ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. The Palace. PRINCE EDWARD, GLOSTER, BUCKINGHAM, LORD STANLEY, TRESSEL, and ATTENDANTS, discovered. Glost. Now, my royal cousin, welcome to London! Welcome to all those honour'd dignities, Which, by your father's will, and by your birth, P. Ed. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way, Tressel. More uncles! what means his highness? Stanley. Why, sir, the careful Duke of Gloster, has Secur'd his kinsmen on the way.-Lord Rivers, Gray, On what pretence it boots not, there they are; Enter LORD MAYOR and Two ALDERMEN. Lord M. Vouchsafe, most gracious sovereign, to accept The general homage of your royal city: P. Ed. I thank you, good my lord, and thank you all. Alas! my youth is yet unfit to govern, Therefore, the sword of justice is in abler hands; I perceive I love you, that though I know not yet Glost. So wise, so young, they say, do ne'er live long. P. Ed. My lords, [Aside. I thought my mother, and my brother, York, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation? Glost. Where it shall seem best to your royal self. May I advise you, sir, some day, or two, Your highness shall repose you at the Tower; Then, where you please, and shall be thought most fit For your best health and recreation. Pr. Ed. Why at the Tower? But, be it as you please. Buck. My lord, your brother's Grace of York. Enter DUKE and DUCHESS OF YORK. P. Ed. Richard of York! how fares our dearest brother? [Embracing. D. of York. Oh, my dear lord! So I must call you now. P. Ed. Ay, brother, to our grief, as it is yours! Too soon he died, who might have better worn That title, which, in me, will lose its majesty. Glost. How fares our cousin, noble Lord of York? D. of York. Thank you kindly, dear uncle—Oh, my lord, You said that idle weeds were fast in growth; D. of York. And, therefore, is he idle? Glost. Oh, pretty cousin, I must not say so. D. of York. Nay, uncle, I don't believe the saying's true, For, if it were, you'd be an idle weed. Glost. How so, cousin? D. of York. Because, I have heard folks say, you grew so fast, Your teeth would gnaw a crust at two hours old: Now, 'twas two years ere I could get a tooth. Glost. Indeed! I find, the brat is taught this les son. [Aside. Who told thee this, my pretty, merry cousin? wert born. D. of York. If 'twas not she, I can't tell who told me. Glost. So subtle too! 'tis pity thou art short liv'd! [Aside. P. Ed. My brother, uncle, will be cross in talk. Glost. Oh, fear not, my lord; we shall never quar rel. P. Ed. I hope your grace knows how to bear with him. D. of York. You mean to bear me, not to bear with me; Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me : He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders. To meet, and bid you welcome, at the Tower. P. Ed. My Lord Protector will have it so. D. of York. I shan't sleep in quiet at the Tower. Glost. I'll warrant you: King Henry lay there, And he sleeps in quiet. [Aside. P. Ed. What should you fear, brother? D. of York. My uncle Clarence' ghost, my lord; My grandmother told me he was kill'd there. P. Ed. I fear no uncles dead. Glost. Nor any, sir, that live, I hope? P. Ed. I hope so too; but come, my lords, To the Tower, since it must be so. [Exeunt all but GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Buck. Think you, my lord, this little, prating York Was not instructed by his subtle mother, To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously? Stubborn, bold, quick, forward, and capable! Buck. My lord, 'tis much as I suspected, and Enter CATESBY. Glost. So, Catesby, hast thou been tampering? What news? Catesby. My lord, according to the instruction given me, E With words, at distance dropp'd, I sounded Hastings, Piercing how far he did affect your purpose; To which, indeed, I found him cold, unwilling; The sum is this-he seem'd awhile to understand me not; At length, from plainer speaking, urg'd to answer, He shall be taken care of; meanwhile, Catesby, Of Edward's children. Buck. Doubt not, my lord, I'll play the orator, As if myself might wear the golden fee, For which I plead. Glost. If you thrive well, bring them to see me here, Where you shall find me seriously employ'd, For look, when I am king, claim thou of me Glost. Cousin, I have said it. Buck. I am gone, my lord. Glost. So, I've secur'd my cousin here. moveables Will never let his brains rest, till I'm king. [Exit. These |