William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Second Part

ACT I 3. SCENE III. London. The palace. (continued)

WARWICK.
Warwick may live to be the best of all.

SALISBURY.
Peace, son!--and show some reason, Buckingham,
Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.

QUEEN.
Because the king, forsooth, will have it so.

GLOSTER.
Madam, the King is old enough himself
To give his censure; these are no women's matters.

QUEEN.
If he be old enough, what needs your grace
To be protector of his excellence?

GLOSTER.
Madam, I am protector of the realm,
And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.

SUFFOLK.
Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king--as who is king but thou?--
The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack;
The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas;
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.

CARDINAL.
The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags
Are lank and lean with thy extortions.

SOMERSET.
Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attire
Have cost a mass of public treasury.

BUCKINGHAM.
Thy cruelty in execution
Upon offenders hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.

QUEEN.
Thy sale of offices and towns in France,
If they were known, as the suspect is great,
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.--

[Exit Gloster. The Queen drops her fan..]

Give me my fan. What minion! can ye not?

[She gives the Duchess a box on the ear.]

I cry your mercy, madam; was it you?

DUCHESS.
Was 't I! yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman.
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I'd set my ten commandments in your face.

KING.
Sweet aunt, be quiet; 't was against her will.