SCENE II.

The Presence Chamber.

Enter BUCKINGHAM, hastily, meeting LORD
STANLEY.

Buck. Did you see the duke?
Stanley. What duke, my lord?

Buck. His Grace of Gloster; did you see him?
Stanley. Not lately, my lord-I hope no ill news?
Buck. The worst that heart e'er bore, or tongue
can utter,

Edward, the king, his royal brother, 's dead!

Stanley. 'Tis sad, indeed! I wish by your impatience,

To acquaint him though, you think it so, to him.

[Aside.

Did the king, my lord, make any mention
Of a protector, for his crown, and children?
Buck He did; Duke Richard has the care of

both.

Stanley. That sad news you are afraid to tell him

too.

[Aside. Buck. He'll spare no toils, I'm sure, to fill his

place.

Stanley. 'Pray, Heav'n, he's not too diligent!

[Aside.

My lord, is not that the Duchess of York,
The king's mother coming, I fear, to visit him?
Buck.'Tis she-little thinking what has befall'n us!

Enter DUCHESS OF YORK.

Duch. of York. Good day, my lords; how takes the king his rest?

Buck. Alas, madam! too well!-he sleeps for ever!
Duch. of York. Dead! Good Heav'n support me!
Buck. Madam, 'twas my unhappy lot, to hear
His last departing groans, and close his eyes!
Duch. of York. Another taken from me too! why,
just Heav'n,

Am I still left the last, in life, and woe?
First, I bemoan'd a noble husband's death,
Yet liv'd, with looking on his images :

But now, my last support is gone.-First, Clarence,
Now, Edward, is for ever taken from me,

And I must now of force, sink down with sorrow!
Buck. Your youngest son, the noble Richard, lives.
His love, I know, will feel his mother's cares,
And bring new comfort to your latter days.
Duch.of York. "Twere new, indeed! for yet of him,
I've none,

Unless a churlish disposition may

Be counted from a child a mother's comfort.
Where is the queen, my lord?

Buck. I left her with her kinsmen, deep in sorrow,
Who have, with much ado, persuaded her
To leave the body.-Madam, they are here.

Enter QUEEN, RIVERS, and DoRset.

Queen. Why do you thus oppose my grief? unless To make me rave, and weep, the faster? ha! My mother too in tears! fresh sorrow strikes My heart, at sight of every friend that lov'd My Edward, living! Oh, mother, he's dead! Edward, my lord, thy son, our king, is dead! Oh, that my eyes could weep away my soul ! Then I might follow, worthy of his hearse.

Stanley. Your duty, madam, of a wife, is dead, And now, the mother's only, claims your care. Think on the prince, your son-send for him, straight, And let his coronation clear your eyes.

Bury your griefs in the dead Edward's grave-
Revive your joys, on living Edward's throne.

Queen. Alas! that thought but adds to my afflictions!

New tears for Edward, gone, and fears for Edward, living!

An helpless child, in his minority,

Is in the trust of his stern uncle, Gloster-
A man, that frowns on me, and all of mine.
Buck. Judge not so hardly, madam, of his love:
Your son will find in him a father's care.

Enter GLOSTER, behind.

Glost. Why, ah! these tears look well-Sorrow's the mode,

And every one at court must wear it now:---
With all my heart; I'll not be out of fashion. [Aside.
Queen. My lord, just Heaven knows, I never hated
Gloster!

But would, on any terms, embrace his friendship. Buck. These words would make him weep-I know him yours.

See, where he comes, in sorrow for our loss. Glost. My lords, good morrow-Cousin of Buckingham,

I am yours.

Buck. Good morning to your grace.

Glost. Methinks

We meet like men that had forgot to speak.

[Weeps.

Buck. We may remember; but our argument

Is now too mournful to admit such talk.

Glost. It is, indeed! Peace be with him, that made it so!

Sister, take comfort; 'tis true, we've all cause
To mourn the dimming of our shining star;
But sorrow never could revive the dead;
And if it could, hope would prevent our tears;
So we must weep, because we weep in vain

Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy ;
My grief was blind-I did not see your grace;
Most humbly, on my knees, I crave your blessing.
Duch. of York. Thou hast it, and may thy charit-
able

Heart and tongue love one another! may Heav'n
Endow thy breast with meekness, and obedience!
Glost. Amen, and make me die a good old man!
That's the old but-end of a mother's blessing;
I marvel, that her grace did leave it out!

[Aside. Buck. My lords, I think 'twere fit, that, now, Prince Edward

Forthwith, from Ludlow, should be sent for, home, In order to his coronation.

Glost. By all means, my lord: -Come, let's in, to counsel,

And appoint, who shall be the messengers:
Madam, and you, my sister, please you, go
To give your sentiments on this occasion.

Queen. My lord, your wisdom needs no help from

me;

My glad consent you have, in all that's just,
Or for the people's good, though I suffer by't.
Glost. 'Please you to retire, madam; we shall pro-

pose,

What you'll not think the people's wrongs, nor yours. Queen. May Heaven prosper all your good intent!

[Exeunt all but GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Glost. Amen, with all my heart!-for mine's the

crown,

And is not that a good one?-ha! pray'd she not well, cousin?

Buck. I hope she prophesy'd-you now stand fair. Glost. Now, by St. Paul, I feel it here! methinks The massy weight on't galls my laden brow: What think'st thou, cousin, wer't not an easy matter To get Lord Stanley's hand, to help it on?

Buck. My lord, I doubt that; for his father's sake,

He loves the prince too well-he'll scarce be won To any thing against him.

Glost. Poverty, the reward of honest fools,

O'ertake him for't! What think'st thou, then, of Hastings?

Buck. He shall be tried, my lord; I'll find out

Catesby,

Who shall at subtle distance sound his thoughtsBut we must still suppose the worst may happen: What, if we find him cold in our design?

Glost. Chop off his head!-something we'll soon determine :

But haste, and find out Catesby;

That done, follow me to the council chamber;
We'll not be seen together much, nor have

It known, that we confer in private, therefore
Away, good cousin.

Buck. I am gone, my lord.

Glost. Thus far we run before the wind;

[Exit.

My fortune smiles, and gives me all that I dare ask. The conquer'd lady Anne is bound in vows;

Fast as the priest can make us, we are one.

The king, my brother, sleeps without his pillow,
And I'm left guardian of his infant heir.

Let me see

The prince will soon be here-let him! the crown! Oh, yes, he shall have twenty-globes and sceptres too!

New ones made to play withal, but no coronationNo, nor any court-flies about him-no kinsmen. Hold ye-where shall he keep his court?-the Tower?

Ay-the Tower.

[Exit.