My thoughts that labour to persuade my soul
Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life.
If my suspect be false, forgive me, God,
For judgment only doth belong to thee. 140
Fain would I go to chafe his paly lips
With twenty thousand kisses, and to drain
Upon his face an ocean of salt tears,
To tell my love unto his deaf dumb trunk, 144
And with my fingers feel his hand unfeeling:
But all in vain are these mean obsequies,
And to survey his dead and earthy image
What were it but to make my sorrow greater? 148
War. Come hither, gracious sovereign, view this body.
King. That is to see how deep my grave is made;
For with his soul fled all my worldly solace,
For seeing him I see my life in death. 152
War. As surely as my soul intends to live
With that dread King that took our state upon him
To free us from his Father's wrathful curse,
I do believe that violent hands were laid 156
Upon the life of this thrice-famed duke.
Suf. A dreadful oath, sworn with a solemn tongue!
What instance gives Lord Warwick for his vow?
War. See how the blood is settled in his face. 160
Oft have I seen a timely-parted ghost,
Of ashy semblance, meagre, pale, and bloodless,
Being all descended to the labouring heart;
Who, in the conflict that it holds with death, 164
Attracts the same for aidance 'gainst the enemy;
Which with the heart there cools, and ne'er returneth
141 chafe: warm
paly: pale
146 obsequies: acts of duty
161 timely-parted ghost: body of one whose soul has departed naturally
163 Being: i.e. the blood
