Page 536 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

KING HENRY

Cold news, Lord Somerset; but God’s will be done.

Y ORK

[aside]
Cold news for me: for I had hope of France
As firmly as I hope for fertile England.
Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud
And caterpillars eat my leaves away; [90]
But I will remedy this gear ere long,
Or sell my title for a glorious grave.

Enter Gloucester.

GLOUCEST ER

All happiness unto my lord the king!
Pardon, my liege, that I have stayed so long.

SUFFOLK

Nay, Gloucester, know that thou art come too soon, [95]
Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art:
I do arrest thee of high treason here.

GLOUCEST ER

Well, Suffolk, thou shalt not see me blush
Nor change my countenance for this arrest:
A heart unspotted is not easily daunted; [100]
The purest spring is not so free from mud
As I am clear from treason to my sovereign.
Who can accuse me? Wherein am I guilty?

Y ORK

’Tis thought, my lord, that you took bribes of France,
And, being Protector, stayed the soldiers’ pay; [105]
By means whereof his highness hath lost France.

GLOUCEST ER

Is it but thought so? What are they that think it?
I never robbed the soldiers of their pay,
Nor ever had one penny bribe from France.