Both thou and thine are ours, and we will guard you. [Exeunt all but the ladies. Lead on! Countess. I have not seen a gentleman Of a more brave aspéct, or goodlier carriage; His fortunes move not him.-Madam, you are passionate.1 Kath. Beshrew me, but his words have touched me home, As if his cause concern'd me; I should pity him,* If he should prove another than he seems. Enter CRAWFORD. Craw. Ladies, the king commands your presence instantly, For entertainment of the duke. Kath. "The duke" Must then be entertain'd, the king obey'd; It is our duty. Countess. We will all wait on him. SCENE II. London.-The Tower. [Exeunt. A Flourish.-Enter King HENRY, OXFORD, DURHAM, and SURREY. K. Hen. Have ye condemn'd my chamberlain ? Condemn'd him, sir; which were as clear and mani fest, As foul and dangerous: besides, the guilt Of his conspiracy press'd him so nearly, K. Hen. Oh, lord bishop, This argued shame and sorrow for his folly, And must not stand in evidence against 1 Madam, you are passionate,] i. e. distressed, deeply affected: the Countess had observed Katherine weeping.-GIFFORD Our mercy, and the softness of our nature; Is.sometimes too, too bitter; but we carry I hope we may reprieve him from the sentence Dur. You may, you may; 'And so persuade your subjects that the title Oxf. By Vere's old honours, I'll cut his throat dares speak it. To engage a soul in. K. Hen. What a coil is here To keep my gratitude sincere and perfect! 1 Stanley was once my friend, &c.] Much of this is from the noble historian. The king certainly holds a very different language from that which we had in a former page; but it is characteristic of his close, cold, and selfish nature. "As a little leaven," Bacon says, "of new distaste doth commonly sour the whole lump of former merit, the king's wit began now to suggest unto his passion that Stanley at Bosworth-field, though he came in time to save his life, yet he staid long enough to endanger it." After all, the writer hints, as broadly as he dared, that Stanley's main guilt lay in his vast accumulations, which Henry viewed with too greedy an eye.-GIFFORD, Unless I should divide my crown with him, And give him half; though now I well perceive But I am charitable, lords; let justice K. Hen. If he speak to me, I could deny him nothing; to prevent it, I must withdraw. Pray, lords, commend my favours To his last peace, which, with him, I will pray for: That done, it doth concern us to consult Of other following troubles. Oxf. I am glad [Exit. He's gone; upon my life he would have pardon'd The traitor, had he seen him. Sur. T is a king Composed of gentleness. Dur. Rare and unheard of: But every man is nearest to himself, And that the king observes; 't is fit he should. Enter STANLEY, Executioner, Confessor, URSWICK, and DAWBENEY. Stan. May I not speak with Clifford, ere I shake This piece of frailty off? Daw. You shall; he's sent for. These lords and I am sent; he bade us say As he would, in the sweetness of his nature, Oxf. Without remembrance of your errors past, Next to my soul, shall be the nearest subject Enter CLIFFord. Daw. Sir Robert Clifford comes, the man, Sir William, You so desire to speak with. Dur. Mark their meeting. Clif. Sir William Stanley, I am glad your conscience, Before your end, hath emptied every burden Which charg'd it, as that you can clearly witness, How far I have proceeded in a duty That both concern'd my truth, and the state's safety. Stan. Mercy, how dear is life to such as hug it! Come hither-by this token think on me! [Makes a cross on CLIFFORD's face with his finger. Clif. This token? Stan. You are not. What am I abus'd? I wet upon your cheeks a holy sign, The cross, the Christian's badge, the traitor's infamy; Wear, Clifford, to thy grave this painted emblem: Water shall never wash it off; all eyes That gaze upon thy face, shall read there written A state-informer's character; more ugly, Stamp'd on a noble name, than on a base. The heavens forgive thee!-pray, my lords, no change Of words; this man and I have used too many, Clif. Shall I be disgraced Without reply? Dur. Give losers leave to talk; His loss is irrecoverable. Stan. Once more, To all a long farewell! The best of greatness him, Oh, persuade That I shall stand no blemish to his house, My heart doth bleed for him and for his sighs: Subjects deserve their deaths whose kings are just. Re-enter King HENRY with a white staff. K. Hen. The king doth know it, sir; the king hath heard What he or you could say. We have given credit The only evidence 'gainst Stanley's head: Clif. I pleased, my lord? K. Hen. No echoes: for your service, we dismiss Your more attendance on the court; take ease, And live at home; but, as you love your life, Stir not from London without leave from us. 'We'll think on your reward; away! 1 See p. 239. Lord Stanley had been raised to the dignity of an Earl in October, 1485, a few weeks after the battle of Bosworth.-GIFFORD. |