Henry VI, Part 2 · Act 1, Scene 4

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Enter MARGARET JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE
Enter MARGARET JOURDAIN, HUME, SOUTHWELL, and BOLINGBROKE
Hume

Come, my masters; the duchess, I tell you, expects performance of your promises.

Hume

Come on, gentlemen; the duchess expects you to keep your promises.

Bolingbroke

Master Hume, we are therefore provided: will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms?

Bolingbroke

Master Hume, we’re ready for it: will her ladyship watch and listen to our rituals?

Hume

Ay, what else? fear you not her courage.

Hume

Yes, of course. Don’t worry about her bravery.

Bolingbroke

I have heard her reported to be a woman of an invincible spirit: but it shall be convenient, Master Hume, that you be by her aloft, while we be busy below; and so, I pray you, go, in God’s name, and leave us.

Bolingbroke

I’ve heard she’s known to be a woman of strong will, but it would be better, Master Hume, if you stay above her, while we work below; so, please, go in God’s name and leave us.

Exit HUME
Exit HUME
Bolingbroke

Mother Jourdain, be you prostrate and grovel on the earth; John Southwell, read you; and let us to our work.

Bolingbroke

Mother Jourdain, kneel down and lie flat on the ground; John Southwell, read aloud; and let’s get to work.

Enter the DUCHESS aloft, HUME following
Enter the DUCHESS aloft, HUME following
Duchess

Well said, my masters; and welcome all. To this gear the sooner the better.

Duchess

Well done, gentlemen; and welcome. The sooner we start this job, the better.

Bolingbroke

Patience, good lady; wizards know their times: Deep night, dark night, the silent of the night, The time of night when Troy was set on fire; The time when screech-owls cry and ban-dogs howl, And spirits walk and ghosts break up their graves, That time best fits the work we have in hand. Madam, sit you and fear not: whom we raise, We will make fast within a hallow’d verge.

Bolingbroke

Patience, good lady; wizards know when to act: It’s late, it’s dark, the stillness of the night, The time when Troy was burned; The time when owls scream and hunting dogs bark, And spirits walk and ghosts break free from their graves, That’s the best time for the task we have to do. Madam, sit back and don’t worry: whoever we summon, We’ll make sure they stay within a sacred circle.

Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle; BOLINGBROKE or SOUTHWELL reads, Conjuro te, & c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth
Here they do the ceremonies belonging, and make the circle; BOLINGBROKE or SOUTHWELL reads, Conjuro te, & c. It thunders and lightens terribly; then the Spirit riseth
Spirit

Adsum.

Spirit

I’m here.

Margaret Jourdain

Asmath, By the eternal God, whose name and power Thou tremblest at, answer that I shall ask; For, till thou speak, thou shalt not pass from hence.

Margaret Jourdain

Asmath, By the eternal God, whose name and power You fear, answer the question I ask; For you will not leave until you do.

Spirit

Ask what thou wilt. That I had said and done!

Spirit

Ask what you want. I wish I had never spoken or done this!

Bolingbroke

’First of the king: what shall of him become?’

Bolingbroke

‘First, what will become of the king?’

Reading out of a paper
Reading out of a paper
Spirit

The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose; But him outlive, and die a violent death.

Spirit

The duke still lives, but Henry will remove him from power; But he will outlive Henry, and die a violent death.

As the Spirit speaks, SOUTHWELL writes the answer
As the Spirit speaks, SOUTHWELL writes the answer
Bolingbroke

’What fates await the Duke of Suffolk?’

Bolingbroke

’What will happen to the Duke of Suffolk?’

Spirit

By water shall he die, and take his end.

Spirit

He will die by drowning, and that will be his end.

Bolingbroke

’What shall befall the Duke of Somerset?’

Bolingbroke

’What will happen to the Duke of Somerset?’

Spirit

Let him shun castles; Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains Than where castles mounted stand. Have done, for more I hardly can endure.

Spirit

He should avoid castles; He will be safer on the open sandy plains Than where castles are built. Enough, I can’t stand any more.

Bolingbroke

Descend to darkness and the burning lake! False fiend, avoid!

Bolingbroke

Go down to darkness and the burning lake! False spirit, be gone!

Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit
Thunder and lightning. Exit Spirit
Enter YORK and BUCKINGHAM with their Guard and break in
Enter YORK and BUCKINGHAM with their Guard and break in
York

Lay hands upon these traitors and their trash. Beldam, I think we watch’d you at an inch. What, madam, are you there? the king and commonweal Are deeply indebted for this piece of pains: My lord protector will, I doubt it not, See you well guerdon’d for these good deserts.

York

Grab these traitors and their filthy followers. Old woman, I think we caught you just in time. What, madam, are you still here? The king and the country Are deeply in debt to you for this hard work: My lord protector will, I’m sure, Reward you well for your good deeds.

Duchess

Not half so bad as thine to England’s king, Injurious duke, that threatest where’s no cause.

Duchess

Not nearly as bad as what you’ve done to England’s king, Wicked duke, who threatens without reason.

Buckingham

True, madam, none at all: what call you this? Away with them! let them be clapp’d up close. And kept asunder. You, madam, shall with us. Stafford, take her to thee.

Buckingham

True, madam, there’s no reason at all: what do you call this? Take them away! lock them up tight. And keep them apart. You, madam, will come with us. Stafford, take her away.

Exeunt above DUCHESS and HUME, guarded
Exeunt above DUCHESS and HUME, guarded
Buckingham

We’ll see your trinkets here all forthcoming. All, away!

Buckingham

We’ll make sure your little treasures are all found. All, get out!

Exeunt guard with MARGARET JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, & c
Exeunt guard with MARGARET JOURDAIN, SOUTHWELL, & c
York

Lord Buckingham, methinks, you watch’d her well: A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon! Now, pray, my lord, let’s see the devil’s writ. What have we here?

York

Lord Buckingham, I think you watched her closely: A good plan, well chosen to build on! Now, please, my lord, let’s see what the devil’s note says. What do we have here?

Reads
Reads
York

’The duke yet lives, that Henry shall depose; But him outlive, and die a violent death.’ Why, this is just ’Aio te, AEacida, Romanos vincere posse.’ Well, to the rest: ’Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk? By water shall he die, and take his end. What shall betide the Duke of Somerset? Let him shun castles; Safer shall he be upon the sandy plains Than where castles mounted stand.’ Come, come, my lords; These oracles are hardly attain’d, And hardly understood. The king is now in progress towards Saint Alban’s, With him the husband of this lovely lady: Thither go these news, as fast as horse can carry them: A sorry breakfast for my lord protector.

York

’The duke is still alive, but Henry will be removed; But he will outlive him, and die a violent death.’ Well, this is just ’I say you, descendant of Aeacus, that you can conquer the Romans.’ Alright, moving on: ’Tell me what fate awaits the Duke of Suffolk? He will die by water, and meet his end. What will happen to the Duke of Somerset? He should avoid castles; He will be safer on the flat plains Than in places with castles.’ Come, come, my lords; These prophecies are hard to get, And even harder to understand. The king is now on his way to Saint Alban’s, With him the husband of this beautiful lady: These news should travel there as fast as horses can carry them: A bad breakfast for my lord protector.

Buckingham

Your grace shall give me leave, my Lord of York, To be the post, in hope of his reward.

Buckingham

Your grace will allow me, my Lord of York, To be the messenger, hoping for my reward.

York

At your pleasure, my good lord. Who’s within there, ho!

York

As you wish, my good lord. Who’s in there? Hey!

Enter a Servingman
Enter a Servingman
York

Invite my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick To sup with me to-morrow night. Away!

York

Tell my Lords of Salisbury and Warwick To come and dine with me tomorrow night. Go!

Exuent
Exeunt

End of Act 1, Scene 4

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