Within the guilty closure of thy walls, Then curs'd she Richard:-O, remember, God, embrace: Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. LONDON. A Room in the Tower. BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the BISHOP of ELY, CATESBY, LOVEL, and others, sitting at a Table: Officers of the Council attending. Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met Is-to determine of the coronation: In God's name, speak, when is the royal day? [mind. Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts, He knows no more of mine, than I of yours; Nor I, of his, my lord, than you of mine: Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well; But, for his purpose in the coronation, I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd His gracious pleasure any way therein: Enter GLOSter. Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all, good morrow: I have been long a sleeper; but, I trust, My absence doth neglect no great design, Which by my presence might have been concluded. Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my lord, William, lord Hastings, had pronounc'd your part,— I mean, your voice, for crowning of the king. Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be bolder; His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there; I do beseech you, send for some of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. [Exit Ely. Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business; And finds the testy gentleman so hot, That he will lose his head, ere give consent, His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the royalty of England's throne. Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with you. [Exeunt Gloster and Buckingham. Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph. To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden; For I myself am not so well provided, As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Re-enter BISHOP of ELY. Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent For these strawberries. Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning; There's some conceit or other likes him well, 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. Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil, And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, Lovel, and Catesby, look, that it be done; [Exeunt Council, with Gloster and Buckingham. Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, O, now I want the priest that spake to me: Cate. Despatch, my lord, the duke would be at dinner; Make a short shift, 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. Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. Hast. O, bloody Richard!-miserable England! I prophesy the fearful'st time to thee, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.- SCENE V. The same. The Tower Walls. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, in rusty Armour, marvellous ill-favoured. Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy Murder thy breath in middle of a word,— As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror? Glo. He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY. Hark, hark! a drum. Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent for you,- Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep. So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue, 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 To murder me, and my good lord of Gloster? 1 Glo. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels? The peace of England, and our persons' safety, May. Now, fair befal you! he deserv'd his death; |