ACT SECOND
Scene One
[St. Albans]
Enter the King, Queen, Protector, Cardinal, and Suffolk, with Falconers halloing.
Queen. Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook,
I saw not better sport these seven years' day:
Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high,
And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out. 4
King. But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,
And what a pitch she flew above the rest!
To see how God in all his creatures works!
Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high. 8
Suf. No marvel, an it like your majesty,
My Lord Protector's hawks do tower so well;
They know their master loves to be aloft,
And bears his thoughts above his falcon's pitch. 12
Glo. My lord, 'tis but a base ignoble mind
That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
Car. I thought as much; he would be above the clouds.
Glo. Ay, my Lord Cardinal; how think you by that? 16
Were it not good your Grace could fly to heaven?
King. The treasury of everlasting joy.
Car. Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts
Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; 20
Pernicious protector, dangerous peer,
That smooth'st it so with king and commonweal!
1 flying . . . brook: hawking for waterfowl
2 day: space of time
4 Cf. n.
5 point: position from which to attack the prey
6 pitch: height
10 tower: soar
20 Beat on: keep aiming at
22 smooth'st it: insinuatest
