Enter GLOSTER, BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, RATCLIFF, and Others. Glo. Sister, have comfort: all of us have canse To wail the dimming of our shining star; But none can cure their harms by wailing them. Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy, I did not see your grace:- Humbly on my knee I crave your blessing. Duch. God bless thee; and put meekness in thy breast, Love, charity, obedience, and true duty! Glo. Amen; and make me die a good old man! That is the butt-end of a mother's blessing; [Aside. I marvel, that her grace did leave it out. That bear this mutual heavy load of moan, Hither to London, to be crown'd our king. Buck. Marry, my lord, lest, by a multitude, The new-heal'd wound of malice should break out; Which would be so much the more dangerous, By how much the estate is green and yet ungovern'd: Where every horse bears his commanding rein, And may direct his course as please himself, As well the fear of harm, as harm apparent, In my opinion, ought to be prevented. Gio I hope, the king made peace with all of us; And the compact is firm, and true, in me. Riv. And so in me; and so, I think, in all: Yet, since it is but green, it should be put To no apparent likelihood of breach, Which, haply, by much company might be urg'd, Therefore I say, with noble Buckingham, That it is meet so few should fetch the prince. Hast. And so say I. Glo. Then be it so; and go we to determine Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow. Madam, and you my mother,-will you go [Exeust all but BUCKINGHAM and GLOSTER. Buck. My lord, whoever journeys to the prince, For God's sake, let not us two stay at home: For, by the way, I'll sort occasion, As index to the story we late talk'd of, [prince. SCENE III. The Same. A Street. 1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbour: Whither away so fast? 2 Cit. I promise you, I scarcely know myself; Hear you the news abroad. 2 Cit. Ill news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better: I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world. 3 Cit. Neighbours, God speed! 2 Cit. Ay, sir, it is too true; God help, the 3 Cit. Then, masters, look to see a troublous world. [shall reign. 1 Cit. No, no; by God's good grace, his son 3 Cit. Woe to that land, that's govern'd by a child! 2 Cit. In him there is a hope of government; That, in his nonage, council under him, And, in his full and ripen'd years, himself, No doubt, shall then, and till then, govern well. 1 Cit. So stood the state, when Henry the Sixth Was crown'd at Paris but at nine months old. 3 Cit. Stood the state so? no, no, good friends, God wot; For then this land was famously enrich'd With politick grave counsel; then the king Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace. 1 Cit. Why, so hath this, both by his father and mother. [father; 3 Cit. Better it were they all came by his Or, by his father there were none at all: For emulation now, who shall be nearest, Will touch us all too near, if God prevent it not. O, full of danger is the duke of Gloster; And the queen's sons, and brothers, haught and proud: And were they to be rul'd, and not to rule, 1 Cit. Come, come, we fear the worst: all will be well. 3 Cit. When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks; When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand; 2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear: You cannot reason almost with a man That looks not heavily, and full of dread. 3 Cit. Before the days of change, still is it so: By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing danger; as, by proof, we see The water swell before a boist'rous storm. But leave it all to God. Whither away? 2 Cit. Marry, we were sent for to the justices. 3 Cit. And so was I; I'll bear you company. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, the young DUKE OF YORK, QUEEN ELIZABETH, and the DUCHESS OF YORK. Arch. Last night, I heard, they lay at Stony- And at Northampton they do rest to-night: Hath almost overta'en him in his growth. York. Ay, mother, but I would not have it so. Duch. Why, my young cousin? it is good to [suppes, grow. York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow Gloster, More than my brother; Ay, quoth my uncle| And thither, bear your treasure and your goods Small herbs have grace; great weeds do grow apace: ous. I could have given my uncle's grace a flout, Here comes a messenger: Arch. What news? Mess. Such news, my lord, As grieves me to unfold. How doth the prince? What is thy news? Mess. Lord Rivers, and Lord Grey, are sent to Pomfret, With them Sir Thomas Vanghan, prisoners. Q. Eliz. The mighty dukes, For what offence? Mess. The sum of all I can, I have disclos'd;; Why, or for what, the nobles were committed, Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady. Q. Eliz. Ah me, I see the ruin of my house! Upon the innocent and awless throne:- The Art Third. SCENE I. London. A Street. Trumpets sound. [Exeunt. Enter the PRINCE OF WALES, GLOSTER, BUCKINGHAM, CARDINAL Buck. Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to Prince. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way Hath made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy: I want more uncles here to welcome me. Glo. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit : Seldom, or never, jumpeth with the heart. Prines. God keep me from false friends; but Prince. I thank you, good my lord;—and thank you all. I thought, my mother, and my brother York, Buck. And in good time, here comes the sweat- grace, But by his mother was perforce withheld. Buck. Fye! what an indirect and peevish course Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days! Is this of hers?-Lord cardinal, will your grace terous, Anon expect him here: But if she be obdurate Buck. You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord, The benefit thereof is always granted serv'd it; And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it: But sanctuary children, ne'er till now. [once.- Prince. Good lords, make all the speedy haste you may. [Exeunt Cardinal and HAST. Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation? Glo. Where it seems best unto your royal self. Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified. Glo. So wise so young, they say, do ne'er live long. [Aside. Aside. Prince. What say you, uncle? Glo. I say, without characters, fame lives long. Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity, I moralize two meanings in one word. J Prince. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man, With what his valour did enrich his wit, His wit set down to make his valour live. Death makes no conquest of this conqueror; For now he lives in fame, though not in life. I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham.Buck. What, my gracious lord? Prince. An if I live until I be a man, I'll win our ancient right in France again, Or die a soldier, as I liv'd a king. Glo. Short summers lightly have a forward spring. [Aside. Enter YORK, HASTINGS, and the Cardinal. Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the duke [brother? Prince. Richard of York! how fares our loving York. Well, my dread lord; so must I call you of York. now. Prince. Ay, brother; to our grief, as it is yours: Too late he died that might have kept that title, Which by his death hath lost much majesty, Glo. 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. Glo. He hath, my lord. York. And therefore is he idle? Glo. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so York. Then is he more beholden to you, than I. Glo. He may command me, as my sovereign; But you have power in me, as in a kinsman. York. I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger. Glo. My dagger, little cousin? with all my Prince. A beggar, brother? [heart. York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give; And, being but a toy, which is no grief to give. In weightier things you'll say a beggar, nay. York. Little. 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; Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so. Glo. Nor none that live, I hope. Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. But come, my lord, and, with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower. [Exeunt Prince, YORK, HASTINGS, Cardinal, and Attendants. Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating Was not incensed by his subtle mother, [York To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously? Gio. No doubt, no doubt: O, 'tis a parlous boy; Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable; He's all the mother's, from the top to toe. Buck. Well, let them rest.— Come hither, gentle Catesby; thou art sworn As deeply to effect what we intend, As closely to conceal what we impart: Theu know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way :-What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter To make William Lord Hastings of our mind, For the instalment of this noble duke In the seat royal of this famous isle? [prince, Cate. He for his father's sake so loves the That he will not be won to aught against him. Buck, What think'st thou then of Stanley? will not he? And give us notice of his inclination: His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots? Ard, look, when I am king, claim thou of me Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness. Come, let us sup betimes; that afterwards [Exeunt. SCENE II. Eefore Lord Hastings' House. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord, my lord,- [Knocking. Mess. Hast. Cannot thy master sleep these tedious Mess. So it should seem, by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble lordship. Hast. And then, Mess. And then he sends you word, he dreamt To-night the boar hath rased off his helm: Besides, he says, there are two councils held; And that may be determin'd at the one, Which maymake you and him to rue at the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure, If presently, you will take horse with him, And with all speed post with him toward the north, To shun the danger that his soul divines. Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; say. Enter CATESBY. | Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd. Hast. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news, Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious [hence, As thou, and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear For they account his head upon the bridge. [Aside. row, Catesby: You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, Host. My lord, I hold my life as dear as you Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode Enter a Pursuivant. Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow. [Exeunt STAN. and CATESBY. How now, sirrah? how goes the world with thee? Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Than when thou met'st me last where now we Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, [meet: for me. honour. purse. [Exit Pursuivant. Enter a Priest. Pr. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your [my heart. Hast. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all I am in your debt for your last exercise; Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. Enter BUCKINGHAM. Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord cham berlain? Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; Your honour hath no shriving work in hand. Hast. 'Good faith, and when I met this holy man, The men you talk of came into my mind. What, go you toward the Tower? it not. Come, will you go? Hast. [there: Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay I shall return before your lordship thence. Hast. Nay, like enough, for I staydinner there. Buck. And supper too, although thou know'st [Aside. I'll wait upon your lordship. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Pomfret. Before the Castle. Enter RATCLIFF, with a Guard, conducting RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, to Execution. Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die, [this,— For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you! A knot you are of damned blood-suckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter. Rat. Despatch; the limit of your lives is out. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody Fatal and ominous to noble peers! [prison, Within the guilty closure of thy walls, Richard the Second here was hack'd to death: And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink. Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our heads, When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you and I, For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son. iv. Then curs'd she Hastings, then curs'd she Buckingham, Then curs'd she Richard:-O, remember, God, Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. London. A Room in the Tower. Who is most inward with the noble duke? But, for his purpose in the coronation,[well; I Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. [morrow: cluded. have been long a sleeper; but, I trust, Glo. My noble lords and cousins all, good My absence doth neglect no great design, Which by my presence might have been con[lord, Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my William Lord Hastings had pronoune'd your part,I mean, your voice,-for crowning of the king. Glo. Than my Lord Hastings, no man might be bolder; [well.His lordship knows me well, and loves me My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there; I do beseech you, send for some of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. [Exit ELY. Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business; And finds the testy gentleman so hot, That he will lose his head, ere give consent, His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the royalty of England's throne. Buck. Withraw yourself awhile, I'll go with you. [Exeunt GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph. To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden; Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth There's some conceit or other likes him well, Stan. What of his heart perceive you in his By any likelihood he show'd to-day? [face, Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is offended; |