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand;

Foul subornation is predominant,

And equity exil'd 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;

But mine is made the prologue to their play;

 126 should: was wont to, would

129 passengers: wayfarers

130 condign: adequate

132 Beyond any other kind of felony or misdemeanor

138 further: future

145 subornation: instigation to perjury or crime (cf. l. 45)

149 period: end

150 it: i.e. my life 