K. H.
Can no man tell of ^note my unthrifty son?
'Tis full three months, since I did see him last:—
If any plague hang over us, 'tis he.

I would to God ^note, my lords, he might be found:
Enquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there,
For there, they say, he daily doth frequent,
With unrestrained loose companions;
Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes,
And beat our watch, and rob our ^note passengers;
Whilst ^note he, young, wanton, and effeminate boy,
Takes on the point of honour, to support
So dissolute a crew.

Per.
My lord, some two days since I saw the prince;
And told him of these ^note triumphs held at Oxford.

K. H.
And what said the gallánt?

Per.
His answer was,—he would unto ^note the stews;
And from the common'st creature pluck a glove,
And wear it as a favour; and with that
He would unhorse the lustiest challenger.

K. H.
As dissolute as desperate: yet, through both,
I see some sparkles ^note of a better hope,
Which elder years may happily bring forth.
But who comes here? Enter Aumerle, hastily.

Aum.
Where is the king?

K. H.
What means
Our cousin, that he stares and looks so wildly?

Aum.
God save your grace. I do beseech your majesty,
To have some conference with your grace alone.

K. H.
Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone. [Exeunt Per. and Lords.
What is the matter with our cousin now?

Aum.
For ever may my knees grow to the earth, [throwing himself upon them.
My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth,

Unless a pardon, ere I rise, or speak.

K. H.
Intended, or committed, was this fault?
If but the ^note first, how heinous e'er it be,
To win thy after-love, I pardon thee.

Aum.
Then give me leave that I ^note may turn the key,
That no man enter 'till my tale ^note be done.

K. H.
Have thy desire. [Aum. rises, and locks the Door.

Yor. [within.]
My liege, beware; look to thyself, my liege; [knocking, and crying loud.
Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there.

K. H.
Villain, I'll make thee safe. [in Act to stab.

Aum.
Stay thy revengeful hand; [withholding him.
Thou hast no cause to fear.

Yor. [within.]
Open the door, secure, fool-hardy ^note king:
Shall I, for love, speak treason to thy face?
Open the door, or I will break it open.

K. H.
What is the matter, uncle? [opens, and shuts again. Enter York.
Recover ^note breath; tell us how near is danger,
That we may arm us to encounter it.

Yor.
Peruse this writing &dagger2; here, and thou shalt know
The treason that my haste forbids me show ^note.

Aum.
Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise past:
I do repent me; read not my name there,
My heart is not confederate with my hand.

Yor.
'Twas, villain, ere thy hand did set it down.—
I tore it ^note from the traitor's bosom, king;
Fear, and not love, begets his penitence:
Forget to pity him, lest thy pity prove
A serpent that will sting thee to the heart.

K. H.
O heinous, strong, and bold conspiracy!—
O loyal father of a treacherous son!

Thou sheer ^note, immaculate, and silver fountain,
From whence this stream through muddy passages
Hath held ^note his current, and defil'd himself!
Thy overflow14Q0600 of good converts to bad ^note;
And thy ^note abundant goodness shall excuse
This deadly blot in thy digressing son.

Yor.
So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd;
And he shall spend mine honour with his shame,
As thriftless sons their scraping father's ^note gold.
Mine honour lives when his dishonour dies,
Or my sham'd life in his dishonour lies:
Thou kill'st me in his life; giving him breath,
The traitor lives, the true man's put to death.

Dut. [within.]
What ho, my liege! for God's ^note sake, let me in.

K. H.
What shrill-voic'd ^note suppliant makes this eager cry?

Dut. [within.]
A woman, and thine aunt ^note, great king; 'tis I.
Speak with me, pity me, open the door;
A beggar begs, that never beg'd before.

K. H.
Our scene is alter'd; from a serious thing,
'Tis now ^note chang'd to the beggar and the king.—
My dangerous cousin, let your mother in;
I know, she's come to pray for your foul sin.

Yor.
If thou do pardon, whosoever pray,
More sirs, for this forgiveness, prosper may. Enter Dutchess.
This fetter'd ^note joint cut off, the rest rest ^note sound;
This, let alone, will all the rest confound.

Dut.
O king, believe not this hard-hearted man;
Love, loving not itself, none other can.

Yor.
Thou frantick woman, what dost thou make here?

Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear?

Dut.
Sweet York, be patient:—Hear me, gentle liege. [kneeling.

K. H.
Rise up, good aunt.

Dut.
Not yet, I thee beseech:
For ever will I kneel upon ^note my knees,
And never see day that the happy sees,
'Till thou give joy; until thou bid me joy,
By pard'ning Rutland, my transgressing boy.

Aum.
Unto my mother's prayers, I bend † my knee,

Yor.
Against them both, my true joints bended † be.
Ill may'st thou thrive, if thou grant any grace! ^note

Dut.
Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face;
His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are jest ^note;
His words come ^note from his mouth, ours from our breast:
He prays but faintly, and would be deny'd;
We pray with heart, and soul, and all beside:
His weary joints would gladly rise, I know;
Our knees shall kneel ^note 'till to the earth ^note they grow:
His prayers are full of false hypocrisy;
Ours, of true zeal and deep integrity.
Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them ^note have
That mercy, which true prayers ^note ought to have.

K. H.
Good aunt, stand up. ^note

Dut.
Nay, do not say—stand up;
But, pardon ^note, first; and afterwards, stand up.
An if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach,
Pardon—should be the first word of thy speech.
I never long'd to hear a word 'till now;
Say—pardon, king, let pity teach thee how ^note:
The word is short, but not so short as sweet;
No word like, pardon, for kings' mouths ^note so meet.

Yor.
Speak it in French, king; say, pardonnez ^note moy.

Dut.
Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy?
Ah my sour husband, my hard-hearted lord,
That set'st ^note the word itself against the word!—
Speak, pardon, as 'tis current in our land;
The chopping French we do not understand.
Thine eye begins to speak, set thy tongue there:
Or, in thy piteous heart plant thou thine ear;
That, hearing how our plaints and prayers do pierce,
Pity may move thee pardon to rehearse.

K. H.
Good aunt, stand up.

Dut.
I do not sue to stand,
Pardon is all the suit I have in hand.

K. H.
I pardon him, as God ^note shall pardon me.

Dut.
O happy vantage of a kneeling knee!
Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again;
Twice saying pardon, doth not pardon twain,
But makes one pardon strong.

K. H.
With all my heart ^note
I pardon him.

Dut.
A god on earth thou art.

K. H.
But for our trusty14Q0601 brother-in-law,—the ^note abbot,—
With all the rest of that consorted crew,—
Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels.—
Good uncle, help to order several powers
To Oxford, or where-e'er these traitors are:
They shall not live within this world, I swear,
But I will have them, if I ^note once know ^note where.
Uncle, farewel;—and cousin too ^note, adieu:
Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true.

Dut.
Come, my old son; [to Aum.] I pray God ^note make thee new. [Exeunt.

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