The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. _The_ DUKE OF GLOUCESTER’S _house_.
_Duch._ Yes, my good lord, I’ll follow presently. [bab060] [_Exeunt Gloucester and Messenger._ Follow I must; I cannot go before, While Gloucester bears this base and humble mind. Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood, I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks And smooth my way upon their headless necks; ·bab065· And, being a woman, I will not be slack To play my part in Fortune’s pageant. Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man, [bab068] We are alone; here’s none but thee and I. [bab069] _Enter_ HUME. _Hume._ Jesus preserve your royal majesty! ·bab070· _Duch._ What say’st thou? majesty! I am but grace. [bab071] _Hume._ But, by the grace of God, and Hume’s advice, Your grace’s title shall be multiplied. _Duch._ What say’st thou, man? hast thou as yet conferr’d With Margery Jourdain, the cunning witch, [bab075] With Roger Bolingbroke, the conjurer? And will they undertake to do me good? _Hume._ This they have promised, to show your highness A spirit raised from depth of under-ground, That shall make answer to such questions ·bab080· As by your grace shall be propounded him. _Duch._ It is enough; I’ll think upon the questions: When from Saint Alban’s we do make return, We’ll see these things effected to the full. Here, Hume, take this reward; make merry, man, ·bab085· With thy confederates in this weighty cause. [_Exit._
_Hume._ Hume must make merry with the duchess’ gold; Marry, and shall. But, how now, Sir John Hume! Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum: [bab089] The business asketh silent secrecy. ·bab090· Dame Eleanor gives gold to bring the witch: Gold cannot come amiss, were she a devil. Yet have I gold flies from another coast; I dare not say, from the rich cardinal And from the great and new-made Duke of Suffolk, ·bab095· Yet I do find it so; for, to be plain, They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humour, [bab097] Have hired me to undermine the duchess And buz these conjurations in her brain. They say ‘A crafty knave does need no broker;’ ·bab100· Yet am I Suffolk and the cardinal’s broker. [bab101] Hume, if you take not heed, you shall go near To call them both a pair of crafty knaves. Well, so it stands; and thus, I fear, at last Hume’s knavery will be the duchess’ wreck, [bab105] And her attainture will be Humphrey’s fall: Sort how it will, I shall have gold for all. [_Exit._
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.