William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Second Part

ACT II 1. SCENE I. Saint Alban's. (continued)

KING.
I prithee, peace, good queen,
And whet not on these furious peers;
For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.

CARDINAL.
Let me be blessed for the peace I make
Against this proud protector, with my sword!

GLOSTER.
[Aside to Cardinal.] Faith, holy uncle, would 't
were come to that!

CARDINAL.
[Aside to Gloster.] Marry, when thou dar'st.

GLOSTER.
[Aside to Cardinal.] Make up no factious numbers
for the matter;
In thine own person answer thy abuse.

CARDINAL.
[Aside to Gloster.] Ay, where thou dar'st not peep;
an if thou dar'st,
This evening, on the east side of the grove.

KING.
How now, my lords!

CARDINAL.
Believe me, cousin Gloster,
Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly,
We had had more sport.--[Aside to Gloster.] Come with thy
two-hand sword.

GLOSTER.
True, uncle.

CARDINAL.
[Aside to Gloster.] Are ye advis'd? the east side
of the grove?

GLOSTER.
[Aside to CARDINAL.] Cardinal, I am with you.

KING.
Why, how now, uncle Gloster!

GLOSTER.
Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.--
[Aside to Cardinal.] Now, by God's mother, priest,
I'll shave your crown for this,
Or all my fence shall fail.

CARDINAL.
[Aside to Gloster.] Medice, teipsum--
Protector, see to 't well, protect yourself.

KING.
The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.
How irksome is this music to my heart!
When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.

[Enter a Townsman of Saint Alban's, crying 'A miracle!']

GLOSTER.
What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?