Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/76

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My thoughts that labour to persuade my soul

Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life.

If my suspect be false, forgive me, God,

For judgment only doth belong to thee.

Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips

With twenty thousand kisses, and to drain

Upon his face an ocean of salt tears,

To tell my love unto his deaf dumb trunk,

And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling:

But all in vain are these mean obsequies,

Bed put forth [by Warwick].

And to survey his dead and earthy image

What were it but to make my sorrow greater?

War. Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body.

King. That is to see how deep my grave is made;

For with his soul fled all my worldly solace,

For seeing him I see my life in death.

War. As surely as my soul intends to live

With that dread King that took our state upon him

To free us from his Father's wrathful curse,

I do believe that violent hands were laid

Upon the life of this thrice-famed duke.

Suf. A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue!

What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow?

War. See how the blood is settled in his face.

Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,

Of ashy semblance, meagre, pale, and bloodless,

Being all descended to the labouring heart;

Who, in the conflict that it holds with death,

Attracts the same for aidance 'gainst the enemy;

Which with the heart there cools, and ne'er returneth

 141 chafe: warm

paly: pale

146 obsequies: acts of duty

161 timely-parted ghost: body of one whose soul has departed naturally

163 Being: i.e. the blood 