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London. CARDINAL BEAUFORT’S Bedchamber. | |
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Enter KING HENRY, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and Others. The CARDINAL in bed; Attendants with him. | |
| K. Hen. How fares my lord? speak, Beaufort, to thy sovereign. | |
| Car. If thou be’st death, I’ll give thee England’s treasure, | |
| Enough to purchase such another island, | 5 |
| So thou wilt let me live, and feel no pain. | |
| K. Hen. Ah! what a sign it is of evil life | |
| Where death’s approach is seen so terrible. | |
| War. Beaufort, it is thy sov’reign speaks to thee. | |
| Car. Bring me unto my trial when you will. | 10 |
| Died he not in his bed? where should he die? | |
| Can I make men live whe’r they will or no? | |
| O! torture me no more, I will confess. | |
| Alive again? then show me where he is: | |
| I’ll give a thousand pound to look upon him. | 15 |
| He hath no eyes, the dust hath blinded them. | |
| Comb down his hair; look! look! it stands upright, | |
| Like lime-twigs set to catch my winged soul. | |
| Give me some drink; and bid the apothecary | |
| Bring the strong poison that I bought of him. | 20 |
| K. Hen. O thou eternal Mover of the heavens! | |
| Look with a gentle eye upon this wretch; | |
| O! beat away the busy meddling fiend | |
| That lays strong siege unto this wretch’s soul, | |
| And from his bosom purge this black despair. | 25 |
| War. See how the pangs of death do make him grin! | |
| Sal. Disturb him not! let him pass peaceably. | |
| K. Hen. Peace to his soul, if God’s good pleasure be! | |
| Lord Cardinal, if thou think’st on heaven’s bliss, | |
| Hold up thy hand, make signal of thy hope. | 30 |
| He dies, and makes no sign. O God, forgive him! | |
| War. So bad a death argues a monstrous life. | |
| K. Hen. Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all. | |
| Close up his eyes, and draw the curtain close; | |
| And let us all to meditation. [Exeunt. | 35 |
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