Till Henry, surfeiting in joys of love, 252
With his new bride and England's dear-bought queen,
And Humphrey with the peers be fall'n at jars:
Then will I raise aloft the milk-white rose,
With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd, 256
And in my standard bear the arms of York,
To grapple with the house of Lancaster;
And, force perforce, I'll make him yield the crown,
Whose bookish rule hath pull'd fair England down. 260
Scene Two
[The Same. A Room in the Duke of Gloucester's House]
Enter Duke Humphrey and his wife Eleanor.
Elea. Why droops my lord, like over-ripen'd corn
Hanging the head at Ceres' plenteous load?
Why doth the great Duke Humphrey knit his brows,
As frowning at the favours of the world? 4
Why are thine eyes fix'd to the sullen earth,
Gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight?
What seest thou there? King Henry's diadem,
Enchas'd with all the honours of the world? 8
If so, gaze on, and grovel on thy face,
Until thy head be circled with the same.
Put forth thy hand, reach at the glorious gold:
What! is 't too short? I'll lengthen it with mine; 12
And having both together heav'd it up,
We'll both together lift our heads to heaven,
And never more abase our sight so low
254 at jars: into squabbles
259 force perforce: by violent compulsion
1 corn: wheat (or other cereal grain)
8 Enchas'd: adorned
9 grovel . . . face; cf. n.
