That, from the prime creation, e'er she framed.' Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse, They could not speak; and so I left them both, To bear this tidings to the bloody king.

Enter KING RICHARD.

And here he comes. All health, my sovereign lord! K. Rich. Kind Tyrrel! am I happy in thy news? Tyr. If to have done the thing you gave in charge

Beget your happiness, be happy then,

For it is done.

K. Rich. But didst thou see them dead?
Tyr. I did, my lord.

K. Rich.

And buried, gentle Tyrrel?

Tyr. The chaplain of the Tower hath buried

them;

But where, to say the truth, I do not know.

K. Rich. Come to me, Tyrrel, soon, at after

supper,

When thou shalt tell the process of their death.
Meantime, but think how I may do thee good,
And be inheritor of thy desire.

Farewell till then.

Tyr.

I humbly take my leave.

[Exit.

K. Rich. The son of Clarence have I penn'd up

close;

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.

Now, for I know the Bretagne Richmond 1 aims.
At young
Elizabeth, my brother's daughter,
And, by that knot, looks proudly on the crown,
To her go I, a jolly, thriving wooer.

Cates. My lord,

Enter CATESBY.

K. Rich. Good news or bad, that thou comest in so bluntly?

Cates. Bad news, my lord: Morton is fled to

Richmond;

And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welsh

men,

Is in the field, and still his power increaseth.

K. Rich. Ely 2 with Richmond troubles me more

near

Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength.
Come,-I have learn'd, that fearful commenting
Is leaden servitor to dull delay:

Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary:
Then fiery expedition be my wing,

Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king!
Go, muster men; my counsel is my shield:
We must be brief, when traitors brave the field.

[Exeunt.

1 The country in which Richmond had taken refuge.

i. e. the bishop of Ely.

SCENE IV.

The same. Before the palace.

Enter QUEEN margaret.

Q. Mar. So, now prosperity begins to mellow,
And drop into the rotten mouth of death.
Here in these confines slyly have I lurk'd,
To watch the waning of mine enemies.
A dire induction 1 am I witness to,

And will to France; hoping, the consequence
Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.

Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret! who comes here?

Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and DUCHESS Of york.

Q. Eli. Ah, my poor princes! ah, my tender babes!

My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets!
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air,
And be not fix'd in doom perpetual,
Hover about me with your airy wings,

And hear your mother's lamentation!

Q. Mar. Hover about her; say, that right for right

Hath dimm'd your infant morn to aged night. Duch. So many miseries have crazed my voice, That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.

1 Preface, introduction.