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;

For, were he, he had shown it in his looks.

Re-enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM.

Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve,

'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,

Makes me most forward in this noble presence
To doom the offenders: Whosoe'er they be,
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their
evil,

Look how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm
Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up:
And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous

witch,

Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore, That by their witchcraft thus have marked me. Hast. If they have done this deed, my noble lord,

Glo. If! thou protector of this damned strumpet, [tor:Talk'st thou to me of ifs?-Thou art a traiOff with his head:-now, by Saint Paul I

for me;

For I, too fond,t might have prevented this:
Stanley did dream, the boar did rase his helm;
But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly.
Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did
stumble,

And startled, when he look'd upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.
O, now I want the priest that spake to me:
1 now repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triumphing, how mine enemies,
To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O, Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.
Cate. Despatch, my lord, the duke would be
at dinner;

Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head.
Hast. O momentary grace of mortal men,
Which we more hunt for than the grace of
God!

Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast;
Ready, with every nod, to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

• Thought of Richards (rest.)

Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim.

Hast. O, bloody Richard!-miserable Eng land!

I prophesy the fearful'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, who shortly shall be dead.
[Exeunt.

SCENE V.-The same.-The Tower-walls. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favour'd.

Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour?

Murder thy breath in middle of a word,-
And then again begin, and stop again,
As if thou wert distraught, and mad with

terror?

Glo. Look to the draw-bridge there.
Buck. Hark, hark! a drum.

Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls.
Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent
for you,-

Glo. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies.

Buck. God and our innocence defend and guard us!

Enter LOVEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS' heud.

Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratcliff, and Lovel.

Lov. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.

Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must

weep.

I took him for the plainest harmless't creature, That breath'd upon the earth a Christian; Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded The history of all her secret thoughts: [virtue, So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of That, his apparent open guilt omitted,—

I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife,He liv'd from all attainder of suspect.

Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor

That ever liv'd.-Look you, my lord mayor,
Would you imagine, or almost believe,
(Were't not, that by great preservation
We live to tell it you,) the subtle traitor
This day had plotted in the council-house,
To murder me, and my good lord of Gloster?
May. What! had he so?

Glo. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels?

Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death;
But that the extreme peril of the case.

• Pretending.

May. Now, fair befall you! he deserv'd his death;

And your good graces both have well proceeded,
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
I never look'd for better at his hands,
After he once fell in with mistress Shore.

Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he should
Until your lordship came to see his end; [die,
Which now the loving haste of these our
friends,
[ed:
Somewhat against our meaning, hath prevent-
Because, my lord, we would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons;
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who, haply, may
Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.
May. But, my good lord, your grace's word
shall serve,

As well as I had seen, and heard him speak :
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this case.
Glo. And to that end we wish'd your lordship
here,

To avoid the censures of the carping world. Buck. But since you came too late of our intent,

Yet witness what you hear we did intend: And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell. [Exit LORD MAYOR. Glo. Go after, after, cousin Buckingham. The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:

There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward's children:
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,
And bestial appetite in change of lust;
Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters,
wives,

son:

Even where his raging eye, or savage heart,
Without control, listed to make his prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my per-
[child
Tell them, when that my mother went with
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York,
My princely father, then had wars in France;
And, by just computation of the time,
Found, that the issue was not his begot;
Which well appeared in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble duke my father:
Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere far off';
Because, my lord, you know, my mother lives.
Buck. Doubt not, my lord; I'll play the
orator,

As if the golden fee, for which I plead,
Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu.
Glo. If you thrive well, bring them to Bay-
nard's castle;
Where you shall find me well accompanied,
With reverend fathers, and well-learned
bishops.

Buck. I go; and, towards three or four o'clock,

SCENE VI.-A Street. Enter a SCRIVENER.

ther:

[Exit.

Scriv. Here is the indictment of the good lord Hastings; Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd, That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's. And mark how well the sequel hangs togeEleven hours I have spent to write it over, For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me; The precedent* was full as long a doing: And yet within these five hours Hastings liv'd Untainted, unexamin'd, free, at liberty. Here's a good world the while!-Who is so That cannot see this palpable device? [gross, Yet who so bold, but says he sees it not? Bad is the world; and all will come to nought, When such bad dealing must be seen in thought. [Exit.

SCENE VII.-The same.-Court of Baynard's Castle.

Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, meeting. Glo. How now, how now? what say the citizens?

Buck. Now by the holy mother of our Lord, The citizens are mum, say not a word. Glo. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children?

Buck. I did; with his contract with Lady
Lucy,

And his contract by deputy in France:
The insatiate greediness of his desires,
And his enforcement of the city wives
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,-
As being got, your father then in France;
And his resemblance, being not like the duke.
Withal, I did infer your lineaments,-
Being the right idea of your father,
Both in your form and nobleness of mind:
Laid open all your victories in Scotland,
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;
Indeed, left nothing, fitting for your purpose,
Untouch'd, or slightly handled, in discourse.
And, when my oratory grew to an end,

I bade them, that did love their country's good,
Cry-God save Richard, England's royal king!
Glo. And did they so?

Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a

own,

Glo. Go, Lovel, with all speed to doctor

Shaw,

Richard!

[Exeunt LovEL and CATESBY.

* Original draft.

This general applause, and cheerful shout,
Argues your wisdom, and your love to Richard:
And even here broke off and came away.
Glo. What tongueless blocks were they;
Would they not speak? [come?
Will not the mayor then, and his brethren,
Buck. The mayor is here at hand; intend*
some fear;

Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit:
And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand between two churchmen, good my
lord;

For on that ground I'll make a holy descant:
And be not easily won to our requests;
Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and

take it.

Glo. I go; And if you plead as well for As I can say nay to thee for myself, [them, No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue. Buck, Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks. [Exit GLOSTER. Enter the LORD MAYOR, Aldermen, and Citizens. Welcome, my lord; I dance attendance here; I think, the duke will not be spoke withal.Enter, from the Castle, CATESBY.

Now, Catesby! what says your lord to my re

quest?

Cate. He doth entreat your grace, my noble To visit him to-morrow, or next day: [lord, He is within, with two right reverend fathers, Divinely bent to meditation;

And in no worldly suit would he be mov'd,
To draw him from his holy exercise.

Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke;

Tell him, myself, the mayor, and aldermen,
In deep designs, in matter of great moment,
No less importing than our general good,
Are come to have some conference with his
grace.

Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight.
[Exit.
Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an
Edward!

He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,t
But on his knees at meditation;

Not dallying with a brace of courtezans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross‡ his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:
Happy were England, would this virtuous
prince

Take on himself the sovereignty thereof:
But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it.
May. Marry, God defend, his grace should
say us nay!

Buck. I fear, he will: Here Catesby comes again;

Re-enter CATESBY.

Now, Catesby, what says his grace?

Enter GLOSTER, in a Gallery above, between two Bishops. CATESBY returns.

May. See, where his grace stands 'tween two clergymen !

To stay him from the fall of vanity: [prince,
Buck. Two props of virtue for a Christian
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand;
True ornaments to know a holy man.-
Lend favourable ear to our requests;
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion, and right-Christian zeal.
Glo. My lord, there needs no such apology;
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
I rather do beseech you pardon me,
But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure?
Neglect the visitation of my friends.
Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God
And all good men of this ungovern'd isle.
above,

Glo. I do suspect, I have done some offence,
That seems disgracious in the city's eye;
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.
Buck. You have, my ford; Would it might
please your grace,

On our entreaties to amend your fault! Glo. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?

Buck. Know, then, it is your fault, that you

resign

The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The sceptred office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:
Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts
(Which here we waken to our country's good,
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs;
Her face defac'd with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shoulder'd in the swallowing gal
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion.
Which to recure,t we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land:
Not as protector, steward, substitute,

Or lowly factor for another's gain:
But as successively from blood to blood,
Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
For this, consorted with the citizens,
Your very worshipful and loving friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just suit come I to move your grace.
Glo. I cannot tell, if to depart in silence,
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,
Best fitteth my degree, or your condition:
If not to answer, you might haply think,
Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded
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,

sembled

Such troops of citizens to come to him,

His
grace not being warn'd thereof before,
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
Buck. Sorry I am, my noble cousin should
Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love;
And so once more return and tell his grace.
[Exit CATESBY.
When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, 'tis hard to draw them
So sweet is zealous contemplation. [thence;
† A couch.

* Pretend,

+ Fatten.

Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first;
And, then in speaking, not to incur the last,
Definitively thus I answer you.

Your love deserves my thanks; but my deser
Unmeritable, shuns your high request.
First, if all obstacles were cut away,
And that my path were even to the crown,
As the ripe revenue and due of birth;
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty, and so many, my defects, [ness,
That I would rather hide me from my great-
Being a bark to brook no mighty sea,-
+ Recover.

*Thrust into.

+ Empire.

them.

Anne. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother:

[blame, Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy And take thy office from thee, on thy peril. Brak. No, madam, no, I may not leave it so;

I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. [Exit BRAKENBURY.

Enter STANLEY.

Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence,

And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, And reverend looker-on of two fair queens.Come, madam, you must straight to West

minster. To the Duchess of GLOSTER. There to be crowned Richard's royal queen. Q. Eliz. Ah, cut my lace asunder! [beat, That my pent heart may have some scope to Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news. Anne. Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news!

Dor. Be of good cheer:-Mother, how fares your grace?

Q. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee

curse,

Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen.

Stan. Full of wise care is this your counsel, madam:

Take all the swift advantage of the hours;
You shall have letters from me to my son
In your behalf, to meet you on the way:
Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay.

Duch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery!-
O my accursed womb, the bed of death;
A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world,
Whose unavoided eye is murderous!

Stan. Come, madam, come; I in all haste

was sent.

Anne. And I with all unwillingness will go.

0, would to God, that the inclusive verge Of golden metal, that must round my brow, Were red-hot steel, to sear‡ me to the brain! Anointed let me be with deadly venom; And die, ere men can say-God save the queen! Q. Eliz. Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory;

To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm. Anne. No! why?-When he, that is my hus

band now,

Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse; When scarce the blood was well wash'd from

his hands,

Which issu'd from my other angel husband, And that dead saint which then I weeping fol

low'd;

O, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face,
This was my wish,—Be thou, quoth I, accurs'd,
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)

A serpent supposed to originate from a cock's egg.
The crown.

+ Burn.

Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death?
Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again,
Even in so short a space, my woman's heart
Grossly grew captive to his honey words,
And prov'd the subject of mine own soul's

curse:

Which ever since hath held mine eyes from
For never yet one hour in his bed [rest;
Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep,
But with his timorous dreams was still awak'd.
Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick;
And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me,

Q. Eliz. Poor heart, adieu; I pity thy com-
plaining.

Anne. No more than with my soul I mourn for yours.

Dor. Farewell, thou woeful welcomer of glory!

Anne. Adieu, poor soul, that tak'st thy leave of it!

Duch. Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide thee!- [To DORSET. Go thou to Richard, and good angels tend thee![To ANNE. Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess thee! [To Q. ELIZABETH. I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen, [me. And each hour's joy wreck'd with a week of teen.*

Q. Eliz. Stay yet; look back, with me, unto the Tower.

Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes,
Whom envy hath immur'd within your walls!
Rough cradle for such little pretty ones!
Rude ragged nurse! old sullen play-fellow
For tender princes, use my babies well!
So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets. RICHARD, as King upon his Throne; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, a PAGE, and others.

K. Rich. Stand all apart.-Cousin of Buckingham,

Buck. My gracious sovereign.

K. Rich. Give me thy hand. Thus high, by

thy advice,

And thy assistance, is king Richard seated:--
But shall we wear these glories for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?
Buck. Still live they, and for ever let them
last!

K. Rich. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch,t

To try if thou be current gold, indeed :Young Edward lives;-Think now what I would speak.

Buck. Say on, my loving lord.

K. Rich. Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king.

Buck. Why, so you are, my thrice-renowned liege.

K. Rich. Ha! am I king? 'Tis so: but Edward lives.

Buck. True, noble prince. 'K. Rich. O bitter consequence, That Edward still should live,—true, noble prince !

Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull :--Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead: And I would have it suddenly perform'a.