William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Second Part

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

TOWNSMAN.
A miracle! A miracle!

SUFFOLK.
Come to the king, and tell him what miracle.

TOWNSMAN.
Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine,
Within this half hour, hath receiv'd his sight;
A man that ne'er saw in his life before.

KING.
Now, God be prais'd, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!

[Enter the Mayor of Saint Alban's and his brethren,
bearing SIMPCOX, between two in a chair, SIMPCOX's
Wife following.]

CARDINAL.
Here comes the townsmen on procession,
To present your highness with the man.

KING HENRY.
Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,
Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.

GLOSTER.
Stand by, my masters.
Bring him near the king;
His highness' pleasure is to talk with him.

KING.
Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, hast thou been long blind and now restor'd?

SIMPCOX.
Born blind, an 't please your grace.

WIFE.
Ay indeed was he.

SUFFOLK.
What woman is this?

WIFE.
His wife, an 't like your worship.

GLOSTER.
Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst
have better told.

KING.
Where wert thou born?

SIMPCOX.
At Berwick in the north, an 't like your grace.

KING.
Poor soul, God's goodness hath been great to thee;
Let never day nor night unhallow'd pass,
But still remember what the Lord hath done.

QUEEN.
Tell me, good fellow, cam'st thou here by chance,
Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?