_Clar._ Methoughts that I had broken from the Tower,   [fad009]

And was embark’d to cross to Burgundy;    ·fad010·

And, in my company, my brother Gloucester;

Who from my cabin tempted me to walk

Upon the hatches: thence we look’d toward England,   [fad013]

And cited up a thousand fearful times,   [fad014]

During the wars of York and Lancaster   [fad015]

That had befall’n us. As we paced along   [fad016]

Upon the giddy footing of the hatches,

Methought that Gloucester stumbled; and, in falling,   [fad018]

Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard,   [fad019]

Into the tumbling billows of the main.    ·fad020·

Lord, Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown!   [fad021]

What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears!   [fad022]

What ugly sights of death within mine eyes!   [fad023]

Methought I saw a thousand fearful wrecks;   [fad024]

Ten thousand men that fishes gnaw’d upon;   [fad025]

Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,

Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels,

All scatter’d in the bottom of the sea:   [fad028]

Some lay in dead men’s skulls; and in those holes   [fad029]

Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept,    ·fad030·

As ’twere in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems,   [fad031]

Which woo’d the slimy bottom of the deep,   [fad032]

And mock’d the dead bones that lay scatter’d by.

_Brak._ Had you such leisure in the time of death

To gaze upon the secrets of the deep?   [fad035]

_Clar._ Methought I had; and often did I strive   [fad036]

To yield the ghost: but still the envious flood   [fad037]

Kept in my soul, and would not let it forth   [fad038]

To seek the empty, vast and wandering air;   [fad039]

But smother’d it within my panting bulk,    ·fad040·

Which almost burst to belch it in the sea.   [fad041]

_Brak._ Awaked you not with this sore agony?   [fad042]

_Clar._ O no, my dream was lengthen’d after life;   [fad043]

O, then began the tempest to my soul,   [fad044]

Who pass’d, methought, the melancholy flood,    ·fad045·

With that grim ferryman which poets write of,   [fad046]

Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.

The first that there did greet my stranger soul,   [fad048]

Was my great father-in-law, renowned Warwick;   [fad049]

Who cried aloud, ‘What scourge for perjury   [fad050]

Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?’   [fad051]

And so he vanish’d: then came wandering by

A shadow like an angel, with bright hair   [fad053]

Dabbled in blood; and he squeak’d out aloud,   [fad054]

‘Clarence is come; false, fleeting, perjured Clarence,    ·fad055·

That stabb’d me in the field by Tewksbury:   [fad056]

Seize on him, Furies, take him to your torments!’   [fad057]

With that, methoughts, a legion of foul fiends   [fad058]

Environ’d me about, and howled in mine ears   [fad059]

Such hideous cries that with the very noise    ·fad060·

I trembling waked, and for a season after

Could not believe but that I was in hell,

Such terrible impression made the dream.   [fad063]

_Brak._ No marvel, my lord, though it affrighted you;   [fad064]

I promise you, I am afraid to hear you tell it.   [fad065]

_Clar._ O Brakenbury, I have done those things,   [fad066]

Which now bear evidence against my soul,   [fad067]

For Edward’s sake; and see how he requites me!   [fad068]

O God! if my deep prayers cannot appease thee,   [fad069]

But thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds,    ·fad070·

Yet execute thy wrath in me alone;   [fad071]

O, spare my guiltless wife and my poor children!

I pray thee, gentle keeper, stay by me;   [fad073]

My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep.

_Brak._ I will, my lord: God give your grace good rest!   [fad075]

[_Clarence sleeps._

Sorrow breaks seasons and reposing hours,   [fad076]

Makes the night morning and the noon-tide night.

Princes have but their titles for their glories,   [fad078]

An outward honour for an inward toil;

And, for unfelt imagination,   [fad080]

They often feel a world of restless cares:

So that, betwixt their titles and low names,   [fad082]

There’s nothing differs but the outward fame.   [fad083]

_Enter the two_ Murderers.

_First Murd._ Ho! who’s here?   [fad084]

_Brak._ In God’s name what are you, and how came you hither?   [fad085]

_First Murd._ I would speak with Clarence, and I came   [fad086]

hither on my legs.

_Brak._ Yea, are you so brief?   [fad088]

_Sec. Murd._ O sir, it is better to be brief than tedious.   [fad089]

Show him our commission; talk no more. [_Brakenbury reads

it._   [fad090]

_Brak._ I am in this commanded to deliver

The noble Duke of Clarence to your hands:

I will not reason what is meant hereby,   [fad093]

Because I will be guiltless of the meaning.   [fad094]

Here are the keys, there sits the duke asleep:   [fad095]

I’ll to the king; and signify to him   [fad096]

That thus I have resign’d my charge to you.   [fad097]

_First Murd._ Do so, it is a point of wisdom: fare you   [fad098]

well. [_Exit Brakenbury._   [fad099]

_Sec. Murd._ What, shall we stab him as he sleeps?   [fad100]

_First Murd._ No; then he will say ’twas done cowardly,   [fad101]

when he wakes.

_Sec. Murd._ When he wakes! why, fool, he shall never   [fad103]

wake till the judgement-day.   [fad104]

_First Murd._ Why, then he will say we stabbed him   [fad105]

sleeping.

_Sec. Murd._ The urging of that word ‘judgement’ hath

bred a kind of remorse in me.

_First Murd._ What, art thou afraid?   [fad109]

_Sec. Murd._ Not to kill him, having a warrant for it;   [fad110]

but to be damned for killing him, from which no warrant   [fad111]

can defend us.   [fad112]

_First Murd._ I thought thou hadst been resolute.   [fad113]

_Sec. Murd._ So I am, to let him live.

_First Murd._ Back to the Duke of Gloucester, tell him   [fad115]

so.

_Sec. Murd._ I pray thee, stay a while: I hope my holy   [fad117]

humour will change; ’twas wont to hold me but while one   [fad118]

would tell twenty.   [fad119]

_First Murd._ How dost thou feel thyself now?    ·fad120·

_Sec. Murd._ Faith, some certain dregs of conscience   [fad121]

are yet within me.

_First Murd._ Remember our reward, when the deed is   [fad123]

done.

_Sec. Murd._ ’Zounds, he dies: I had forgot the reward.   [fad125]

_First Murd._ Where is thy conscience now?   [fad126]

_Sec. Murd._ In the Duke of Gloucester’s purse.   [fad127]

_First Murd._ So when he opens his purse to give us   [fad128]

our reward, thy conscience flies out.

_Sec. Murd._ Let it go; there’s few or none will entertain

it.   [fad130]

_First Murd._ How if it come to thee again?   [fad131]

_Sec. Murd._ I’ll not meddle with it: it is a dangerous   [fad132]

thing: it makes a man a coward: a man cannot steal, but

it accuseth him; he cannot swear, but it checks him; he   [fad134]

cannot lie with his neighbour’s wife, but it detects him: it is [fad135]

a blushing shamefast spirit that mutinies in a man’s bosom;   [fad136]

it fills one full of obstacles: it made me once restore a   [fad137]

purse of gold, that I found; it beggars any man that keeps   [fad138]

it: it is turned out of all towns and cities for a dangerous   [fad139]

thing; and every man that means to live well endeavours   [fad140]

to trust to himself and to live without it.   [fad141]

_First Murd._ ’Zounds, it is even now at my elbow, persuading  [fad142]

me not to kill the duke.

_Sec. Murd._ Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him   [fad144]

not: he would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh.   [fad145]

_First Murd._ Tut, I am strong-framed, he cannot prevail   [fad146]

with me, I warrant thee.   [fad147]

_Sec. Murd._ Spoke like a tall fellow that respects his   [fad148]

reputation. Come, shall we to this gear?   [fad149]

_First Murd._ Take him over the costard with the hilts   [fad150]

of thy sword, and then we will chop him in the malmsey-butt   [fad151]

in the next room.

_Sec. Murd._ O excellent device! make a sop of him.   [fad153]

_First Murd._ Hark! he stirs: shall I strike?   [fad154]

_Sec. Murd._ No, first let’s reason with him.    ·fad155·

_Clar._ Where art thou, keeper? give me a cup of wine.

_Sec. Murd._ You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon.   [fad157]

_Clar._ In God’s name, what art thou?   [fad158]

_Sec. Murd._ A man, as you are.   [fad159]

_Clar._ But not, as I am, royal.    ·fad160·

_Sec. Murd._ Nor you, as we are, loyal.   [fad161]

_Clar._ Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.

_Sec. Murd._ My voice is now the king’s, my looks mine own.

_Clar._ How darkly and how deadly dost thou speak!

Your eyes do menace me: why look you pale?   [fad165]

Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come?   [fad166]

_Both._ To, to, to--   [fad167]

_Clar._ To murder me?   [fad168]

_Both._ Ay, ay.   [fad169]

_Clar._ You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so,   [fad170]

And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it.   [fad171]

Wherein, my friends, have I offended you?

_First Murd._ Offended us you have not, but the king.

_Clar._ I shall be reconciled to him again.

_Sec. Murd._ Never, my lord; therefore prepare to die.    ·fad175·

_Clar._ Are you call’d forth from out a world of men   [fad176]

To slay the innocent? What is my offence?   [fad177]

Where are the evidence that do accuse me?   [fad178]

What lawful quest have given their verdict up   [fad179]

Unto the frowning judge? or who pronounced    ·fad180·

The bitter sentence of poor Clarence’ death?   [fad181]

Before I be convict by course of law,

To threaten me with death is most unlawful,   [fad183]

I charge you, as you hope to have redemption   [fad184]

By Christ’s dear blood shed for our grievous sins,    ·fad185·

That you depart and lay no hands on me:   [fad186]

The deed you undertake is damnable.

_First Murd._ What we will do, we do upon command.

_Sec. Murd._ And he that hath commanded is the king.   [fad189]

_Clar._ Erroneous vassal! the great King of kings   [fad190]

Hath in the tables of his law commanded   [fad191]

That thou shalt do no murder: and wilt thou then   [fad192]

Spurn at his edict, and fulfil a man’s?

Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hands,   [fad194]

To hurl upon their heads that break his law.    ·fad195·

_Sec. Murd._ And that same vengeance doth he hurl on thee,   [fad196]

For false forswearing, and for murder too:

Thou didst receive the holy sacrament,   [fad198]

To fight in quarrel of the house of Lancaster.   [fad199]

_First Murd._ And, like a traitor to the name of God,    ·fad200·

Didst break that vow; and with thy treacherous blade

Unrip’dst the bowels of thy sovereign’s son.   [fad202]

_Sec. Murd._ Whom thou wert sworn to cherish and defend.   [fad203]

_First Murd._ How canst thou urge God’s dreadful law to us,

When thou hast broke it in so dear degree?   [fad205]

_Clar._ Alas! for whose sake did I that ill deed?

For Edward, for my brother, for his sake:

Why, sirs,   [fad208]

He sends ye not to murder me for this;   [fad209]

For in this sin he is as deep as I.   [fad210]

If God will be revenged for this deed,   [fad211]

O, know you yet, he doth it publicly:   [fad212]

Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm;

He needs no indirect nor lawless course   [fad214]

To cut off those that have offended him.    ·fad215·

_First Murd._ Who made thee then a bloody minister,

When gallant-springing brave Plantagenet,   [fad217]

That princely novice, was struck dead by thee?   [fad218]

_Clar._ My brother’s love, the devil, and my rage.

_First Murd._ Thy brother’s love, our duty, and thy fault,   [fad220]

Provoke us hither now to slaughter thee.   [fad221]

_Clar._ Oh, if you love my brother, hate not me;   [fad222]

I am his brother, and I love him well.

If you be hired for meed, go back again,   [fad224]

And I will send you to my brother Gloucester,    ·fad225·

Who shall reward you better for my life   [fad226]

Than Edward will for tidings of my death.

_Sec. Murd._ You are deceived, your brother Gloucester hates

you.   [fad228]

_Clar._ O, no, he loves me, and he holds me dear:

Go you to him from me.

_Both._ Ay, so we will.   [fad230]

_Clar._ Tell him, when that our princely father York

Bless’d his three sons with his victorious arm,

And charged us from his soul to love each other,   [fad233]

He little thought of this divided friendship:

Bid Gloucester think of this, and he will weep.   [fad235]

_First Murd._ Ay, millstones; as he lesson’d us to weep.   [fad236]

_Clar._ O, do not slander him, for he is kind.

_First Murd._ Right,   [fad238]

As snow in harvest. Thou deceivest thyself:   [fad239]

’Tis he that sent us hither now to slaughter thee.   [fad240]

_Clar._ It cannot be; for when I parted with him,   [fad241]

He hugg’d me in his arms, and swore, with sobs,   [fad242]

That he would labour my delivery.

_Sec. Murd._ Why, so he doth, now he delivers thee   [fad244]

From this world’s thraldom to the joys of heaven.   [fad245]

_First Murd._ Make peace with God, for you must die, my lord.   [fad246]

_Clar._ Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul,   [fad247]

To counsel me to make my peace with God,

And art thou yet to thy own soul so blind,

That thou wilt war with God by murdering me?   [fad250]

Ah, sirs, consider, he that set you on   [fad251]

To do this deed will hate you for the deed.   [fad252]

_Sec._ Murd. What shall we do?

_Clar._ Relent, and save your souls.

_First Murd._ Relent! ’tis cowardly and womanish.   [fad254]

_Clar._ Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish.   [fad255]

Which of you, if you were a prince’s son,   [fad256]

Being pent from liberty, as I am now,

If two such murderers as yourselves came to you,

Would not entreat for life?

My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks;   [fad260]

O, if thine eye be not a flatterer,   [fad261]

Come thou on my side, and entreat for me,

As you would beg, were you in my distress:

A begging prince what beggar pities not?

_Sec. Murd._ Look behind you, my lord.   [fad265]

_First Murd._ Take that, and that: if all this will not do,   [fad266]

[_Stabs him._

I’ll drown you in the malmsey-butt within.   [fad267]

[_Exit, with the body._

_Sec. Murd._ A bloody deed, and desperately dispatch’d!   [fad268]

How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands   [fad269]

Of this most grievous guilty murder done!   [fad270]

_Re-enter_ First Murderer.

_First Murd._ How now! what mean’st thou, that thou help’st me

not?   [fad271]

By heavens, the duke shall know how slack thou art!   [fad272]

_Sec. Murd._ I would he knew that I had saved his brother!

Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say;

For I repent me that the duke is slain. [_Exit._    ·fad275·

_First Murd._ So do not I: go, coward as thou art.

Now must I hide his body in some hole,   [fad277]

Until the duke take order for his burial:   [fad278]

And when I have my meed, I must away;   [fad279]

For this will out, and here I must not stay. [_Exit._   [fad280]

ACT II.

SCENE I. _London. The palace_.

_Flourish. Enter_ KING EDWARD _sick,_ QUEEN ELIZABETH,

DORSET, RIVERS, HASTINGS, BUCKINGHAM, GREY, _and others_.

_K. Edw._ Why, so: now have I done a good day’s work:   [fba001]

You peers, continue this united league:   [fba002]

I every day expect an embassage

From my Redeemer to redeem me hence;   [fba004]

And now in peace my soul shall part to heaven,   [fba005]

Since I have set my friends at peace on earth.   [fba006]

Rivers and Hastings, take each other’s hand;   [fba007]

Dissemble not your hatred, swear your love.

_Riv._ By heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate;   [fba009]

And with my hand I seal my true heart’s love.    ·fba010·

_Hast._ So thrive I, as I truly swear the like!   [fba011]

_K. Edw._ Take heed you dally not before your king;

Lest he that is the supreme King of kings

Confound your hidden falsehood and award

Either of you to be the other’s end.    ·fba015·

_Hast._ So prosper I, as I swear perfect love!

_Riv._ And I, as I love Hastings with my heart!

_K. Edw._ Madam, yourself are not exempt in this,   [fba018]

Nor your son Dorset; Buckingham, nor you;   [fba019]

You have been factious one against the other.    ·fba020·

Wife, love Lord Hastings, let him kiss your hand;

And what you do, do it unfeignedly.

_Q. Eliz._ Here, Hastings; I will never more remember   [fba023]

Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine!

_K. Edw._ Dorset, embrace him; Hastings, love lord marquess.   [fba025]

_Dor._ This interchange of love, I here protest,   [fba026]

Upon my part shall be unviolable.   [fba027]

_Hast._ And so swear I, my lord. [_They embrace._   [fba028]

_K. Edw._ Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league   [fba029]

With thy embracements to my wife’s allies,   [fba030]

And make me happy in your unity.   [fba031]

_Buck._ [_To the Queen_] Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate

On you or yours but with all duteous love   [fba033]

Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me

With hate in those where I expect most love!    ·fba035·

When I have most need to employ a friend,

And most assured that he is a friend,

Deep, hollow, treacherous and full of guile,

Be he unto me! this do I beg of God,   [fba039]

When I am cold in zeal to you or yours. [_They embrace._   [fba040]

_K. Edw._ A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham,

Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart.

There wanteth now our brother Gloucester here,

To make the perfect period of this peace.   [fba044]

_Buck._ And, in good time, here comes the noble duke.   [fba045]

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER.

_Glou._ Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen;

And, princely peers, a happy time of day!

_K. Edw._ Happy indeed, as we have spent the day.

Brother, we have done deeds of charity;   [fba049]

Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate,    ·fba050·

Between these swelling wrong-incensed peers.   [fba051]

_Glou._ A blessed labour, my most sovereign liege:   [fba052]

Amongst this princely heap, if any here,   [fba053]

By false intelligence, or wrong surmise,

Hold me a foe;   [fba055]

If I unwittingly, or in my rage,   [fba056]

Have aught committed that is hardly borne   [fba057]

By any in this presence, I desire   [fba058]

To reconcile me to his friendly peace:   [fba059]

’Tis death to me to be at enmity;    ·fba060·

I hate it, and desire all good men’s love.

First, madam, I entreat true peace of you,   [fba062]

Which I will purchase with my duteous service;   [fba063]

Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,

If ever any grudge were lodged between us;    ·fba065·

Of you, Lord Rivers, and, Lord Grey, of you,   [fba066]

That all without desert have frown’d on me;   [fba067]

Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all.

I do not know that Englishman alive

With whom my soul is any jot at odds    ·fba070·

More than the infant that is born to-night:

I thank my God for my humility.

_Q. Eliz._ A holy day shall this be kept hereafter:   [fba073]

I would to God all strifes were well compounded.   [fba074]

My sovereign liege, I do beseech your majesty   [fba075]

To take our brother Clarence to your grace.

_Glou._ Why, madam, have I offer’d love for this,

To be so flouted in this royal presence?   [fba078]

Who knows not that the noble duke is dead?   [fba079]

[_They all start._

You do him injury to scorn his corse.    ·fba080·

_Riv._ Who knows not he is dead! who knows he is?   [fba081]

_Q. Eliz._ All-seeing heaven, what a world is this!

_Buck._ Look I so pale, Lord Dorset, as the rest?

_Dor._ Ay, my good lord; and no one in this presence   [fba084]

But his red colour hath forsook his cheeks.    ·fba085·

_K. Edw._ Is Clarence dead? the order was reversed.

_Glou._ But he, poor soul, by your first order died,   [fba087]

And that a winged Mercury did bear;   [fba088]

Some tardy cripple bore the countermand,   [fba089]

That came too lag to see him buried.   [fba090]

God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,

Nearer in bloody thoughts, but not in blood,   [fba092]

Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,   [fba093]

And yet go current from suspicion!   [fba094]

_Enter_ DERBY.

_Der._ A boon, my sovereign, for my service done!    ·fba095·

_K. Edw._ I pray thee, peace: my soul is full of sorrow.   [fba096]

_Der._ I will not rise, unless your highness grant.   [fba097]

_K. Edw._ Then speak at once what is it thou demand’st.   [fba098]

_Der._ The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant’s life;   [fba099]

Who slew to-day a riotous gentleman    ·fba100·

Lately attendant on the Duke of Norfolk.   [fba101]

_K. Edw._ Have I a tongue to doom my brother’s death,

And shall that tongue give pardon to a slave?   [fba103]

My brother slew no man; his fault was thought,   [fba104]

And yet his punishment was cruel death.   [fba105]

Who sued to me for him? who, in my rage,   [fba106]

Kneel’d at my feet and bade me be advised?   [fba107]

Who spake of brotherhood? who spake of love?   [fba108]

Who told me how the poor soul did forsake

The mighty Warwick, and did fight for me?    ·fba110·

Who told me, in the field by Tewksbury,   [fba111]

When Oxford had me down, he rescued me,

And said ‘Dear brother, live, and be a king’?

Who told me, when we both lay in the field   [fba114]

Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me   [fba115]

Even in his own garments, and gave himself,   [fba116]

All thin and naked, to the numb cold night?   [fba117]

All this from my remembrance brutish wrath

Sinfully pluck’d, and not a man of you

Had so much grace to put it in my mind.    ·fba120·

But when your carters or your waiting-vassals

Have done a drunken slaughter and defaced

The precious image of our dear Redeemer,   [fba123]

You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon;

And I, unjustly too, must grant it you:    ·fba125·

But for my brother not a man would speak,   [fba126]

Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself   [fba127]

For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all   [fba128]

Have been beholding to him in his life;   [fba129]

Yet none of you would once plead for his life.   [fba130]

O God, I fear thy justice will take hold

On me, and you, and mine, and yours for this!   [fba132]

Come, Hastings, help me to my closet. Oh, poor Clarence!   [fba133]

[_Exeunt some with King and Queen._

_Glou._ This is the fruit of rashness. Mark’d you not   [fba134]

How that the guilty kindred of the queen   [fba135]

Look’d pale when they did hear of Clarence’ death?   [fba136]

O, they did urge it still unto the king!

God will revenge it. But come, let us in,   [fba138]

To comfort Edward with our company.

_Buck._ We wait upon your grace. [_Exeunt._   [fba140]

SCENE II. _The palace_.

_Enter the_ DUCHESS OF YORK, _with the two children of_

CLARENCE.

_Boy._ Tell me, good grandam, is our father dead?   [fbb001]

_Duch._ No, boy.

_Boy._ Why do you wring your hands, and beat your breast,   [fbb003]

And cry ‘O Clarence, my unhappy son’?

_Girl._ Why do you look on us, and shake your head,   [fbb005]

And call us wretches, orphans, castaways,   [fbb006]

If that our noble father be alive?   [fbb007]

_Duch._ My pretty cousins, you mistake me much.   [fbb008]

I do lament the sickness of the king,

As loath to lose him; not your father’s death;   [fbb010]

It were lost sorrow to wail one that’s lost.   [fbb011]

_Boy._ Then, grandam, you conclude that he is dead.   [fbb012]

The king my uncle is to blame for this:   [fbb013]

God will revenge it; whom I will importune

With daily prayers all to that effect.   [fbb015]

_Girl._ And so will I.   [fbb016]

_Duch._ Peace, children, peace! the king doth love you well:

Incapable and shallow innocents,

You cannot guess who caused your father’s death.

_Boy._ Grandam, we can; for my good uncle Gloucester   [fbb020]

Told me, the king, provoked by the queen,   [fbb021]

Devised impeachments to imprison him:

And when my uncle told me so, he wept,   [fbb023]

And hugg’d me in his arm, and kindly kiss’d my cheek;   [fbb024]

Bade me rely on him as on my father,   [fbb025]

And he would love me dearly as his child.   [fbb026]

_Duch._ Oh, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes,   [fbb027]

And with a virtuous vizard hide foul guile!   [fbb028]

He is my son; yea, and therein my shame;   [fbb029]

Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit.    ·fbb030·

_Boy._ Think you my uncle did dissemble, grandam?

_Duch._ Ay, boy.

_Boy._ I cannot think it. Hark! what noise is this?   [fbb033]

_Enter_ QUEEN ELIZABETH, _with her hair about her ears;_

RIVERS _and_ DORSET _after her_.

_Q. Eliz._ Oh, who shall hinder me to wail and weep,   [fbb034]

To chide my fortune and torment myself?    ·fbb035·

I’ll join with black despair against my soul,   [fbb036]

And to myself become an enemy.   [fbb037]

_Duch._ What means this scene of rude impatience?

_Q. Eliz._ To make an act of tragic violence:

Edward, my lord, your son, our king, is dead.   [fbb040]

Why grow the branches now the root is wither’d?   [fbb041]

Why wither not the leaves the sap being gone?   [fbb042]

If you will live, lament; if die, be brief,

That our swift-winged souls may catch the king’s,

Or, like obedient subjects, follow him    ·fbb045·

To his new kingdom of perpetual rest.   [fbb046]

_Duch._ Ah, so much interest have I in thy sorrow   [fbb047]

As I had title in thy noble husband!   [fbb048]

I have bewept a worthy husband’s death,

And lived by looking on his images:   [fbb050]

But now two mirrors of his princely semblance

Are crack’d in pieces by malignant death,

And I for comfort have but one false glass,

Which grieves me when I see my shame in him.   [fbb054]

Thou art a widow; yet thou art a mother,    ·fbb055·

And hast the comfort of thy children left thee:   [fbb056]

But death hath snatch’d my husband from mine arms,   [fbb057]

And pluck’d two crutches from my feeble limbs,   [fbb058]

Edward and Clarence. O, what cause have I,   [fbb059]

Thine being but a moiety of my grief,   [fbb060]

To overgo thy plaints and drown thy cries!   [fbb061]

_Boy._ Good aunt, you wept not for our father’s death,   [fbb062]

How can we aid you with our kindred tears?   [fbb063]

_Girl._ Our fatherless distress was left unmoan’d;   [fbb064]

Your widow-dolour likewise be unwept!   [fbb065]

_Q. Eliz._ Give me no help in lamentation;

I am not barren to bring forth complaints:   [fbb067]

All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes,   [fbb068]

That I, being govern’d by the watery moon,   [fbb069]

May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world!    ·fbb070·

Oh for my husband, for my dear lord Edward!   [fbb071]

_Chil._ Oh for our father, for our dear lord Clarence!   [fbb072]

_Duch._ Alas for both, both mine, Edward and Clarence!   [fbb073]

_Q. Eliz._ What stay had I but Edward? and he’s gone.   [fbb074]

_Chil._ What stay had we but Clarence? and he’s gone.    ·fbb075·

_Duch._ What stays had I but they? and they are gone.   [fbb076]

_Q. Eliz._ Was never widow had so dear a loss.   [fbb077]

_Chil._ Were never orphans had so dear a loss.   [fbb078]

_Duch._ Was never mother had so dear a loss.   [fbb079]

Alas, I am the mother of these moans!   [fbb080]

Their woes are parcell’d, mine are general.   [fbb081]

She for an Edward weeps, and so do I;   [fbb082]

I for a Clarence weep, so doth not she:   [fbb083]

These babes for Clarence weep, and so do I;   [fbb084]

I for an Edward weep, so do not they:   [fbb085]

Alas, you three, on me threefold distress’d

Pour all your tears! I am your sorrow’s nurse,   [fbb087]

And I will pamper it with lamentations.   [fbb088]

_Dor._ Comfort, dear mother: God is much displeased   [fbb089]

That you take with unthankfulness his doing:   [fbb090]

In common worldly things, ’tis call’d ungrateful,

With dull unwillingness to repay a debt   [fbb092]

Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent;

Much more to be thus opposite with heaven,

For it requires the royal debt it lent you.    ·fbb095·

_Riv._ Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother,

Of the young prince your son: send straight for him;

Let him be crown’d; in him your comfort lives:

Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward’s grave,

And plant your joys in living Edward’s throne.   [fbb100]

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER, BUCKINGHAM, DERBY, HASTINGS, _and_

RATCLIFF.

_Glou._ Madam, have comfort: all of us have cause   [fbb101]

To wail the dimming of our shining star;

But none can cure their harms by wailing them.   [fbb103]

Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy;

I did not see your grace: humbly on my knee   [fbb105]

I crave your blessing.

_Duch._ God bless thee, and put meekness in thy mind,   [fbb107]

Love, charity, obedience, and true duty!

_Glou._ [_Aside_] Amen; and make me die a good old man!   [fbb109]

That is the butt-end of a mother’s blessing:   [fbb110]

I marvel why her grace did leave it out.   [fbb111]

_Buck._ You cloudy princes and heart-sorrowing peers,

That bear this mutual heavy load of moan,   [fbb113]

Now cheer each other in each other’s love:   [fbb114]

Though we have spent our harvest of this king,   [fbb115]

We are to reap the harvest of his son.   [fbb116]

The broken rancour of your high-swoln hearts,   [fbb117]

But lately splinter’d, knit and join’d together,   [fbb118]

Must gently be preserved, cherish’d, and kept:   [fbb119]

Me seemeth good, that, with some little train,    ·fbb120·

Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fetch’d   [fbb121]

Hither to London, to be crown’d our king.

_Riv._ Why with some little train, my Lord of Buckingham?   [fbb123]

_Buck._ Marry, my lord, lest, by a multitude,

The new-heal’d wound of malice should break out;    ·fbb125·

Which would be so much the more dangerous,

By how much the estate is green and yet ungovern’d:   [fbb127]

Where every horse bears his commanding rein,

And may direct his course as please himself,

As well the fear of harm as harm apparent,    ·fbb130·

In my opinion, ought to be prevented.

_Glou._ I hope the king made peace with all of us;   [fbb132]

And the compact is firm and true in me.

_Riv._ And so in me; and so, I think, in all:   [fbb134]

Yet, since it is but green, it should be put    ·fbb135·

To no apparent likelihood of breach,

Which haply by much company might be urged:

Therefore I say with noble Buckingham,

That it is meet so few should fetch the prince.   [fbb139]

_Hast._ And so say I.    ·fbb140·

_Glou._ Then be it so; and go we to determine

Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow.   [fbb142]

Madam, and you, my mother, will you go   [fbb143]

To give your censures in this weighty business?   [fbb144]

_Q. Eliz. & Duch._ With all our hearts.   [fbb145]

[_Exeunt all but Buckingham and Gloucester._

_Buck._ My lord, whoever journeys to the prince,

For God’s sake, let not us two be behind;   [fbb147]

For, by the way, I’ll sort occasion,

As index to the story we late talk’d of,   [fbb149]

To part the queen’s proud kindred from the king.   [fbb150]

_Glou._ My other self, my counsel’s consistory,

My oracle, my prophet!--My dear cousin,   [fbb152]

I, like a child, will go by thy direction.   [fbb153]

Towards Ludlow then, for we’ll not stay behind. [_Exeunt._   [fbb154]

SCENE III. _London. A street_.

_Enter two_ Citizens, _meeting_.

_First Cit._ Neighbour, well met: whither away so fast?   [fbc001]

_Sec. Cit._ I promise you, I scarcely know myself:   [fbc002]

Hear you the news abroad?

_First Cit._ Ay, that the king is dead.   [fbc003]

_Sec. Cit._ Bad news, by’r lady, seldom comes the better:   [fbc004]

I fear, I fear, ’twill prove a troublous world.   [fbc005]

_Enter another_ Citizen.

_Third Cit._ Neighbours, God speed!

_First Cit._ Give you good morrow, sir.   [fbc006]

_Third Cit._ Doth this news hold of good King Edward’s death?  [fbc007]

_Sec. Cit._ Ay, sir, it is too true; God help the while!   [fbc008]

_Third Cit._ Then, masters, look to see a troublous world.   [fbc009]

_First Cit._ No, no; by God’s good grace his son shall reign.  [fbc010]

_Third Cit._ Woe to that land that’s govern’d by a child!

_Sec. Cit._ In him there is a hope of government,   [fbc012]

That in his nonage council under him,   [fbc013]

And in his full and ripen’d years himself,   [fbc014]

No doubt, shall then and till then govern well.    ·fbc015·

_First Cit._ So stood the state when Henry the Sixth   [fbc016]

Was crown’d in Paris but at nine months old.   [fbc017]

_Third Cit._ Stood the state so? No, no, good friends,

God wot;   [fbc018]

For then this land was famously enrich’d   [fbc019]

With politic grave counsel; then the king   [fbc020]

Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace.

_First Cit._ Why, so hath this, both by the father and mother. [fbc022]

_Third Cit._ Better it were they all came by the father,

Or by the father there were none at all;

For emulation now, who shall be nearest,   [fbc025]

Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not.   [fbc026]

O, full of danger is the Duke of Gloucester!

And the queen’s sons and brothers haught and proud:   [fbc028]

And were they to be ruled, and not to rule,   [fbc029]

This sickly land might solace as before.   [fbc030]

_First Cit._ Come, come, we fear the worst; all shall be well. [fbc031]

_Third Cit._ When clouds appear, wise men put on their cloaks; [fbc032]

When great leaves fall, the winter is at hand;   [fbc033]

When the sun sets, who doth not look for night?

Untimely storms make men expect a dearth.   [fbc035]

All may be well; but, if God sort it so,   [fbc036]

’Tis more than we deserve, or I expect.

_Sec. Cit._ Truly, the souls of men are full of dread:   [fbc038]

Ye cannot reason almost with a man   [fbc039]

That looks not heavily and full of fear.   [fbc040]

_Third Cit._ Before the times of change, still is it so:   [fbc041]

By a divine instinct men’s minds mistrust

Ensuing dangers; as, by proof, we see   [fbc043]

The waters swell before a boisterous storm.   [fbc044]

But leave it all to God. Whither away?   [fbc045]

_Sec. Cit._ Marry, we were sent for to the justices.   [fbc046]

_Third Cit._ And so was I: I’ll bear you company. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV. _London. The palace_.

_Enter the_ ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, _the young_ DUKE OF YORK,

QUEEN ELIZABETH, _and the_ DUCHESS OF YORK.

_Arch._ Last night, I hear, they lay at Northampton;   [fbd001]

At Stony-Stratford will they be to-night:

To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.   [fbd003]

_Duch._ I long with all my heart to see the prince:

I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.   [fbd005]

_Q. Eliz._ But I hear, no; they say my son of York   [fbd006]

Hath almost overta’en him in his growth.   [fbd007]

_York._ Ay, mother; but I would not have it so.

_Duch._ Why, my young cousin, it is good to grow.   [fbd009]

_York._ Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper,   [fbd010]

My uncle Rivers talk’d how I did grow

More than my brother: ‘Ay,’ quoth my uncle Gloucester,   [fbd012]

‘Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:’   [fbd013]

And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast,

Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.    ·fbd015·

_Duch._ Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold

In him that did object the same to thee:

He was the wretched’st thing when he was young,

So long a-growing and so leisurely,

That, if this rule were true, he should be gracious.   [fbd020]

_Arch._ Why, madam, so, no doubt, he is.   [fbd021]

_Duch._ I hope so too; but yet let mothers doubt.   [fbd022]

_York._ Now, by my troth, if I had been remember’d,

I could have given my uncle’s grace a flout,

To touch his growth nearer than he touch’d mine.   [fbd025]

_Duch._ How, my pretty York? I pray thee, let me hear it.   [fbd026]

_York._ Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast   [fbd027]

That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old:   [fbd028]

’Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.

Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.   [fbd030]

_Duch._ I pray thee, pretty York, who told thee this?   [fbd031]

_York._ Grandam, his nurse.

_Duch._ His nurse! why, she was dead ere thou wert born.   [fbd033]

_York._ If ’twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

_Q. Eliz._ A parlous boy: go to, you are too shrewd.   [fbd035]

_Arch._ Good madam, be not angry with the child.   [fbd036]

_Q. Eliz._ Pitchers have ears.   [fbd037]

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Arch._ Here comes a messenger. What news?   [fbd038]

_Mess._ Such news, my lord, as grieves me to unfold.   [fbd039]

_Q. Eliz._ How fares the prince?

_Mess._ Well, madam, and in health.   [fbd040]

_Duch._ What is thy news then?   [fbd041]

_Mess._ Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,   [fbd042]

With them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

_Duch._ Who hath committed them?

_Mess._ The mighty dukes   [fbd044]

Gloucester and Buckingham.

_Q. Eliz._ For what offence?   [fbd045]

_Mess._ The sum of all I can, I have disclosed;

Why or for what these nobles were committed   [fbd047]

Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady.   [fbd048]

_Q. Eliz._ Ay me, I see the downfall of our house!   [fbd049]

The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind;   [fbd050]

Insulting tyranny begins to jet   [fbd051]

Upon the innocent and aweless throne:   [fbd052]

Welcome, destruction, death, and massacre!   [fbd053]

I see, as in a map, the end of all.

_Duch._ Accursed and unquiet wrangling days,    ·fbd055·

How many of you have mine eyes beheld!

My husband lost his life to get the crown;

And often up and down my sons were toss’d,   [fbd058]

For me to joy and weep their gain and loss:   [fbd059]

And being seated, and domestic broils   [fbd060]

Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors,

Make war upon themselves; blood against blood,   [fbd062]

Self against self: O, preposterous   [fbd063]

And frantic outrage, end thy damned spleen;   [fbd064]

Or let me die, to look on death no more!   [fbd065]

_Q. Eliz._ Come, come, my boy; we will to sanctuary.

Madam, farewell.

_Duch._ I’ll go along with you.   [fbd067]

_Q. Eliz._ You have no cause.

_Arch._ My gracious lady, go;   [fbd068]

And thither bear your treasure and your goods.   [fbd069]

For my part, I’ll resign unto your grace    ·fbd070·

The seal I keep: and so betide to me   [fbd071]

As well I tender you and all of yours!

Come, I’ll conduct you to the sanctuary. [_Exeunt._   [fbd073]

ACT III.

SCENE I. _London. A street_.

_The trumpets sound. Enter the young_ PRINCE, _the Dukes of_

GLOUCESTER _and_ BUCKINGHAM, CARDINAL BOURCHIER, CATESBY,

_and others_.

_Buck._ Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber.   [fca001]

_Glou._ Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts’ sovereign:

The weary way hath made you melancholy.

_Prince._ No, uncle; but our crosses on the way

Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy:   [fca005]

I want more uncles here to welcome me.

_Glou._ Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years

Hath not yet dived into the world’s deceit:   [fca008]

Nor more can you distinguish of a man   [fca009]

Than of his outward show; which, God he knows,    ·fca010·

Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart.

Those uncles which you want were dangerous;

Your grace attended to their sugar’d words,

But look’d not on the poison of their hearts:

God keep you from them, and from such false friends!    ·fca015·

_Prince._ God keep me from false friends! but they were none.  [fca016]

_Glou._ My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you.   [fca017]

_Enter the_ Lord Mayor, _and his train_.

_May._ God bless your grace with health and happy days!

_Prince._ I thank you, good my lord; and thank you all.   [fca019]

I thought my mother and my brother York    ·fca020·

Would long ere this have met us on the way:

Fie, what a slug is Hastings, that he comes not

To tell us whether they will come or no!

_Enter_ LORD HASTINGS.

_Buck._ And, in good time, here comes the sweating lord.

_Prince._ Welcome, my lord: what, will our mother come?    ·fca025·

_Hast._ On what occasion, God he knows, not I,

The queen your mother and your brother York

Have taken sanctuary: the tender prince   [fca028]

Would fain have come with me to meet your grace,   [fca029]

But by his mother was perforce withheld.    ·fca030·

_Buck._ Fie, what an indirect and peevish course   [fca031]

Is this of hers! Lord cardinal, will your grace

Persuade the queen to send the Duke of York   [fca033]

Unto his princely brother presently?

If she deny, Lord Hastings, go with him,   [fca035]

And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce.

_Card._ My Lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory

Can from his mother win the Duke of York,   [fca038]

Anon expect him here; but if she be obdurate   [fca039]

To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid   [fca040]

We should infringe the holy privilege

Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land   [fca042]

Would I be guilty of so deep a sin.   [fca043]

_Buck._ You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord,   [fca044]

Too ceremonious and traditional:    ·fca045·

Weigh it but with the grossness of this age,   [fca046]

You break not sanctuary in seizing him.

The benefit thereof is always granted

To those whose dealings have deserved the place

And those who have the wit to claim the place:    ·fca050·

This prince hath neither claim’d it nor deserved it;

And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it:   [fca052]

Then, taking him from thence that is not there,   [fca053]

You break no privilege nor charter there.

Oft have I heard of sanctuary men;    ·fca055·

But sanctuary children ne’er till now.   [fca056]

_Card._ My lord, you shall o’er-rule my mind for once.   [fca057]

Come on, Lord Hastings, will you go with me?

_Hast._ I go, my lord.

_Prince._ Good lords, make all the speedy haste you may.   [fca060]

[_Exeunt Cardinal and Hastings._

Say, uncle Gloucester, if our brother come,

Where shall we sojourn till our coronation?

_Glou._ Where it seems best unto your royal self.   [fca063]

If I may counsel you, some day or two   [fca064]

Your highness shall repose you at the Tower:    ·fca065·

Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit   [fca066]

For your best health and recreation.

_Prince._ I do not like the Tower, of any place.

Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord?

_Buck._ He did, my gracious lord, begin that place;   [fca070]

Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified.   [fca071]

_Prince._ Is it upon record, or else reported

Successively from age to age, he built it?

_Buck._ Upon record, my gracious lord.   [fca074]

_Prince._ But say, my lord, it were not register’d,    ·fca075·

Methinks the truth should live from age to age,

As ’twere retail’d to all posterity,   [fca077]

Even to the general all-ending day.   [fca078]

_Glou._ [_Aside_] So wise so young, they say, do never live

long.   [fca079]

_Prince._ What say you, uncle?    ·fca080·

_Glou._ I say, without characters, fame lives long.   [fca081]

[_Aside_] Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity,   [fca082]

I moralize two meanings in one word.   [fca083]

_Prince._ That Julius Cæsar was a famous man;

With what his valour did enrich his wit,    ·fca085·

His wit set down to make his valour live:

Death makes no conquest of this conqueror;   [fca087]

For now he lives in fame, though not in life.   [fca088]

I’ll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham,--

_Buck._ What, my gracious lord?   [fca090]

_Prince._ An if I live until I be a man,   [fca091]

I’ll win our ancient right in France again,

Or die a soldier, as I lived a king.

_Glou._ [_Aside_] Short summers lightly have a forward spring.   [fca094]

_Enter young_ YORK, HASTINGS, _and the_ CARDINAL.

_Buck._ Now, in good time, here comes the Duke of York.    ·fca095·

_Prince._ Richard of York! how fares our loving brother?   [fca096]

_York._ Well, my dread lord; so must I call you now.   [fca097]

_Prince._ Ay, brother, to our grief, as it is yours:

Too late he died that might have kept that title,   [fca099]

Which by his death hath lost much majesty.    ·fca100·

_Glou._ How fares our cousin, noble Lord of York?

_York._ I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord,

You said that idle weeds are fast in growth:

The prince my brother hath outgrown me far.   [fca104]

_Glou._ He hath, my lord.

_York._ And therefore is he idle?    ·fca105·

_Glou._ O, my fair cousin, I must not say so.

_York._ Then is he more beholding to you than I.   [fca107]

_Glou._ He may command me as my sovereign;

But you have power in me as in a kinsman.   [fca109]

_York._ I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger.   [fca110]

_Glou._ My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart.

_Prince._ A beggar, brother?

_York._ Of my kind uncle, that I know will give;   [fca113]

And being but a toy, which is no grief to give.   [fca114]

_Glou._ A greater gift than that I’ll give my cousin.    ·fca115·

_York._ A greater gift! O, that’s the sword to it.   [fca116]

_Glou._ Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough.

_York._ O, then, I see, you will part but with light gifts;   [fca118]

In weightier things you’ll say a beggar nay.

_Glou._ It is too heavy for your grace to wear.   [fca120]

_York._ I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.   [fca121]

_Glou._ What, would you have my weapon, little lord?

_York._ I would, that I might thank you as you call me.   [fca123]

_Glou._ How?

_York._ Little.    ·fca125·

_Prince._ My Lord of York will still be cross in talk:

Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him.

_York._ You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me:

Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me;

Because that I am little, like an ape,    ·fca130·

He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders.

_Buck._ With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons!   [fca132]

To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,   [fca133]

He prettily and aptly taunts himself:

So cunning and so young is wonderful.    ·fca135·

_Glou._ My lord, will’t please you pass along?   [fca136]

Myself and my good cousin Buckingham

Will to your mother, to entreat of her

To meet you at the Tower and welcome you.

_York._ What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord?    ·fca140·

_Prince._ My lord protector needs will have it so.   [fca141]

_York._ I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower.

_Glou._ Why, what should you fear?   [fca143]

_York._ Marry, my uncle Clarence’ angry ghost:   [fca144]

My grandam told me he was murder’d there.   [fca145]

_Prince._ I fear no uncles dead.

_Glou._ Nor none that live, I hope.

_Prince._ An if they live, I hope I need not fear.   [fca148]

But come, my lord; and with a heavy heart,   [fca149]

Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.   [fca150]

[_A Sennet. Exeunt all but Gloucester, Buckingham and

Catesby._

_Buck._ Think you, my lord, this little prating York   [fca151]

Was not incensed by his subtle mother

To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?

_Glou._ No doubt, no doubt: O, ’tis a parlous boy;   [fca154]

Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable:    ·fca155·

He is all the mother’s, from the top to toe.

_Buck._ Well, let them rest. Come hither, Catesby.   [fca157]

Thou art sworn as deeply to effect what we intend   [fca158]

As closely to conceal what we impart:

Thou know’st our reasons urged upon the way;   [fca160]

What think’st thou? is it not an easy matter   [fca161]

To make William Lord Hastings of our mind,   [fca162]

For the instalment of this noble duke

In the seat royal of this famous isle?

_Cate._ He for his father’s sake so loves the prince    ·fca165·

That he will not be won to aught against him.

_Buck._ What think’st thou then of Stanley? what will he?   [fca167]

_Cate._ He will do all in all as Hastings doth.

_Buck._ Well, then, no more but this: go, gentle Catesby,   [fca169]

And, as it were far off, sound thou Lord Hastings,   [fca170]

How he doth stand affected to our purpose;   [fca171]

And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,   [fca172]

To sit about the coronation.

If thou dost find him tractable to us,

Encourage him, and show him all our reasons:   [fca175]

If he be leaden, icy-cold, unwilling,   [fca176]

Be thou so too; and so break off your talk,   [fca177]

And give us notice of his inclination:

For we to-morrow hold divided councils,

Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ’d.   [fca180]

_Glou._ Commend me to Lord William: tell him, Catesby,

His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries

To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle;

And bid my friend, for joy of this good news,   [fca184]

Give Mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.   [fca185]

_Buck._ Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly.   [fca186]

_Cate._ My good lords both, with all the heed I may.   [fca187]

_Glou._ Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?   [fca188]

_Cate._ You shall, my lord.

_Glou._ At Crosby Place, there shall you find us both.   [fca190]

[_Exit Catesby._

_Buck._ Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we perceive   [fca191]

Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?   [fca192]

_Glou._ Chop off his head, man; somewhat we will do:   [fca193]

And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me

The earldom of Hereford, and the moveables   [fca195]

Whereof the king my brother stood possess’d.   [fca196]

_Buck._ I’ll claim that promise at your grace’s hands.   [fca197]

_Glou._ And look to have it yielded with all willingness.   [fca198]

Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards

We may digest our complots in some form. [_Exeunt._   [fca200]

SCENE II. _Before Lord Hastings’ house_.

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ What, ho! my lord!   [fcb001]

_Hast._ [_Within_] Who knocks at the door?   [fcb002]

_Mess._ A messenger from the Lord Stanley.   [fcb003]

_Enter_ LORD HASTINGS.

_Hast._ What is’t o’clock?   [fcb004]

_Mess._ Upon the stroke of four.    ·fcb005·

_Hast._ Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights?   [fcb006]

_Mess._ So it should seem by that I have to say.   [fcb007]

First, he commends him to your noble lordship.   [fcb008]

_Hast._ And then?   [fcb009]

_Mess._ And then he sends you word   [fcb010]

He dreamt to-night the boar had razed his helm:   [fcb011]

Besides, he says there are two councils held;   [fcb012]

And that may be determined at the one   [fcb013]

Which may make you and him to rue at the other.

Therefore he sends to know your lordship’s pleasure,    ·fcb015·

If presently you will take horse with him,   [fcb016]

And with all speed post with him toward the north,   [fcb017]

To shun the danger that his soul divines.

_Hast._ Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;   [fcb019]

Bid him not fear the separated councils:   [fcb020]

His honour and myself are at the one,

And at the other is my servant Catesby;   [fcb022]

Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us

Whereof I shall not have intelligence.

Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance:   [fcb025]

And for his dreams, I wonder he is so fond   [fcb026]

To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers:

To fly the boar before the boar pursues,   [fcb028]

Were to incense the boar to follow us

And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.   [fcb030]

Go, bid thy master rise and come to me;

And we will both together to the Tower,

Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.

_Mess._ My gracious lord, I’ll tell him what you say.   [fcb034]

[_Exit._

_Enter_ CATESBY.

_Cate._ Many good morrows to my noble lord!    ·fcb035·

_Hast._ Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring:

What news, what news, in this our tottering state?

_Cate._ It is a reeling world indeed, my lord;

And I believe ’twill never stand upright   [fcb039]

Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.    ·fcb040·

_Hast._ How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown?   [fcb041]

_Cate._ Ay, my good lord.

_Hast._ I’ll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders

Ere I will see the crown so foul misplaced.   [fcb044]

But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?    ·fcb045·

_Cate._ Ay, on my life, and hopes to find you forward   [fcb046]

Upon his party for the gain thereof:

And thereupon he sends you this good news,

That this same very day your enemies,

The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.    ·fcb050·

_Hast._ Indeed, I am no mourner for that news,   [fcb051]

Because they have been still mine enemies:   [fcb052]

But, that I’ll give my voice on Richard’s side,

To bar my master’s heirs in true descent,

God knows I will not do it, to the death.    ·fcb055·

_Cate._ God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

_Hast._ But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence,

That they who brought me in my master’s hate,   [fcb058]

I live to look upon their tragedy.

I tell thee, Catesby,--   [fcb060]

_Cate._ What, my lord?

_Hast._ Ere a fortnight make me elder,   [fcb062]

I’ll send some packing that yet think not on it.   [fcb063]

_Cate._ ’Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,

When men are unprepared and look not for it.    ·fcb065·

_Hast._ O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out   [fcb066]

With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so ’twill do

With some men else, who think themselves as safe   [fcb068]

As thou and I; who, as thou know’st, are dear   [fcb069]

To princely Richard and to Buckingham.   [fcb070]

_Cate._ The princes both make high account of you;

[_Aside_] For they account his head upon the bridge.   [fcb072]

_Hast._ I know they do; and I have well deserved it.   [fcb073]

_Enter_ LORD STANLEY.

Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man?   [fcb074]

Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?   [fcb075]

_Stan._ My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby:   [fcb076]

You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,

I do not like these several councils, I.

_Hast._ My lord,   [fcb079]

I hold my life as dear as you do yours;   [fcb080]

And never in my life, I do protest,   [fcb081]

Was it more precious to me than ’tis now:   [fcb082]

Think you, but that I know our state secure,   [fcb083]

I would be so triumphant as I am?

_Stan._ The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,   [fcb085]

Were jocund and supposed their state was sure,   [fcb086]

And they indeed had no cause to mistrust;   [fcb087]

But yet, you see, how soon the day o’ercast.   [fcb088]

This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt:   [fcb089]

Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!   [fcb090]

What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.   [fcb091]

_Hast._ Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my lord?   [fcb092]

To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded.   [fcb093]

_Stan._ They, for their truth, might better wear their heads

Than some that have accused them wear their hats.   [fcb095]

But come, my lord, let us away.   [fcb096]

_Enter a_ Pursuivant.

_Hast._ Go on before; I’ll talk with this good fellow.   [fcb097]

[_Exeunt Stanley and Catesby._

How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee?   [fcb098]

_Purs._ The better that your lordship please to ask.   [fcb099]

_Hast._ I tell thee, man, ’tis better with me now   [fcb100]

Than when I met thee last where now we meet:   [fcb101]

Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,

By the suggestion of the queen’s allies;

But now, I tell thee--keep it to thyself--

This day those enemies are put to death,    ·fcb105·

And I in better state than e’er I was.   [fcb106]

_Purs._ God hold it, to your honour’s good content!

_Hast._ Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for me.   [fcb108]

[_Throws him his purse._

_Purs._ God save your lordship. [_Exit._   [fcb109]

_Enter a_ Priest.

_Priest._ Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour.   [fcb110]

_Hast._ I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart.

I am in your debt for your last exercise;   [fcb112]

Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.   [fcb113]

[_He whispers in his ear._

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM.

_Buck._ What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain?   [fcb114]

Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;    ·fcb115·

Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.   [fcb116]

_Hast._ Good faith, and when I met this holy man,

Those men you talk of came into my mind.   [fcb118]

What, go you toward the Tower?   [fcb119]

_Buck._ I do, my lord; but long I shall not stay:   [fcb120]

I shall return before your lordship thence.

_Hast._’Tis like enough, for I stay dinner there.   [fcb122]

_Buck._ [_Aside_] And supper too, although thou know’st it

not.   [fcb123]

Come, will you go?

_Hast._ I’ll wait upon your lordship. [_Exeunt._   [fcb124]

SCENE III. _Pomfret Castle_.

_Enter_ SIR RICHARD RATCLIFF, _with halberds, carrying_ RIVERS,

GREY, _and_ VAUGHAN _to death_.

_Rat._ Come, bring forth the prisoners.   [fcc001]

_Riv._ Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this:

To-day shalt thou behold a subject die

For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.

_Grey._ God keep the prince from all the pack of you!   [fcc005]

A knot you are of damned blood-suckers.

_Vaug._ You live that shall cry woe for this hereafter.   [fcc007]

_Rat._ Dispatch; the limit of your lives is out.

_Riv._ O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison,

Fatal and ominous to noble peers!   [fcc010]

Within the guilty closure of thy walls

Richard the second here was hack’d to death;

And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,   [fcc013]

We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink.   [fcc014]

_Grey._ Now Margaret’s curse is fall’n upon our heads,   [fcc015]

For standing by when Richard stabb’d her son.

_Riv._ Then cursed she Hastings, then cursed she Buckingham,   [fcc017]

Then cursed she Richard. O, remember, God,   [fcc018]

To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!   [fcc019]

And for my sister and her princely sons,   [fcc020]

Be satisfied, dear God, with our true blood,   [fcc021]

Which, as thou know’st, unjustly must be spilt.

_Rat._ Make haste; the hour of death is expiate.   [fcc023]

_Riv._ Come, Grey, come, Vaughan, let us all embrace:   [fcc024]

And take our leave, until we meet in heaven. [_Exeunt._   [fcc025]

SCENE IV. _The Tower of London_.

_Enter_ BUCKINGHAM, DERBY, HASTINGS, _the_ BISHOP OF ELY,

RATCLIFF, LOVEL, _with others, and take their seats at a table_.

_Hast._ My lords, at once: the cause why we are met   [fcd001]

Is, to determine of the coronation.

In God’s name, speak: when is the royal day?   [fcd003]

_Buck._ Are all things fitting for that royal time?   [fcd004]

_Der._ It is, and wants but nomination.   [fcd005]

_Ely._ To-morrow then I judge a happy day.   [fcd006]

_Buck._ Who knows the lord protector’s mind herein?

Who is most inward with the noble duke?

_Ely._ Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.   [fcd009]

_Buck._ Who, I, my lord! We know each other’s faces,   [fcd010]

But for our hearts, he knows no more of mine

Than I of yours;

Nor I no more of his, than you of mine.

Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.

_Hast._ I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;    ·fcd015·

But, for his purpose in the coronation,

I have not sounded him, nor he deliver’d

His gracious pleasure any way therein:   [fcd018]

But you, my noble lords, may name the time;   [fcd019]

And in the duke’s behalf I’ll give my voice,    ·fcd020·

Which, I presume, he’ll take in gentle part.   [fcd021]

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER.

_Ely._ Now in good time, here comes the duke himself.   [fcd022]

_Glou._ My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow.   [fcd023]

I have been long a sleeper; but, I hope,   [fcd024]

My absence doth neglect no great designs,   [fcd025]

Which by my presence might have been concluded.

_Buck._ Had not you come upon your cue, my lord,   [fcd027]

William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part,--   [fcd028]

I mean, your voice,--for crowning of the king.   [fcd029]

_Glou._ Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder;   [fcd030]

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.

_Hast._ I thank your grace.

_Glou._ My Lord of Ely!

_Ely._ My lord?   [fcd032]

_Glou._ When I was last in Holborn,

I saw good strawberries in your garden there:   [fcd034]

I do beseech you send for some of them.   [fcd035]

_Ely._ Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.   [fcd036]

[_Exit._

_Glou._ Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.   [fcd037]

[_Drawing him aside._

Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,

And finds the testy gentleman so hot,   [fcd039]

As he will lose his head ere give consent   [fcd040]

His master’s son, as worshipful he terms it,   [fcd041]

Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.

_Buck._ Withdraw you hence, my lord, I’ll follow you.   [fcd043]

[_Exit Gloucester, Buckingham following._

_Der._ We have not yet set down this day of triumph.

To-morrow, in mine opinion, is too sudden;   [fcd045]

For I myself am not so well provided

As else I would be, were the day prolong’d.   [fcd047]

_Re-enter_ BISHOP OF ELY.

_Ely._ Where is my lord protector? I have sent for   [fcd048]

these strawberries.   [fcd049]

_Hast._ His grace looks cheerfully and smooth to-day;   [fcd050]

There’s some conceit or other likes him well,

When he doth bid good morrow with such a spirit.   [fcd052]

I think there’s never a man in Christendom   [fcd053]

That can less hide his love or hate than he;   [fcd054]

For by his face straight shall you know his heart.    ·fcd055·

_Der._ What of his heart perceive you in his face

By any likelihood he show’d to-day?   [fcd057]

_Hast._ Marry, that with no man here he is offended;   [fcd058]

For, were he, he had shown it in his looks.   [fcd059]

_Der._ I pray God he be not, I say.   [fcd060]

_Re-enter_ GLOUCESTER _and_ BUCKINGHAM.

_Glou._ I pray you all, tell me what they deserve   [fcd061]

That do conspire my death with devilish plots

Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevail’d

Upon my body with their hellish charms?

_Hast._ The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,    ·fcd065·

Makes me most forward in this noble presence   [fcd066]

To doom the offenders, whatsoever they be:   [fcd067]

I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

_Glou._ Then be your eyes the witness of this ill:   [fcd069]

See how I am bewitch’d; behold, mine arm   [fcd070]

Is like a blasted sapling, wither’d up:   [fcd071]

And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch,   [fcd072]

Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore,   [fcd073]

That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.   [fcd074]

_Hast._ If they have done this thing, my gracious lord,--   [fcd075]

_Glou._ If! thou protector of this damned strumpet,

Tellest thou me of ‘ifs’? Thou art a traitor:   [fcd077]

Off with his head! Now, by Saint Paul I swear,   [fcd078]

I will not dine until I see the same.

Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done:    ·fcd080·

The rest that love me, rise and follow me.   [fcd081]

[_Exeunt all but Hastings, Ratcliff and Lovel._

_Hast._ Woe, woe for England! not a whit for me;

For I, too fond, might have prevented this.

Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm;   [fcd084]

But I disdain’d it, and did scorn to fly:   [fcd085]

Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,

And startled, when he look’d upon the Tower,   [fcd087]

As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.

O, now I want the priest that spake to me:   [fcd089]

I now repent I told the pursuivant,    ·fcd090·

As ’twere triumphing at mine enemies,   [fcd091]

How they at Pomfret bloodily were butcher’d,   [fcd092]

And I myself secure in grace and favour.

O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse

Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head!   [fcd095]

_Rat._ Dispatch, my lord; the duke would be at dinner:   [fcd096]

Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head.

_Hast._ O momentary grace of mortal men,   [fcd098]

Which we more hunt for than the grace of God!   [fcd099]

Who builds his hopes in air of your fair looks,   [fcd100]

Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,

Ready, with every nod, to tumble down

Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

_Lov._ Come, come, dispatch; ’tis bootless to exclaim.   [fcd104]

_Hast._ O bloody Richard! miserable England!    ·fcd105·

I prophesy the fearfull’st time to thee

That ever wretched age hath look’d upon.

Come, lead me to the block; bear him my head:

They smile at me that shortly shall be dead. [_Exeunt._   [fcd109]

SCENE V. _The Tower-walls_.

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER _and_ BUCKINGHAM, _in rotten armour, marvellous

ill-favoured_.

_Glou._ Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy

colour,   [fce001]

Murder thy breath in middle of a word,   [fce002]

And then begin again, and stop again,   [fce003]

As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?   [fce004]

_Buck._ Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,   [fce005]

Speak and look back, and pry on every side,

Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,   [fce007]

Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks   [fce008]

Are at my service, like enforced smiles;

And both are ready in their offices,   [fce010]

At any time, to grace my stratagems.

But what, is Catesby gone?

_Glou._ He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along.   [fce013]

_Enter the_ Mayor _and_ CATESBY.

_Buck._ Lord mayor,--   [fce014]

_Glou._ Look to the drawbridge there!    ·fce015·

_Buck._ Hark! a drum.   [fce016]

_Glou._ Catesby, o’erlook the walls.   [fce017]

_Buck._ Lord mayor, the reason we have sent--   [fce018]

_Glou._ Look back, defend thee, here are enemies.   [fce019]

_Buck._ God and our innocency defend and guard us!   [fce020]

_Glou._ Be patient, they are friends, Ratcliff and Lovel.   [fce021]

_Enter_ LOVEL _and_ RATCLIFF, _with_ HASTINGS’ _head_.

_Lov._ Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,   [fce022]

The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.

_Glou._ So dear I loved the man, that I must weep.

I took him for the plainest harmless creature   [fce025]

That breathed upon this earth a Christian;   [fce026]

Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded   [fce027]

The history of all her secret thoughts:

So smooth he daub’d his vice with show of virtue

That, his apparent open guilt omitted,    ·fce030·

I mean, his conversation with Shore’s wife,

He lived from all attainder of suspect.   [fce032]

_Buck._ Well, well, he was the covert’st shelter’d traitor   [fce033]

That ever lived.

Would you imagine, or almost believe,   [fce035]

Were’t not that, by great preservation,   [fce036]

We live to tell it you, the subtle traitor   [fce037]

This day had plotted, in the council-house   [fce038]

To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester?

_May._ What, had he so?   [fce040]

_Glou._ What, think you we are Turks or infidels?   [fce041]

Or that we would, against the form of law,   [fce042]

Proceed thus rashly to the villain’s death,   [fce043]

But that the extreme peril of the case,   [fce044]

The peace of England and our persons’ safety,    ·fce045·

Enforced us to this execution?   [fce046]

_May._ Now, fair befall you! he deserved his death;

And you, my good lords both, have well proceeded,   [fce048]

To warn false traitors from the like attempts.

I never look’d for better at his hands,   [fce050]

After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.

_Glou._ Yet had not we determined he should die,   [fce052]

Until your lordship came to see his death;   [fce053]

Which now the loving haste of these our friends,   [fce054]

Somewhat against our meaning, have prevented:   [fce055]

Because, my lord, we would have had you heard   [fce056]

The traitor speak and timorously confess

The manner and the purpose of his treason;   [fce058]

That you might well have signified the same

Unto the citizens, who haply may   [fce060]

Misconstrue us in him and wail his death.   [fce061]

_May._ But, my good lord, your grace’s word shall serve,   [fce062]

As well as I had seen and heard him speak:   [fce063]

And doubt you not, right noble princes both,   [fce064]

But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens   [fce065]

With all your just proceedings in this cause.   [fce066]

_Glou._ And to that end we wish’d your lordship here,   [fce067]

To avoid the carping censures of the world.   [fce068]

_Buck._ But since you come too late of our intents,   [fce069]

Yet witness what you hear we did intend:   [fce070]

And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell. [_Exit Mayor._

_Glou._ Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.   [fce072]

The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:

There, at your meet’st advantage of the time,   [fce074]

Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children:    ·fce075·

Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen,

Only for saying he would make his son

Heir to the crown, meaning indeed his house,

Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.

Moreover, urge his hateful luxury    ·fce080·

And bestial appetite in change of lust;   [fce081]

Which stretched to their servants, daughters, wives,   [fce082]

Even where his lustful eye or savage heart,   [fce083]

Without control, listed to make his prey.   [fce084]

Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:    ·fce085·

Tell them, when that my mother went with child

Of that unsatiate Edward, noble York   [fce087]

My princely father then had wars in France;   [fce088]

And, by just computation of the time,   [fce089]

Found that the issue was not his begot;    ·fce090·

Which well appeared in his lineaments,

Being nothing like the noble duke my father:

But touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off;   [fce093]

Because you know, my lord, my mother lives.   [fce094]

_Buck._ Fear not, my lord, I’ll play the orator   [fce095]

As if the golden fee for which I plead

Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu.   [fce097]

_Glou._ If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle;

Where you shall find me well accompanied

With reverend fathers and well-learned bishops.    ·fce100·

_Buck._ I go; and towards three or four o’clock   [fce101]

Look for the news that the Guildhall affords. [_Exit._   [fce102]

_Glou._ Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw;   [fce103]

[_To Cate._] Go thou to Friar Penker; bid them both   [fce104]

Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.   [fce105]

[_Exeunt all but Gloucester._

Now will I in, to take some privy order,   [fce106]

To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight;

And to give notice, that no manner of person   [fce108]

At any time have recourse unto the princes. [_Exit._   [fce109]

SCENE VI. _The same. A street_.

_Enter a_ Scrivener, _with a paper in his hand_.

_Scriv._ This is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings;   [fcf001]

Which in a set hand fairly is engross’d,

That it may be this day read o’er in Paul’s.   [fcf003]

And mark how well the sequel hangs together:

Eleven hours I spent to write it over,   [fcf005]

For yesternight by Catesby was it brought me;   [fcf006]

The precedent was full as long a-doing:   [fcf007]

And yet within these five hours lived Lord Hastings,   [fcf008]

Untainted, unexamined, free, at liberty.

Here’s a good world the while! Why who’s so gross,   [fcf010]

That seeth not this palpable device?   [fcf011]

Yet who’s so blind, but says he sees it not?   [fcf012]

Bad is the world; and all will come to nought,   [fcf013]

When such bad dealing must be seen in thought. [_Exit._   [fcf014]

SCENE VII. _Baynard’s Castle_.

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER _and_ BUCKINGHAM, _at several doors_.

_Glou._ How now, my lord, what say the citizens?   [fcg001]

_Buck._ Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,

The citizens are mum, and speak not a word.   [fcg003]

_Glou._ Touch’d you the bastardy of Edward’s children?

_Buck._ I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy,   [fcg005]

And his contract by deputy in France;

The insatiate greediness of his desires,   [fcg007]

And his enforcement of the city wives;   [fcg008]

His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,

As being got, your father then in France,    ·fcg010·

And his resemblance, being not like the duke:   [fcg011]

Withal I did infer your lineaments,

Being the right idea of your father,

Both in your form and nobleness of mind;   [fcg014]

Laid open all your victories in Scotland,   [fcg015]

Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,

Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;

Indeed left nothing fitting for the purpose   [fcg018]

Untouch’d or slightly handled in discourse:

And when mine oratory grew to an end,   [fcg020]

I bid them that did love their country’s good   [fcg021]

Cry ‘God save Richard, England’s royal king!’

_Glou._ Ah! and did they so?   [fcg023]

_Buck._ No, so God help me, they spake not a word;   [fcg024]

But, like dumb statuas or breathing stones,   [fcg025]

Gazed each on other, and look’d deadly pale.   [fcg026]

Which when I saw, I reprehended them;

And ask’d the mayor what meant this wilful silence:   [fcg028]

His answer was, the people were not wont   [fcg029]

To be spoke to but by the recorder.   [fcg030]

Then he was urged to tell my tale again:

‘Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr’d;’

But nothing spake in warrant from himself.   [fcg033]

When he had done, some followers of mine own

At the lower end of the hall hurl’d up their caps,   [fcg035]

And some ten voices cried ‘God save King Richard!’

And thus I took the vantage of those few,   [fcg037]

‘Thanks, gentle citizens and friends!’ quoth I,   [fcg038]

‘This general applause and loving shout   [fcg039]

Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard:’   [fcg040]

And even here brake off, and came away.   [fcg041]

_Glou._ What tongueless blocks were they! would they not

speak?   [fcg042]

_Buck._ No, by my troth, my lord.   [fcg043]

_Glou._ Will not the mayor then and his brethren come?

_Buck._ The mayor is here at hand: intend some fear;   [fcg045]

Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit:   [fcg046]

And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,

And stand betwixt two churchmen, good my lord;   [fcg048]

For on that ground I’ll build a holy descant:   [fcg049]

And be not easily won to our request;   [fcg050]

Play the maid’s part, still answer nay, and take it.   [fcg051]

_Glou._ I go; and if you plead as well for them   [fcg052]

As I can say nay to thee for myself,   [fcg053]

No doubt we’ll bring it to a happy issue.   [fcg054]

_Buck._ Go, go up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks.   [fcg055]

[_Exit Gloucester._

_Enter the_ Mayor _and_ Citizens.

Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here;   [fcg056]

I think the duke will not be spoke withal.   [fcg057]

_Enter_ CATESBY.

Here comes his servant: how now, Catesby,   [fcg058]

What says he?

_Cate._ My lord, he doth entreat your grace   [fcg059]

To visit him to-morrow or next day:    ·fcg060·

He is within, with two right reverend fathers,   [fcg061]

Divinely bent to meditation;

And in no worldly suit would he be moved,   [fcg063]

To draw him from his holy exercise.

_Buck._ Return, good Catesby, to thy lord again;   [fcg065]

Tell him, myself, the mayor and citizens,   [fcg066]

In deep designs and matters of great moment,   [fcg067]

No less importing than our general good,   [fcg068]

Are come to have some conference with his grace.

_Cate._ I’ll tell him what you say, my lord. [_Exit._   [fcg070]

_Buck._ Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!

He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,   [fcg072]

But on his knees at meditation;

Not dallying with a brace of courtezans,

But meditating with two deep divines;    ·fcg075·

Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,

But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:

Happy were England, would this gracious prince   [fcg078]

Take on himself the sovereignty thereof:   [fcg079]

But, sure, I fear, we shall ne’er win him to it.   [fcg080]

_May._ Marry, God forbid his grace should say us nay!   [fcg081]

_Buck._ I fear he will.   [fcg082]

_Re-enter_ CATESBY.

How now, Catesby, what says your lord?

_Cate._ My lord,   [fcg083]

He wonders to what end you have assembled

Such troops of citizens to speak with him,   [fcg085]

His grace not being warn’d thereof before:

My lord, he fears you mean no good to him.   [fcg087]

_Buck._ Sorry I am my noble cousin should

Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:

By heaven, I come in perfect love to him;   [fcg090]

And so once more return and tell his grace.   [fcg091]

[_Exit Catesby._

When holy and devout religious men

Are at their beads, ’tis hard to draw them thence,   [fcg093]

So sweet is zealous contemplation.   [fcg094]

_Enter_ GLOUCESTER _aloft, between two Bishops._ CATESBY

_returns_.

_May._ See, where he stands between two clergymen!   [fcg095]

_Buck._ Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,

To stay him from the fall of vanity:

And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,   [fcg098]

True ornaments to know a holy man.   [fcg099]

Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,    ·fcg100·

Lend favourable ears to our request;   [fcg101]

And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.

_Glou._ My lord, there needs no such apology:

I rather do beseech you pardon me,   [fcg105]

Who, earnest in the service of my God,   [fcg106]

Neglect the visitation of my friends.   [fcg107]

But, leaving this, what is your grace’s pleasure?

_Buck._ Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above

And all good men of this ungovern’d isle.    ·fcg110·

_Glou._ I do suspect I have done some offence

That seems disgracious in the city’s eyes,   [fcg112]

And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.

_Buck._ You have, my lord: would it might please your grace,   [fcg114]

At our entreaties, to amend that fault!   [fcg115]

_Glou._ Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?

_Buck._ Then know, it is your fault that you resign   [fcg117]

The supreme seat, the throne majestical,

The scepter’d office of your ancestors,   [fcg119]

Your state of fortune and your due of birth,   [fcg120]

The lineal glory of your royal house,

To the corruption of a blemish’d stock:

Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,   [fcg123]

Which here we waken to our country’s good,   [fcg124]

This noble isle doth want her proper limbs;   [fcg125]

Her face defaced with scars of infamy,   [fcg126]

Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,   [fcg127]

And almost shoulder’d in the swallowing gulf   [fcg128]

Of blind forgetfulness and dark oblivion.   [fcg129]

Which to recure, we heartily solicit   [fcg130]

Your gracious self to take on you the charge   [fcg131]

And kingly government of this your land;

Not as protector, steward, substitute,

Or lowly factor for another’s gain;   [fcg134]

But as successively, from blood to blood,    ·fcg135·

Your right of birth, your empery, your own.

For this, consorted with the citizens,

Your very worshipful and loving friends,   [fcg138]

And by their vehement instigation,

In this just suit come I to move your grace.   [fcg140]

_Glou._ I know not whether to depart in silence,   [fcg141]

Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,

Best fitteth my degree or your condition:   [fcg143]

If not to answer, you might haply think   [fcg144]

Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded    ·fcg145·

To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,

Which fondly you would here impose on me;

If to reprove you for this suit of yours

So season’d with your faithful love to me,

Then, on the other side, I check’d my friends.    ·fcg150·

Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first,

And then, in speaking, not to incur the last,   [fcg152]

Definitively thus I answer you.

Your love deserves my thanks, but my desert

Unmeritable shuns your high request.   [fcg155]

First, if all obstacles were cut away

And that my path were even to the crown,

As my ripe revenue and due by birth;   [fcg158]

Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,

So mighty and so many my defects,    ·fcg160·

As I had rather hide me from my greatness,   [fcg161]

Being a bark to brook no mighty sea,

Than in my greatness covet to be hid

And in the vapour of my glory smother’d.

But, God be thanked, there’s no need of me,   [fcg165]

And much I need to help you, if need were;   [fcg166]

The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,

Which, mellow’d by the stealing hours of time,

Will well become the seat of majesty,

And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.   [fcg170]

On him I lay what you would lay on me,   [fcg171]

The right and fortune of his happy stars;

Which God defend that I should wring from him!

_Buck._ My lord, this argues conscience in your grace;

But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,    ·fcg175·

All circumstances well considered.

You say that Edward is your brother’s son:

So say we too, but not by Edward’s wife;

For first he was contract to Lady Lucy--   [fcg179]

Your mother lives a witness to that vow--   [fcg180]

And afterward by substitute betroth’d   [fcg181]

To Bona, sister to the King of France.

These both put by, a poor petitioner,   [fcg183]

A care-crazed mother of a many children,   [fcg184]

A beauty-waning and distressed widow,    ·fcg185·

Even in the afternoon of her best days,

Made prize and purchase of his lustful eye,   [fcg187]

Seduced the pitch and height of all his thoughts   [fcg188]

To base declension and loathed bigamy:   [fcg189]

By her, in his unlawful bed, he got   [fcg190]

This Edward, whom our manners term the prince.   [fcg191]

More bitterly could I expostulate,   [fcg192]

Save that, for reverence to some alive,   [fcg193]

I give a sparing limit to my tongue.

Then, good my lord, take to your royal self   [fcg195]

This proffer’d benefit of dignity;   [fcg196]

If not to bless us and the land withal,

Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry   [fcg198]

From the corruption of abusing times,   [fcg199]

Unto a lineal true-derived course.   [fcg200]

_May._ Do, good my lord, your citizens entreat you.

_Buck._ Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer’d love.   [fcg202]

_Cate._ O, make them joyful, grant their lawful suit!

_Glou._ Alas, why would you heap these cares on me?   [fcg204]

I am unfit for state and majesty:   [fcg205]

I do beseech you, take it not amiss;

I cannot nor I will not yield to you.

_Buck._ If you refuse it,--as, in love and zeal,

Loath to depose the child, your brother’s son;

As well we know your tenderness of heart    ·fcg210·

And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse,

Which we have noted in you to your kin,   [fcg212]

And egally indeed to all estates,--   [fcg213]

Yet whether you accept our suit or no,   [fcg214]

Your brother’s son shall never reign our king;    ·fcg215·

But we will plant some other in the throne,

To the disgrace and downfall of your house:   [fcg217]

And in this resolution here we leave you.   [fcg218]

Come, citizens: ’zounds! I’ll entreat no more.   [fcg219]

_Glou._ O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham.   [fcg220]

[_Exit Buckingham with the Citizens._

_Cate._ Call them again, my lord, and accept their suit:   [fcg221]

_Another._ Do, good my lord, lest all the land do rue it.   [fcg222]

_Glou._ Would you enforce me to a world of care?   [fcg223]

Well, call them again. I am not made of stone,   [fcg224]

But penetrable to your kind entreats,   [fcg225]

Albeit against my conscience and my soul.   [fcg226]

_Re-enter_ BUCKINGHAM _and the rest_.

Cousin of Buckingham, and you sage, grave men,   [fcg227]

Since you will buckle fortune on my back,   [fcg228]

To bear her burthen, whether I will or no,   [fcg229]

I must have patience to endure the load:    ·fcg230·

But if black scandal or foul-faced reproach   [fcg231]

Attend the sequel of your imposition,

Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me

From all the impure blots and stains thereof;   [fcg234]

For God he knows, and you may partly see,   [fcg235]

How far I am from the desire thereof.   [fcg236]

_May._ God bless your grace! we see it, and will say it.

_Glou._ In saying so, you shall but say the truth.

_Buck._ Then I salute you with this kingly title:   [fcg239]

Long live Richard, England’s royal king!   [fcg240]

_May. and Cit._ Amen.   [fcg241]

_Buck._ To-morrow will it please you to be crown’d?   [fcg242]

_Glou._ Even when you please, since you will have it so.   [fcg243]

_Buck._ To-morrow then we will attend your grace:

And so most joyfully we take our leave.   [fcg245]

_Glou._ Come, let us to our holy task again.   [fcg246]

Farewell, good cousin; farewell, gentle friends. [_Exeunt._  [fcg247]

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _Before the Tower_.

_Enter, on one side_, QUEEN ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF YORK,

_and_ MARQUESS OF DORSET; _on the other_, ANNE, DUCHESS OF

GLOUCESTER, _leading_ LADY MARGARET PLANTAGENET, CLARENCE’S

_young daughter_.

_Duch._ Who meets us here? my niece Plantagenet   [fda001]

Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloucester?   [fda002]

Now, for my life, she’s wandering to the Tower,

On pure heart’s love to greet the tender princes.   [fda004]

Daughter, well met.

_Anne._ God give your graces both   [fda005]

A happy and a joyful time of day!

_Q. Eliz._ As much to you, good sister! Whither away?   [fda007]

_Anne._ No farther than the Tower, and, as I guess,   [fda008]

Upon the like devotion as yourselves,

To gratulate the gentle princes there.   [fda010]

_Q. Eliz._ Kind sister, thanks: we’ll enter all together.

_Enter_ BRAKENBURY.

And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes.   [fda012]

Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave,

How doth the prince, and my young son of York?   [fda014]

_Brak._ Right well, dear madam. By your patience,   [fda015]

I may not suffer you to visit them;   [fda016]

The king hath straitly charged the contrary.   [fda017]

_Q. Eliz._ The king! why, who’s that?   [fda018]

_Brak._ I cry you mercy: I mean the lord protector.   [fda019]

_Q. Eliz._ The Lord protect him from that kingly title!    ·fda020·

Hath he set bounds betwixt their love and me?   [fda021]

I am their mother; who should keep me from them?   [fda022]

_Duch._ I am their father’s mother; I will see them.   [fda023]

_Anne._ Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother:

Then bring me to their sights; I’ll bear thy blame,   [fda025]

And take thy office from thee, on my peril.

_Brak._ No, madam, no; I may not leave it so:   [fda027]

I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. [_Exit._   [fda028]

_Enter_ LORD STANLEY.

_Stan._ Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence,   [fda029]

And I’ll salute your grace of York as mother,   [fda030]

And reverend looker on, of two fair queens.   [fda031]

[_To Anne_] Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster,   [fda032]

There to be crowned Richard’s royal queen.

_Q. Eliz._ O, cut my lace in sunder, that my pent heart   [fda034]

May have some scope to beat, or else I swoon   [fda035]

With this dead-killing news!   [fda036]

_Anne._ Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news!   [fda037]

_Dor._ Be of good cheer: mother, how fares your grace?   [fda038]

_Q. Eliz._ O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee hence!   [fda039]

Death and destruction dog thee at the heels;   [fda040]

Thy mother’s name is ominous to children.   [fda041]

If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas,   [fda042]

And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell:   [fda043]

Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house,

Lest thou increase the number of the dead;    ·fda045·

And make me die the thrall of Margaret’s curse,

Nor mother, wife, nor England’s counted queen.   [fda047]

_Stan._ Full of wise care is this your counsel, madam.

Take all the swift advantage of the hours;   [fda049]

You shall have letters from me to my son   [fda050]

To meet you on the way, and welcome you.   [fda051]

Be not ta’en tardy by unwise delay.   [fda052]

_Duch._ O ill-dispersing wind of misery!   [fda053]

O my accursed womb, the bed of death!

A cockatrice hast thou hatch’d to the world,   [fda055]

Whose unavoided eye is murderous.

_Stan._ Come, madam, come; I in all haste was sent.   [fda057]

_Anne._ And I in all unwillingness will go.   [fda058]

I would to God that the inclusive verge   [fda059]

Of golden metal that must round my brow    ·fda060·

Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain!   [fda061]

Anointed let me be with deadly venom,   [fda062]

And die, ere men can say, God save the queen!

_Q. Eliz._ Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory;   [fda064]

To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm.    ·fda065·

_Anne._ No! why? When he that is my husband now   [fda066]

Came to me, as I follow’d Henry’s corse,   [fda067]

When scarce the blood was well wash’d from his hands   [fda068]

Which issued from my other angel husband

And that dead saint which then I weeping follow’d;   [fda070]

O, when, I say, I look’d on Richard’s face,

This was my wish: ‘Be thou,’ quoth I, ‘accursed,

For making me, so young, so old a widow!

And, when thou wed’st, let sorrow haunt thy bed;

And be thy wife--if any be so mad--   [fda075]

As miserable by the life of thee   [fda076]

As thou hast made me by my dear lord’s death!’

Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again,   [fda078]

Even in so short a space, my woman’s heart   [fda079]

Grossly grew captive to his honey words   [fda080]

And proved the subject of my own soul’s curse,   [fda081]

Which ever since hath kept my eyes from rest;   [fda082]

For never yet one hour in his bed

Have I enjoy’d the golden dew of sleep,   [fda084]

But have been waked by his timorous dreams.   [fda085]

Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick;

And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me.   [fda087]

_Q. Eliz._ Poor heart, adieu! I pity thy complaining.   [fda088]

_Anne._ No more than from my soul I mourn for yours.   [fda089]

_Q. Eliz._ Farewell, thou woful welcomer of glory!   [fda090]

_Anne._ Adieu, poor soul, that takest thy leave of it!   [fda091]

_Duch._ [_To Dorset_] Go thou to Richmond, and good

fortune guide thee!   [fda092]

[_To Anne_] Go thou to Richard, and good angels guard

thee!   [fda093]

[_To Queen Eliz._] Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts

possess thee!   [fda094]

I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me!    ·fda095·

Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen,   [fda096]

And each hour’s joy wreck’d with a week of teen.   [fda097]

_Q. Eliz._ Stay, yet look back with me unto the Tower.   [fda098]

Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes

Whom envy hath immured within your walls!    ·fda100·

Rough cradle for such little pretty ones!

Rude ragged nurse, old sullen playfellow   [fda102]

For tender princes, use my babies well!

So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell. [_Exeunt._   [fda104]

SCENE II. _London. The Palace_.

_Sennet. Enter_ RICHARD, _in pomp, crowned;_ BUCKINGHAM,

CATESBY, _a_ Page, _and others_.

_K. Rich._ Stand all apart. Cousin of Buckingham!   [fdb001]

_Buck._ My gracious sovereign?   [fdb002]

_K. Rich._ Give me thy hand. [_Here he ascendeth his

throne._] Thus high, by thy advice   [fdb003]

And thy assistance, is king Richard seated:

But shall we wear these honours for a day?   [fdb005]

Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?

_Buck._ Still live they and for ever may they last!   [fdb007]

_K. Rich._ O Buckingham, now do I play the touch,   [fdb008]

To try if thou be current gold indeed:

Young Edward lives: think now what I would say.   [fdb010]

_Buck._ Say on, my loving lord.   [fdb011]

_K. Rich._ Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king.

_Buck._ Why, so you are, my thrice renowned liege.   [fdb013]

_K. Rich._ Ha! am I king? ’tis so: but Edward lives.   [fdb014]

_Buck._ True, noble prince.

_K. Rich._ O bitter consequence,    ·fdb015·

That Edward still should live! ‘True, noble prince!’   [fdb016]

Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull:   [fdb017]

Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead;

And I would have it suddenly perform’d.

What sayest thou? speak suddenly; be brief.   [fdb020]

_Buck._ Your grace may do your pleasure.

_K. Rich._ Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness

freezeth:   [fdb022]

Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?

_Buck._ Give me some breath, some little pause, my lord,   [fdb024]

Before I positively speak herein:   [fdb025]

I will resolve your grace immediately. [_Exit._   [fdb026]

_Cate._ [_Aside to a stander by._] The king is angry: see,

he bites the lip.   [fdb027]

_K. Rich._ I will converse with iron-witted fools   [fdb028]

And unrespective boys: none are for me

That look into me with considerate eyes:    ·fdb030·

High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect.   [fdb031]

Boy!

_Page._ My lord?   [fdb033]

_K. Rich._ Know’st thou not any whom corrupting gold

Would tempt unto a close exploit of death?   [fdb035]

_Page._ My lord, I know a discontented gentleman,   [fdb036]

Whose humble means match not his haughty mind:   [fdb037]

Gold were as good as twenty orators,

And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing.

_K. Rich._ What is his name?

_Page._ His name, my lord, is Tyrrel.   [fdb040]

_K. Rich._ I partly know the man: go, call him hither.    [fdb041]

[_Exit Page._

The deep-revolving witty Buckingham   [fdb042]

No more shall be the neighbour to my counsel:   [fdb043]

Hath he so long held out with me untired,

And stops he now for breath?   [fdb045]

_Enter_ STANLEY.

How now! what news with you?   [fdb046]

_Stan._ My lord, I hear the Marquis Dorset’s fled   [fdb047]

To Richmond, in those parts beyond the sea

Where he abides. [_Stands apart._   [fdb049]

_K. Rich._ Catesby!    ·fdb050·

_Cate._ My lord?

_K. Rich._ Rumour it abroad   [fdb052]

That Anne, my wife, is sick and like to die:

I will take order for her keeping close.

Inquire me out some mean-born gentleman,   [fdb055]

Whom I will marry straight to Clarence’ daughter:   [fdb056]

The boy is foolish, and I fear not him.

Look, how thou dream’st! I say again, give out   [fdb058]

That Anne my wife is sick, and like to die:   [fdb059]

About it; for it stands me much upon,    ·fdb060·

To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me.   [fdb061]

[_Exit Catesby._

I must be married to my brother’s daughter,   [fdb062]

Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass.

Murder her brothers, and then marry her!   [fdb064]

Uncertain way of gain! But I am in    ·fdb065·

So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin:   [fdb066]

Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye.   [fdb067]

_Re-enter_ Page, _with_ TYRREL.

Is thy name Tyrrel?

_Tyr._ James Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject.

_K. Rich._ Art thou, indeed?

_Tyr._ Prove me, my gracious sovereign.   [fdb070]

_K. Rich._ Darest thou resolve to kill a friend of mine?

_Tyr._ Ay, my lord;   [fdb072]

But I had rather kill two enemies.   [fdb073]

_K. Rich._ Why, there thou hast it: two deep enemies,   [fdb074]

Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep’s disturbers   [fdb075]

Are they that I would have thee deal upon:

Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower.

_Tyr._ Let me have open means to come to them,   [fdb078]

And soon I’ll rid you from the fear of them.

_K. Rich._ Thou sing’st sweet music. Hark, come hither,

Tyrrel:   [fdb080]

Go, by this token: rise, and lend thine ear: [_Whispers._   [fdb081]

There is no more but so: say it is done,   [fdb082]

And I will love thee, and prefer thee too.   [fdb083]

_Tyr._ ’Tis done, my gracious lord.   [fdb084]

_K. Rich._ Shall we hear from thee, Tyrrel, ere we sleep.   [fdb085]

_Tyr._ Ye shall, my lord. [_Exit._   [fdb086]

_Re-enter_ BUCKINGHAM.

_Buck._ My lord, I have consider’d in my mind   [fdb087]

The late demand that you did sound me in.   [fdb088]

_K. Rich._ Well, let that pass. Dorset is fled to Richmond.   [fdb089]

_Buck._ I hear that news, my lord.   [fdb090]

_K. Rich._ Stanley, he is your wife’s son: well, look to it.   [fdb091]

_Buck._ My lord, I claim your gift, my due by promise,   [fdb092]

For which your honour and your faith is pawn’d;

The earldom of Hereford and the moveables   [fdb094]

The which you promised I should possess.   [fdb095]

_K. Rich._ Stanley, look to your wife: if she convey   [fdb096]

Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it.

_Buck._ What says your highness to my just demand?   [fdb098]

_K. Rich._ As I remember, Henry the Sixth   [fdb099]

Did prophesy that Richmond should be king,    ·fdb100·

When Richmond was a little peevish boy.

A king, perhaps, perhaps,--   [fdb102]

_Buck._ My lord!   [fdb103]

_K. Rich._ How chance the prophet could not at that time

Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him?    ·fdb105·

_Buck._ My lord, your promise for the earldom,--

_K. Rich._ Richmond! When last I was at Exeter,

The mayor in courtesy show’d me the castle,   [fdb108]

And call’d it Rougemont: at which name I started,   [fdb109]

Because a bard of Ireland told me once,   [fdb110]

I should not live long after I saw Richmond.

_Buck._ My lord!

_K. Rich._ Ay, what’s o’clock?

_Buck._ I am thus bold to put your grace in mind

Of what you promised me.

_K. Rich._ Well, but what’s o’clock?   [fdb115]

_Buck._ Upon the stroke of ten.

_K. Rich._ Well, let it strike.

_Buck._ Why let it strike?

_K. Rich._ Because that, like a Jack, thou keep’st the stroke

Betwixt thy begging and my meditation.

I am not in the giving vein to-day.    ·fdb120·

_Buck._ Why, then resolve me whether you will or no.   [fdb121]

_R. Rich._ Tut, tut,   [fdb122]

Thou troublest me; I am not in the vein.   [fdb123]

[_Exeunt all but Buckingham._

_Buck._ Is it even so? rewards he my true service   [fdb124]

With such deep contempt? made I him king for this?   [fdb125]

O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone

To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on! [_Exit._

SCENE III. _The same_.

_Enter_ TYRREL.

_Tyr._ The tyrannous and bloody deed is done,   [fdc001]

The most arch act of piteous massacre   [fdc002]

That ever yet this land was guilty of.

Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn   [fdc004]

To do this ruthless piece of butchery,   [fdc005]

Although they were flesh’d villains, bloody dogs,   [fdc006]

Melting with tenderness and kind compassion   [fdc007]

Wept like two children in their deaths’ sad stories.   [fdc008]

‘Lo, thus,’ quoth Dighton, ‘lay those tender babes:’   [fdc009]

‘Thus, thus,’ quoth Forrest, ‘girdling one another   [fdc010]

Within their innocent alabaster arms:   [fdc011]

Their lips were four red roses on a stalk,   [fdc012]

Which in their summer beauty kiss’d each other.   [fdc013]

A book of prayers on their pillow lay;   [fdc014]

Which once,’ quoth Forrest, ‘almost changed my mind;   [fdc015]

But O! the devil’--there the villain stopp’d;   [fdc016]

Whilst Dighton thus told on: ‘We smothered   [fdc017]

The most replenished sweet work of nature

That from the prime creation e’er she framed.’   [fdc019]

Thus both are gone with conscience and remorse;   [fdc020]

They could not speak; and so I left them both,

To bring this tidings to the bloody king.   [fdc022]

And here he comes.

_Enter_ KING RICHARD.

All hail, my sovereign liege!   [fdc023]

_K. Rich._ Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news?   [fdc024]

_Tyr._ If to have done the thing you gave in charge   [fdc025]

Beget your happiness, be happy then,

For it is done, my lord.

_K. Rich._ But didst thou see them dead?   [fdc027]

_Tyr._ I did, my lord.

_K. Rich._ And buried, gentle Tyrrel?

_Tyr._ The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them;

But how or in what place I do not know.   [fdc030]

_K. Rich._ Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after supper,   [fdc031]

And thou shalt tell the process of their death.   [fdc032]

Meantime, but think how I may do thee good,   [fdc033]

And be inheritor of thy desire.

Farewell till soon. [_Exit Tyrrel._   [fdc035]

The son of Clarence have I pent up close;   [fdc036]

His daughter meanly have I match’d in marriage;

The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham’s bosom,

And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night.   [fdc039]

Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims   [fdc040]

At young Elizabeth, my brother’s daughter,

And, by that knot, looks proudly o’er the crown,   [fdc042]

To her I go, a jolly thriving wooer.   [fdc043]

_Enter_ Catesby.

_Cate._ My lord!   [fdc044]

_K. Rich._ Good news or bad, that thou comest in so bluntly?   [fdc045]

_Cate._ Bad news, my lord: Ely is fled to Richmond;   [fdc046]

And Buckingham, back’d with the hardy Welshmen,

Is in the field, and still his power increaseth.

_K. Rich._ Ely with Richmond troubles me more near   [fdc049]

Than Buckingham and his rash-levied army.   [fdc050]

Come, I have heard that fearful commenting   [fdc051]

Is leaden servitor to dull delay;

Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary:   [fdc053]

Then fiery expedition be my wing,   [fdc054]

Jove’s Mercury, and herald for a king!   [fdc055]

Come, muster men: my counsel is my shield;   [fdc056]

We must be brief when traitors brave the field. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV. _Before the palace_.

_Enter_ QUEEN MARGARET.

_Q. Mar._ So, now prosperity begins to mellow   [fdd001]

And drop into the rotten mouth of death.

Here in these confines slily have I lurk’d,   [fdd003]

To watch the waning of mine adversaries.   [fdd004]

A dire induction am I witness to,    ·fdd005·

And will to France, hoping the consequence

Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.   [fdd007]

Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret: who comes here?   [fdd008]

_Enter_ QUEEN ELIZABETH _and the_ DUCHESS OF YORK.

_Q. Eliz._ Ah, my young princes! ah, my tender babes!   [fdd009]

My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets!   [fdd010]

If yet your gentle souls fly in the air

And be not fix’d in doom perpetual,

Hover about me with your airy wings   [fdd013]

And hear your mother’s lamentation!

_Q. Mar._ Hover about her; say, that right for right   [fdd015]

Hath dimm’d your infant morn to aged night.

_Duch._ So many miseries have crazed my voice,   [fdd017]

That my woe-wearied tongue is mute and dumb.   [fdd018]

Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead?

_Q. Mar._ Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet,   [fdd020]

Edward for Edward pays a dying debt.

_Q. Eliz._ Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs,

And throw them in the entrails of the wolf?

When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done?   [fdd024]

_Q. Mar._ When holy Harry died, and my sweet son.   [fdd025]

_Duch._ Blind sight, dead life, poor mortal living ghost,   [fdd026]

Woe’s scene, world’s shame, grave’s due by life usurp’d,

Brief abstract and record of tedious days,   [fdd028]

Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth,   [fdd029]

[_Sitting down._

Unlawfully made drunk with innocents’ blood!   [fdd030]

_Q. Eliz._ O, that thou wouldst as well afford a grave   [fdd031]

As thou canst yield a melancholy seat!

Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here.

O, who hath any cause to mourn but I?   [fdd034]

[_Sitting down by her._

_Q. Mar._ If ancient sorrow be most reverend,   [fdd035]

Give mine the benefit of seniory,   [fdd036]

And let my woes frown on the upper hand.   [fdd037]

If sorrow can admit society, [_Sitting down with them._   [fdd038]

Tell o’er your woes again by viewing mine:   [fdd039]

I had an Edward, till a Richard kill’d him;    ·fdd040·

I had a Harry, till a Richard kill’d him:   [fdd041]

Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard kill’d him;

Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard kill’d him.

_Duch._ I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill him;

I had a Rutland too, thou holp’st to kill him.   [fdd045]

_Q. Mar._ Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard kill’d him.   [fdd046]

From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept

A hell-hound that doth hunt us all to death:

That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes,

To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood,   [fdd050]

That foul defacer of God’s handiwork,

That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,   [fdd052]

That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls,

Thy womb let loose, to chase us to our graves.   [fdd054]

O upright, just, and true-disposing God,    ·fdd055·

How do I thank thee, that this carnal cur   [fdd056]

Preys on the issue of his mother’s body,

And makes her pew-fellow with others’ moan!   [fdd058]

_Duch._ O Harry’s wife, triumph not in my woes!   [fdd059]

God witness with me, I have wept for thine.   [fdd060]

_Q. Mar._ Bear with me; I am hungry for revenge,

And now I cloy me with beholding it.

Thy Edward he is dead, that stabb’d my Edward;   [fdd063]

Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;   [fdd064]

Young York he is but boot, because both they    ·fdd065·

Match not the high perfection of my loss:   [fdd066]

Thy Clarence he is dead that kill’d my Edward;   [fdd067]

And the beholders of this tragic play,   [fdd068]

The adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,   [fdd069]

Untimely smother’d in their dusky graves.   [fdd070]

Richard yet lives, hell’s black intelligencer,   [fdd071]

Only reserved their factor, to buy souls   [fdd072]

And send them thither: but at hand, at hand,   [fdd073]

Ensues his piteous and unpitied end:

Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray,   [fdd075]

To have him suddenly convey’d away.   [fdd076]

Cancel his bond of life, dear God, I pray,   [fdd077]

That I may live to say, The dog is dead!   [fdd078]

_Q. Eliz._ O, thou didst prophesy the time would come   [fdd079]

That I should wish for thee to help me curse    ·fdd080·

That bottled spider, that foul bunch-back’d toad!   [fdd081]

_Q. Mar._ I call’d thee then vain flourish of my fortune;   [fdd082]

I call’d thee then poor shadow, painted queen;

The presentation of but what I was;

The flattering index of a direful pageant;   [fdd085]

One heaved a-high, to be hurl’d down below;   [fdd086]

A mother only mock’d with two sweet babes;   [fdd087]

A dream of what thou wert, a breath, a bubble,   [fdd088]

A sign of dignity, a garish flag

To be the aim of every dangerous shot;    ·fdd090·

A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.

Where is thy husband now? where be thy brothers?

Where are thy children? wherein dost thou joy?   [fdd093]

Who sues to thee and cries ‘God save the queen’?   [fdd094]

Where be the bending peers that flatter’d thee?   [fdd095]

Where be the thronging troops that follow’d thee?   [fdd096]

Decline all this, and see what now thou art:

For happy wife, a most distressed widow;

For joyful mother, one that wails the name;

For queen, a very caitiff crown’d with care;   [fdd100]

For one being sued to, one that humbly sues;   [fdd101]

For one that scorn’d at me, now scorn’d of me;   [fdd102]

For one being fear’d of all, now fearing one;   [fdd103]

For one commanding all, obey’d of none.

Thus hath the course of justice wheel’d about,   [fdd105]

And left thee but a very prey to time;   [fdd106]

Having no more but thought of what thou wert,   [fdd107]

To torture thee the more, being what thou art.

Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not

Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?    ·fdd110·

Now thy proud neck bears half my burthen’d yoke;   [fdd111]

From which even here I slip my weary neck,   [fdd112]

And leave the burthen of it all on thee.

Farewell, York’s wife, and queen of sad mischance:

These English woes will make me smile in France.   [fdd115]

_Q. Eliz._ O thou well skill’d in curses, stay awhile,

And teach me how to curse mine enemies!

_Q. Mar._ Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days;   [fdd118]

Compare dead happiness with living woe;   [fdd119]

Think that thy babes were fairer than they were,   [fdd120]

And he that slew them fouler than he is:

Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse:   [fdd122]

Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.

_Q. Eliz._ My words are dull; O, quicken them with thine!   [fdd124]

_Q. Mar._ Thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine.

[_Exit._   [fdd125]

_Duch._ Why should calamity be full of words?

_Q. Eliz._ Windy attorneys to their client woes,   [fdd127]

Airy succeeders of intestate joys,   [fdd128]

Poor breathing orators of miseries!

Let them have scope: though what they do impart   [fdd130]

Help not at all, yet do they ease the heart.   [fdd131]

_Duch._ If so, then be not tongue-tied: go with me,   [fdd132]

And in the breath of bitter words let’s smother

My damned son, which thy two sweet sons smother’d.   [fdd134]

I hear his drum: be copious in exclaims.   [fdd135]

_Enter_ KING RICHARD, _marching, with drums and trumpets_.

_K. Rich._ Who intercepts my expedition?   [fdd136]

_Duch._ O, she that might have intercepted thee,   [fdd137]

By strangling thee in her accursed womb,

From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done!

_Q. Eliz._ Hidest thou that forehead with a golden crown,   [fdd140]

Where should be graven, if that right were right,   [fdd141]

The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown,

And the dire death of my two sons and brothers?   [fdd143]

Tell me, thou villain slave, where are my children?

_Duch._ Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence?   [fdd145]

And little Ned Plantagenet, his son?   [fdd146]

_Q. Eliz._ Where is kind Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?   [fdd147]

_K. Rich._ A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum, drums!

Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women

Rail on the Lord’s anointed: strike, I say!   [fdd150]

[_Flourish. Alarums._

Either be patient, and entreat me fair,

Or with the clamorous report of war   [fdd152]

Thus will I drown your exclamations.   [fdd153]

_Duch._ Art thou my son?

_K. Rich._ Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself.   [fdd155]

_Duch._ Then patiently hear my impatience.   [fdd156]

_K. Rich._ Madam, I have a touch of your condition,

Which cannot brook the accent of reproof.   [fdd158]

_Duch._ O, let me speak!

_K. Rich._ Do then; but I’ll not hear.   [fdd159]

_Duch._ I will be mild and gentle in my speech.   [fdd160]

_K. Rich._ And brief, good mother; for I am in haste.

_Duch._ Art thou so hasty? I have stay’d for thee,   [fdd162]

God knows, in anguish, pain and agony.   [fdd163]

_K. Rich._ And came I not at last to comfort you?

_Duch._ No, by the holy rood, thou know’st it well,    ·fdd165·

Thou camest on earth to make the earth my hell.

A grievous burthen was thy birth to me;

Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;

Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild, and furious,

Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous,   [fdd170]

Thy age confirm’d, proud, subtle, bloody, treacherous,   [fdd171]

More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred:   [fdd172]

What comfortable hour canst thou name,

That ever graced me in thy company?   [fdd174]

_K. Rich._ Faith, none, but Humphrey Hour, that call’d your

grace   [fdd175]

To breakfast once forth of my company.   [fdd176]

If I be so disgracious in your sight,   [fdd177]

Let me march on, and not offend your grace.   [fdd178]

Strike up the drum.

_Duch._ I prithee, hear me speak.   [fdd179]

_K. Rich._ You speak too bitterly.

_Duch._ Hear me a word;    ·fdd180·

For I shall never speak to thee again.

_K. Rich._ So.

_Duch._ Either thou wilt die, by God’s just ordinance,   [fdd183]

Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror,   [fdd184]

Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish   [fdd185]

And never look upon thy face again.   [fdd186]

Therefore take with thee my most heavy curse;   [fdd187]

Which, in the day of battle, tire thee more

Than all the complete armour that thou wear’st!

My prayers on the adverse party fight;    ·fdd190·

And there the little souls of Edward’s children   [fdd191]

Whisper the spirits of thine enemies   [fdd192]

And promise them success and victory.   [fdd193]

Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end;   [fdd194]

Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend. [_Exit._    ·fdd195·

_Q. Eliz._ Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse

Abides in me; I say amen to all.   [fdd197]

_K. Rich._ Stay, madam; I must speak a word with you.   [fdd198]

_Q. Eliz._ I have no moe sons of the royal blood   [fdd199]

For thee to murder: for my daughters, Richard,   [fdd200]

They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens;

And therefore level not to hit their lives.

_K. Rich._ You have a daughter call’d Elizabeth,

Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.

_Q. Eliz._ And must she die for this? O, let her live,    ·fdd205·

And I’ll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty;

Slander myself as false to Edward’s bed;

Throw over her the veil of infamy:   [fdd208]

So she may live unscarr’d of bleeding slaughter,   [fdd209]

I will confess she was not Edward’s daughter.    ·fdd210·

_K. Rich._ Wrong not her birth, she is of royal blood.   [fdd211]

_Q. Eliz._ To save her life, I’ll say she is not so.

_K. Rich._ Her life is only safest in her birth.   [fdd213]

_Q. Eliz._ And only in that safety died her brothers.

_K. Rich._ Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.   [fdd215]

_Q. Eliz._ No, to their lives bad friends were contrary.   [fdd216]

_K. Rich._ All unavoided is the doom of destiny.

_Q. Eliz._ True, when avoided grace makes destiny:

My babes were destined to a fairer death,

If grace had bless’d thee with a fairer life.    ·fdd220·

_K. Rich._ You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.   [fdd221]

_Q. Eliz._ Cousins, indeed; and by their uncle cozen’d   [fdd222]

Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life.

Whose hand soever lanced their tender hearts,   [fdd224]

Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction:    ·fdd225·

No doubt the murderous knife was dull and blunt

Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,

To revel in the entrails of my lambs.

But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame,

My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys    ·fdd230·

Till that my nails were anchor’d in thine eyes;

And I, in such a desperate bay of death,

Like a poor bark, of sails and tackling reft,

Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom.

_K. Rich._ Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise   [fdd235]

And dangerous success of bloody wars.

As I intend more good to you and yours   [fdd237]

Than ever you or yours were by me wrong’d!   [fdd238]

_Q. Eliz._ What good is cover’d with the face of heaven,

To be discover’d, that can do me good?   [fdd240]

_K. Rich._ The advancement of your children, gentle lady.   [fdd241]

_Q. Eliz._ Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads?

_K. Rich._ No, to the dignity and height of honour,   [fdd243]

The high imperial type of this earth’s glory.   [fdd244]

_Q. Eliz._ Flatter my sorrows with report of it;   [fdd245]

Tell me what state, what dignity, what honour,

Canst thou demise to any child of mine?   [fdd247]

_K. Rich._ Even all I have; yea, and myself and all,   [fdd248]

Will I withal endow a child of thine;   [fdd249]

So in the Lethe of thy angry soul    ·fdd250·

Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs   [fdd251]

Which thou supposest I have done to thee.

_Q. Eliz._ Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindness

Last longer telling than thy kindness’ date.   [fdd254]

_K. Rich._ Then know, that from my soul I love thy daughter.   [fdd255]

_Q. Eliz._ My daughter’s mother thinks it with her soul.

_K. Rich._ What do you think?

_Q. Eliz._ That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul:

So from thy soul’s love didst thou love her brothers;   [fdd259]

And from my heart’s love I do thank thee for it.   [fdd260]

_K. Rich._ Be not so hasty to confound my meaning:

I mean, that with my soul I love thy daughter,

And mean to make her queen of England.   [fdd263]

_Q. Eliz._ Say then, who dost thou mean shall be her king?   [fdd264]

_K. Rich._ Even he that makes her queen: who should be else?   [fdd265]

_Q. Eliz._ What, thou?

_K. Rich._ I, even I: what think you of it, madam?   [fdd267]

_Q. Eliz._ How canst thou woo her?

_K. Rich._ That would I learn of you,   [fdd268]

As one that are best acquainted with her humour.   [fdd269]

_Q. Eliz._ And wilt thou learn of me?

_K. Rich._ Madam, with all my heart.   [fdd270]

_Q. Eliz._ Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers,

A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave   [fdd272]

Edward and York; then haply she will weep:   [fdd273]

Therefore present to her,--as sometime Margaret   [fdd274]

Did to thy father, steep’d in Rutland’s blood,--   [fdd275]

A handkerchief; which, say to her, did drain   [fdd276]

The purple sap from her sweet brother’s body,   [fdd277]

And bid her dry her weeping eyes therewith.   [fdd278]

If this inducement force her not to love,   [fdd279]

Send her a story of thy noble acts;   [fdd280]

Tell her thou madest away her uncle Clarence,

Her uncle Rivers; yea, and, for her sake,   [fdd282]

Madest quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.

_K. Rich._ Come, come, you mock me; this is not the way   [fdd284]

To win your daughter.

_Q. Eliz._ There is no other way;   [fdd285]

Unless thou couldst put on some other shape,

And not be Richard that hath done all this.

_K. Rich._ Say that I did all this for love of her.   [fdd288]

_Q. Eliz._ Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee,   [fdd289]

Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.   [fdd290]

_K. Rich._ Look, what is done cannot be now amended:

Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,

Which after-hours give leisure to repent.   [fdd293]

If I did take the kingdom from your sons,

To make amends, I’ll give it to your daughter.    ·fdd295·

If I have kill’d the issue of your womb,

To quicken your increase, I will beget

Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter:

A grandam’s name is little less in love

Than is the doting title of a mother;    ·fdd300·

They are as children but one step below,

Even of your mettle, of your very blood;   [fdd302]

Of all one pain, save for a night of groans

Endured of her, for whom you bid like sorrow.   [fdd304]

Your children were vexation to your youth,    ·fdd305·

But mine shall be a comfort to your age.

The loss you have is but a son being king,

And by that loss your daughter is made queen.

I cannot make you what amends I would,

Therefore accept such kindness as I can.    ·fdd310·

Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul

Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,   [fdd312]

This fair alliance quickly shall call home

To high promotions and great dignity:

The king, that calls your beauteous daughter wife,    ·fdd315·

Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother;

Again shall you be mother to a king,

And all the ruins of distressful times

Repair’d with double riches of content.

What! we have many goodly days to see:    ·fdd320·

The liquid drops of tears that you have shed

Shall come again, transform’d to orient pearl,

Advantaging their loan with interest   [fdd323]

Of ten times double gain of happiness.   [fdd324]

Go, then, my mother, to thy daughter go;    ·fdd325·

Make bold her bashful years with your experience;

Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale;

Put in her tender heart the aspiring flame

Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the princess

With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys:    ·fdd330·

And when this arm of mine hath chastised

The petty rebel, dull-brain’d Buckingham,

Bound with triumphant garlands will I come   [fdd333]

And lead thy daughter to a conqueror’s bed;

To whom I will retail my conquest won,    ·fdd335·

And she shall be sole victress, Cæsar’s Cæsar.   [fdd336]

_Q. Eliz._ What were I best to say? her father’s brother

Would be her lord? or shall I say, her uncle?

Or, he that slew her brothers and her uncles?

Under what title shall I woo for thee,    ·fdd340·

That God, the law, my honour and her love,

Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?

_K. Rich._ Infer fair England’s peace by this alliance.   [fdd343]

_Q. Eliz._ Which she shall purchase with still lasting war.

_K. Rich._ Say that the king, which may command, entreats.   [fdd345]

_Q. Eliz._ That at her hands which the king’s King forbids.   [fdd346]

_K. Rich._ Say, she shall be a high and mighty queen.

_Q. Eliz._ To wail the title, as her mother doth.   [fdd348]

_K. Rich._ Say, I will love her everlastingly.

_Q. Eliz._ But how long shall that title ‘ever’ last?   [fdd350]

_K. Rich._ Sweetly in force unto her fair life’s end.   [fdd351]

_Q. Eliz._ But how long fairly shall her sweet life last?   [fdd352]

_K. Rich._ So long as heaven and nature lengthens it.   [fdd353]

_Q. Eliz._ So long as hell and Richard likes of it.   [fdd354]

_K. Rich._ Say, I, her sovereign, am her subject love.   [fdd355]

_Q. Eliz._ But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.

_K. Rich._ Be eloquent in my behalf to her.

_Q. Eliz._ An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.

_K. Rich._ Then in plain terms tell her my loving tale.   [fdd359]

_Q. Eliz._ Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.    ·fdd360·

_K. Rich._ Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.   [fdd361]

_Q. Eliz._ O no, my reasons are too deep and dead;   [fdd362]

Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave.   [fdd363]

_K. Rich._ Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.   [fdd364]

_Q. Eliz._ Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings

break.    ·fdd365·

_K. Rich._ Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown,--

_Q. Eliz._ Profaned, dishonour’d, and the third usurp’d.

_K. Rich._ I swear--

_Q. Eliz._ By nothing; for this is no oath:   [fdd368]

The George, profaned, hath lost his holy honour;   [fdd369]

The garter, blemish’d, pawn’d his knightly virtue;   [fdd370]

The crown, usurp’d, disgraced his kingly glory.   [fdd371]

If something thou wilt swear to be believed,   [fdd372]

Swear then by something that thou hast not wrong’d.

_K. Rich._ Now, by the world--

_Q. Eliz._ ’Tis full of thy foul wrongs.

_K. Rich._ My father’s death--

_Q. Eliz._ Thy life hath that dishonour’d.   [fdd375]

_K. Rich._ Then, by myself--

_Q. Eliz._ Thyself thyself misusest.   [fdd376]

_K. Rich._ Why then, by God--

_Q. Eliz._ God’s wrong is most of all.   [fdd377]

If thou hadst fear’d to break an oath by Him,   [fdd378]

The unity the king thy brother made   [fdd379]

Had not been broken, nor my brother slain:   [fdd380]

If thou hadst fear’d to break an oath by Him,   [fdd381]

The imperial metal, circling now thy brow,   [fdd382]

Had graced the tender temples of my child.   [fdd383]

And both the princes had been breathing here,

Which now, two tender playfellows for dust,   [fdd385]

Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms.   [fdd386]

What canst thou swear by now?

_K. Rich._ The time to come.   [fdd387]

_Q. Eliz._ That thou hast wronged in the time o’erpast;   [fdd388]

For I myself have many tears to wash

Hereafter time, for time past wrong’d by thee.   [fdd390]

The children live, whose parents thou hast slaughter’d,   [fdd391]

Ungovern’d youth, to wail it in their age;   [fdd392]

The parents live, whose children thou hast butcher’d,   [fdd393]

Old wither’d plants, to wail it with their age.   [fdd394]

Swear not by time to come; for that thou hast   [fdd395]

Misused ere used, by time misused o’erpast.   [fdd396]

_K. Rich._ As I intend to prosper and repent,

So thrive I in my dangerous attempt   [fdd398]

Of hostile arms! myself myself confound!

Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours!   [fdd400]

Day, yield me not thy light; nor, night, thy rest!

Be opposite all planets of good luck

To my proceedings, if, with pure heart’s love,   [fdd403]

Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,   [fdd404]

I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter!   [fdd405]

In her consists my happiness and thine;

Without her, follows to this land and me,   [fdd407]

To thee, herself, and many a Christian soul,

Death, desolation, ruin and decay:   [fdd409]

It cannot be avoided but by this;    ·fdd410·

It will not be avoided but by this.   [fdd411]

Therefore, good mother,--I must call you so--   [fdd412]

Be the attorney of my love to her:

Plead what I will be, not what I have been;

Not my deserts, but what I will deserve:   [fdd415]

Urge the necessity and state of times,   [fdd416]

And be not peevish-fond in great designs.   [fdd417]

_Q. Eliz._ Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?

_K. Rich._ Ay, if the devil tempt thee to do good.   [fdd419]

_Q. Eliz._ Shall I forget myself to be myself?    ·fdd420·

_K. Rich._ Ay, if yourself’s remembrance wrong yourself.   [fdd421]

_Q. Eliz._ But thou didst kill my children.   [fdd422]

_K. Rich._ But in your daughter’s womb I bury them:   [fdd423]

Where in that nest of spicery they shall breed   [fdd424]

Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.   [fdd425]

_Q. Eliz._ Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?

_K. Rich._ And be a happy mother by the deed.   [fdd427]

_Q. Eliz._ I go. Write to me very shortly,   [fdd428]

And you shall understand from me her mind.   [fdd429]

_K. Rich._ Bear her my true love’s kiss; and so, farewell.   [fdd430]

[_Exit Queen Elizabeth._

Relenting fool, and shallow, changing woman!   [fdd431]

_Enter_ RATCLIFF; CATESBY _following_.

How now! what news?   [fdd432]

_Rat._ My gracious sovereign, on the western coast   [fdd433]

Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore   [fdd434]

Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,    ·fdd435·

Unarm’d, and unresolved to beat them back:

’Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral;

And there they hull, expecting but the aid   [fdd438]

Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.

_K. Rich._ Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of

Norfolk:   [fdd440]

Ratcliff, thyself, or Catesby; where is he?

_Cate._ Here, my lord.   [fdd442]

_K. Rich._ Fly to the duke. [_To Ratcliff_] Post thou to

Salisbury:   [fdd443]

When thou comest thither,--[_To Catesby_] Dull unmindful

villain,   [fdd444]

Why stand’st thou still, and go’st not to the duke?   [fdd445]

_Cate._ First, mighty sovereign, let me know your mind,   [fdd446]

What from your grace I shall deliver to him.   [fdd447]

_K. Rich._ O, true, good Catesby: bid him levy straight

The greatest strength and power he can make,   [fdd449]

And meet me presently at Salisbury.   [fdd450]

_Cate._ I go. [_Exit._   [fdd451]

_Rat._ What is ’t your highness’ pleasure I shall do   [fdd452]

At Salisbury?

_K. Rich._ Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go?

_Rat._ Your highness told me I should post before.    ·fdd455·

_K. Rich._ My mind is changed, sir, my mind is changed.   [fdd456]

_Enter_ LORD STANLEY.

How now, what news with you?   [fdd457]

_Stan._ None good, my lord, to please you with the hearing;   [fdd458]

Nor none so bad, but it may well be told.   [fdd459]

_K. Rich._ Hoyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad!   [fdd460]

Why dost thou run so many mile about,   [fdd461]

When thou mayst tell thy tale a nearer way?   [fdd462]

Once more, what news?

_Stan._ Richmond is on the seas.

_K. Rich._ There let him sink, and be the seas on him!

White-liver’d runagate, what doth he there?    ·fdd465·

_Stan._ I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.

_K. Rich._ Well, sir, as you guess, as you guess?   [fdd467]

_Stan._ Stirr’d up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Ely,   [fdd468]

He makes for England, there to claim the crown.   [fdd469]

_K. Rich._ Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway’d?    ·fdd470·

Is the king dead? the empire unpossess’d?

What heir of York is there alive but we?

And who is England’s king but great York’s heir?

Then, tell me, what doth he upon the sea?   [fdd474]

_Stan._ Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.   [fdd475]

_K. Rich._ Unless for that he comes to be your liege,

You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.   [fdd477]

Thou wilt revolt and fly to him, I fear.

_Stan._ No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not.   [fdd479]

_K. Rich._ Where is thy power then to beat him back?   [fdd480]

Where are thy tenants and thy followers?   [fdd481]

Are they not now upon the western shore,

Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?   [fdd483]

_Stan._ No, my good lord, my friends are in the north.

_K. Rich._ Cold friends to Richard: what do they in the

north,   [fdd485]

When they should serve their sovereign in the west?

_Stan._ They have not been commanded, mighty sovereign:   [fdd487]

Please it your majesty to give me leave,   [fdd488]

I’ll muster up my friends, and meet your grace

Where and what time your majesty shall please.    ·fdd490·

_K. Rich._ Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with

Richmond:   [fdd491]

I will not trust you, sir.

_Stan._ Most mighty sovereign,   [fdd492]

You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful:

I never was nor never will be false.   [fdd494]

_K. Rich._ Well,   [fdd495]

Go muster men; but, hear you, leave behind

Your son, George Stanley: look your faith be firm,   [fdd497]

Or else his head’s assurance is but frail.

_Stan._ So deal with him as I prove true to you. [_Exit._   [fdd499]

_Enter a_ Messenger.

_Mess._ My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire,    ·fdd500·

As I by friends am well advertised,

Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate   [fdd502]

Bishop of Exeter, his brother there,   [fdd503]

With many moe confederates, are in arms.   [fdd504]

_Enter another_ Messenger.

_Sec. Mess._ My liege, in Kent, the Guildfords are in arms;   [fdd505]

And every hour more competitors   [fdd506]

Flock to their aid, and still their power increaseth.   [fdd507]

_Enter another_ Messenger.

_Third Mess._ My lord, the army of the Duke of Buckingham--   [fdd508]

_K. Rich._ Out on you, owls! nothing but songs of death?   [fdd509]

[_He striketh him._

Take that, until thou bring me better news.   [fdd510]

_Third Mess._ The news I have to tell your majesty   [fdd511]

Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters,

Buckingham’s army is dispersed and scatter’d;

And he himself wander’d away alone,

No man knows whither.

_K. Rich._ I cry thee mercy:   [fdd515]

There is my purse to cure that blow of thine.   [fdd516]

Hath any well-advised friend proclaim’d   [fdd517]

Reward to him that brings the traitor in?   [fdd518]

_Third Mess._ Such proclamation hath been made, my liege.   [fdd519]

_Enter another_ Messenger.

_Fourth Mess._ Sir Thomas Lovel and Lord Marquis Dorset,    ·fdd520·

’Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.   [fdd521]

Yet this good comfort bring I to your grace,   [fdd522]

The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest:   [fdd523]

Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat   [fdd524]

Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks    ·fdd525·

If they were his assistants, yea or no;

Who answer’d him, they came from Buckingham   [fdd527]

Upon his party: he, mistrusting them,

Hoised sail and made away for Brittany.   [fdd529]

_K. Rich._ March on, march on, since we are up in arms;    ·fdd530·

If not to fight with foreign enemies,

Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.   [fdd532]

_Re-enter_ Catesby.

_Cate._ My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken;

That is the best news: that the Earl of Richmond   [fdd534]

Is with a mighty power landed at Milford,    ·fdd535·

Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.   [fdd536]

_K. Rich._ Away towards Salisbury! while we reason here,

A royal battle might be won and lost:

Some one take order Buckingham be brought

To Salisbury; the rest march on with me.   [fdd540]

[_Flourish. Exeunt._

SCENE V. Lord DERBY’S _house_.

_Enter_ DERBY _and_ Sir CHRISTOPHER URSWICK.