Henry VI, Part II by William Shakespeare
Act 2 - Scene 1
Saint Alban’s.
Townsman : A miracle! a miracle!
Townsman : Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine,
[p]Within this
half-hour, hath received his sight;
[p]A man that ne'er saw in his
life before.
Simpcox : Born blind, an't please your grace.
Simpcox's Wife : Ay, indeed, was he.
Simpcox's Wife : His wife, an't like your worship.
Simpcox : At Berwick in the north, an't like your grace.
Simpcox : God knows, of pure devotion; being call'd
[p]A hundred times and
oftener, in my sleep,
[p]By good Saint Alban; who said, 'Simpcox,
come,
[p]Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.'
Simpcox's Wife : Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft
[p]Myself have heard a
voice to call him so.
Simpcox : Ay, God Almighty help me!
Simpcox : A fall off of a tree.
Simpcox's Wife : A plum-tree, master.
Simpcox : Born so, master.
Simpcox : But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
Simpcox's Wife : Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.
Simpcox : Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons,
[p]And made me climb,
with danger of my life.
Simpcox : Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and
[p]Saint Alban.
Simpcox : Red, master; red as blood.
Simpcox : Black, forsooth: coal-black as jet.
Simpcox's Wife : Never, before this day, in all his life.
Simpcox : Alas, master, I know not.
Simpcox : I know not.
Simpcox : No, indeed, master.
Simpcox : Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master.
Simpcox : O master, that you could!
Mayor of Saint Alban's : Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.
Mayor of Saint Alban's : Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
Simpcox : Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone:
[p]You go about to torture
me in vain.
Beadle : I will, my lord. Come on, sirrah; off with your
[p]doublet quickly.
Simpcox : Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.
[p][After the
Beadle hath hit him once, he leaps over]
[p]the stool and runs away;
and they follow and cry, 'A miracle!']
Simpcox's Wife : Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.
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Next: Act 2 - Scene 2
