That grieves me when I see my shame in him. Thou art a widow; yet thou art a mother, And hast the comfort of thy children left thee: But death hath snatch'd my husband from my arms, And pluck'd two crutches from my feeble hands, Clarence and Edward. O, what cause have I (Thine being but a moiety of my grief,) To over-go thy plaints, and drown thy cries! Son. Ah, aunt! you wept not for our father's death;
How can we aid you with our kindred tears?
Daugh. Our fatherless distress was left unmoan'd, Your widow-dolour likewise be unwept!
Q. Fiz. Give me no help in lamentation, I am not barren to bring forth laments: All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes, That I, being govern'd by the wat'ry moon, May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world! Ah, for my husband, for my dear lord Edward! Chil. Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Cla-
Duch. Alas, for both, both mine, Edward and Clarence!
Q. Eliz. What stay had I, but Edward? and he's gone.
Chil. What stay had we but Clarence? and he's
Duch What stays had I, but they? and they are gone.
Q. Eliz. Was never widow, had so dear a loss. Chil. Were never orphans, had so dear a loss. Duch. Was never mother had so dear a iuss. Alas! I am the mother of these griefs; Their woes are parcell'd,' mine are general. She for an Edward weeps, and so do I: I for a Clarence weep, so doth not sue. These habes for Clarence weep, and so do I: I for an Edward weep, so do not they Alas! you three, on me, threefold distress'd, Pour all your tears, I am your sorrow's nurse, And I will pamper it with lamentations.
Dor. Comfort, dear mother; God is much dis- pleased,
That you take with unthankfulness mis doing; In common wordly things, 'tis call'd-ungrateful, repay a debt, With dull unwillingness to Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent; Much more to be thus opposite with heaven, For it requires the royal debt it lent you.
Riv. Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother, Of the young prince your son: send straight for him, Let him be crown'd; in him your comfort lives: Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward's grave, Ard plant your joys in living Edward's throne. Enter Gloster, Buckingham, Stanley, Hastings, Ratcliff, and others.
Glo. Sister, have comfort: all of us have cause To wail the dimming of our shining star, But none can cure the harms by wailing them. Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy,
I did not see your grace:-Humbly on my knee I crave your blessing.
Duch. God bless thee; and put meekness in thy breast,
Love, charity, obedience, and true duty!
Glo. Amen; and make me die a good old man!- That is the butt-end of a mother's blessing; [Aside. I marvel, that her grace did leave it out.
Buck. You cloudy princes, and heart-sorrowing peers,
That bear this mutual heavy load of moan,
Now cheer each other in each other's love. Though we have spent our harvest of this king, We are to reap the harvest of his son. But lately splinted, knit, and join'd together, The broken rancour of your high-swoln hearts, Must gently be preserv'd, cherish'd and kept: Me seemeth good, that, with some little train, Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fetch'd Riv. Why with some little train, my lord of Hither to London, to be crown'd our king. Buckingham?
Buck. Marry, my lord, lest by a multitude, The new-heal'd wound of malice should break out, Which would be so much the more dangerous, By how much the estate is green, and yet ungov ern'd:
Where every horse bears his commanding rein, As well the fear of harm, as harm apparent, And may direct his course as please himself, Glo. I hope, the king made peace with all of us. In my opinion, ought to be prevented. Riv. And so in me; and so, I think, in all: And the compact is firm, and true in me. Yet, since it is but green, it should be put To no apparent likelihood of breach, Therefore I say, with noble Buckingham, Which, haply, by much company might be urg'd: Hast. And so say I. That it is meet so few should fetch the prince.
Glo. Then be so; and go we to determine, Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow.
Madam,-and you my mother, will you go To give your censure in this weighty business? [Exeunt all but Buckingham and Gloster. Buck. My lord, whoever journeys to the prince, For God's sake, let not us two stay at home: For, by the way, I'll sort occasion,
As index to the story we late talk'd of, To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince. Glo. My other self, my counsel's consistory, My oracle, my prophet!-My dear cousin, I, as a child, will go by thy direction. [Exeunt. Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not stay behind.
SCENE III.-The same. A street. Enter two Citizens, meeting.
1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbour: Whither away so fast?
2 Cit. I promise you, I scarcely know myself: Hear you the news abroad? 1 Cit.
Yes; the king's dead. 2 Cit. Il news, by'r lady; seldom comes the
I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world.
Enter another Citizen.
3 Cit. Neighbours, God speed! Give you good morrow, sir. 1 Cit. 3 Cit. Doth the news hold of good king Edward's death?
2 Cit. Ay, sir, it is too true; God help the while! 3 Cit. Then, masters, look to see a troublous
1 Cit. No, no; by God's good grace, his sen
3 Cit. Wo to that land, that's govern'd by a
2 Cit. In him there is a hope of government; That, in his nonage, council under him, And, in his full and ripen'd years, himself (3) Preparatory. 4 Minary.
No doubt, shall then, and till then, govern well. 1 Cit. So stood the state, when Henry the Sixth Was crown'd in Paris but at nine months old. 3 Cit. Stood the state so? no, no, good friends, God wot;'
For then this land was famously enrich'd With politic grave counsel; then the king Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace.
1 Cit. Why, so hath this, both by his father and mother.
8 Cit. Better it were they all came by his father; Or, by his father there were none at all: For emulation now, who shall be nearest, Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not. , full of danger is the duke of Gloster; And the queen's sons, and brothers, haught and proud:
And were they to be rul'd, and not to rule, This sickly land might solace as before.
1 Cit. Come, come, we fear the worst; all will be well.
3 Cit. When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks;
When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand; When the sun sets, who doth not look for night? Untimely storms make men expect a dearth: All may be well; but, if God sort it so, 'Tis more than we deserve, or I expect.
2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear: You cannot reason2 almost with a man That looks not heavily, and full of dread.
3 Cit. Before the days of change, still is it so: By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing danger; as, by proof, we see The water swell before a boist'rous storm, But leave it all to God. Whither away?
2 Cit. Marry, we were sent for to the justices. 3 Cit. And so was I; I'll bear you company.
With them sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners. Duch. Who hath committed them? Mess.
Gloster and Buckingham. Q. Eliz.
For what offence? Mess. The sum of all I can I have disclos'd; Why, or for what, the nobles were committed, Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady.
Q. Eliz. Ah me, I see the ruin of my house! The tiger now hath seiz'd the gentle hind; Stony-Insulting tyranny begins to jut
And at Northampton they do rest to-night: To-morrow, or next day, they will be here. Duch. I long with all my heart to see the prince; I hope, he is much grown since last I saw him. Q. Eliz. But I hear, no; they say, my son York
Hath almost overta'en him in his growth.
York. Av, mother, but I would not have it so. Duch. Why, my young cousin, it is good to grow. York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper,
My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow More than my brother; Ay, quoth my uncle Gloster, Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace: And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast, Because sweet flowers are slow, and weeds make haste.
Duch. 'Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold
In him that did object the same to thee: He was the wretched'st thing, when he was young, So long a growing, and so leisurely, That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious. Arch And so, no doubt, he is, my gracious madam.
Upon the innocent and awless throne :- Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre! I see, as in a map, the end of all.
Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days! How many of you have mine eyes beheld? My husband lost his life to get the crown; And often up and down my sons were tost, For me to joy, and weep, their gain, and loss: And being seated, and domestic broils Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors, Make war upon themselves; brother to brother, Blood to blood, self 'gainst self:-0, preposterous And frantic courage, end thy damned spleen; Or let me die, to look on death no more! Q. Eliz. Come, come, my boy, we will to sane- tuary.- Madam, farewell. Duch. Stay, I will go with you. Q. Eliz. You have no cause. Arch.
My gracious lady, go, [To the Queen
And thither bear your treasure and your goods. For my part, I'll resign unto your grace The seal I keep; And so betide to me, As well I tender you and all of yours! Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary. [Exeuni
ACT III. SCENE 1.-The same. A street. The trumpets sound. Enter the prince of Wales, Gloster, Buckingham, Cardinal Bouchier, and others. Buck. Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber.
GA Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sovereign:
The weary way hath made you melancholy. Prince. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy : I want more uncles here to welcome me.
Glo. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your
Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit : No more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show; which, God he knows, Seldom, or never, jumpeth with the heart. Those uncles, which you want, were dangerous; Your grace attended to the sugar'd words, But look'd not on the poison of their hearts: God keep you from them, and from such false friends!
Prince. God keep me from false friends! but they were none.
Gle. My lord, the mayor of London comes greet you.
Enter the Lord Mayor, and his train.
May. God bless your grace with health and happy days!
Prince. I thank you, good my lord ;-and thank you all. [Exeunt Mayor, &c. I thought my mother, and my brother York, Would long ere this have met us on the way: Fie, what a slug is Hastings! that he comes not To tell us, whether they will come, or no. Enter Hastings.
Buck. And in good time, here comes the sweating lord.
Prince. Welcome, my lord: What, will our mother come?
Hast. On what occasion, God he knows, not I, The queen your mother, and your brother York, Hare taken sanctuary: The tender prince Would fain have come with me to meet your grace, But by his mother was perforce withheld.
Buck. Fie! what an indirect and peevish course Is this of hers?-Lord cardinal, will your grace Persuade the queen to send the duke of York Unto his princely brother presently? If she deny,-lord Hastings, go with him, And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce. Card. My lord of Buckingham, if my weak
Can from his mother win the duke of York, Anon expect him here: But if she be obdurate To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid We should infringe the holy privilege Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land, Would I be guilty of so deep a sin.
Buck. You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord, Too ceremonious, and traditional: Weigh it but with the grossness of this age, You break not sanctuary in siezing him. The benefit thereof is always granted
To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place, And those who have the wit to claim the place: This prince hath neither claim'd it, nor deserv'd it: And therefore, in nine opinion, cannot have it:
(1) Samsible vice, the buffoon in the old plays.
Come on, lord Hastings, will you go with me? Hast. I go, my lord. Prince. Good lords, make all the speedy haste [Exe. Cardinal and Hastings. Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation? Glo. Where it seems best unto your royal self. Your highness shall repose you at the Tower: If I may counsel you, some day or two, Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit For your best health and recreation.
Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place :- lord?
Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified. Glo. He did, my gracious ford, begin that place, Prince. Is it upon record? or else reported Successively from age to age he built it? Buck. Upon record, my gracious lord. Prince. But say, my lord, it were not register'd; Methinks, the truth should live from age to age, As 'twere retail'd to all posterity, Even to the general all-ending day.
Glo. So wise, so young, they say, do ne'er live long. [Aside.
Prince. What say you, uncle?
Glo. I say, without characters, fame lives long. Thus, like the formal' vice, Iniquity, moralize two meanings in one word.
Prince. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man; With what his valour did enrich his wit, His wit set down to make his valour live: Death makes no conquest of this conqueror; For now he lives in fame, though not in life.I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham. Buck. What, my gracious lord? Prince. An if I live until I be a man, I'll win our ancient right in France again, Or die a soldier, as I liv'd a king.
Glo. Short summers lightly have a forward spring. [side.
Enter York, Hastings, and the Cardinal. Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the duke of York.
Prince. Richard of York! how fares our loving brother?
York. Well, my dread lord; so must I call you
Prince. Ay, brother; to our grief, as it is yours: Too late3 he died, that might have kept that title, Which by his death hath lost much majesty.
Glo. How fares our cousin, noble lord of York? York. I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord, You said, that idle weeds are fast in growth: The prince my brother hath outgrown me far. Glo. He hath, my lord, York. And therefore is he idle! Glo. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so. York. Then is he more beholden to you, than I? Glo. He may command me, as my sovereign; But you have power in me, as in a kinsman. York. I pray you, uncle, then give me this dagger.
Glo. My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart. Prince. A beggar, brother?
York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give;
And, being but a toy, which is no grief to give. Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin. York. A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it? Glo. Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough. York. O then, I see, you'll part but with light gifts;
la weightier things you'll say a beggar, nay.
Glo. It is too weighty for your grace to wear. York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.
Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little ford?
York. I would, that I might thank you as you
call me.
Glo. How? York. Little.
Prince. My lord of York will still be cross in talk:-
Uacle, your grace knows how to bear with him. York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with
Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me; Because that I am little, like an ape, He thinks that you should bear me shoulders.
Buck. With what a sharp-provided wit he rea
To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle, He prettily and aptly taunts himself: So cunning, and so young, is wonderful.
Glo. My gracious lord, will't please you pass along?
Myself, and my good cousin of Buckingham, Will to your mother; to entreat of her, To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you. York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord?
Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so. York. I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower. Glo. Why, sir, what should you fear? York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost; My grandam told me, he was murder'd there. Prince. I fear no uncles dead.
Glo. Nor none that live, I hope.
Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. But come, my lord, and with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.
[Exeunt Prince, York, Hastings, Cardinal, and
Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incens'd' by his subtle mother, To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?
Glo. No doubt, no doubt O, 'tis a parlous boy; Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable;2 He's all the mother's, from the top to toe. Buck. Well, let them rest.-
Come hither, gentle Catesby; thou art sworn As deeply to effect what we intend,
As closely to conceal what we impart : Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way ;- What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter To make William lord Hastings of our mind, For the instalment of this noble duke In the scat roval of this famous isle?
Cate. He for his father's sake so loves the prince, That he will not be won to aught against him. Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley? will
Cate. He will do all in all as Hastings doth. Buck. Well then, no more but this: Go, gentle Catesby,
And, as it were far off, sound thou lord Hastings, How he doth stand affected to our purpose;
And summon him to-morrow to the Tower. To sit about the coronation.
If thou dost find him tractable to us, Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons: If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling, Be thou so too, and so break off the talk, And give us notice of his inclination: For we to-morrow hold divided' councils, Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd.
Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him, Catesby,
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle; And bid my friend, for joy of this good news, Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.
Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly.
Cate. My good lords both, with all the heed I can. Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?
Cate. You shall, my lord.
Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us both [Exit Catesby Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we perceive
Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots? Glo. Chop off his head, man ;-somewhat we will
And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables Whereof the king my brother was possess'd.
Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's hand.
Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness. Come, let us sup betimes; that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form. [Exe. SCENE II.-Before Lord Hastings' house. Enter a Messenger.
Mess. My lora, my lord,— Hast. [Within.]
[Knocking. Who knocks? One from Lord Stanley.
Hast. [Within.] What is't o'clock ? Mess. Upon the stroke of four. Enter Hastings.
Hast. Cannot thy master sleep the tedious nights? have to say. Mess. So it shorld seem by that
First, he commends him to your noble lordship. Hast. And then,-
Mess. And then he sends you word, he dreamt To-night the boar had rased off his helm: Besides, he says, there are two councils held; And that may be determin'd at the one, Which may make you and him to rue at the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship's plca
If presently, you will take horse with him, And with all speed post with him toward the north To shun the danger that his soul divines.
Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; Bid him not fear the separated councils: His honour, and myself, are at the one; And, at the other, is my good friend Catesby; Where nothing can proceed, that toucheth us, Whereof I shall not have intelligence. Tell him, his fears are shallow, wanting instance And for his dreams-I wonder, he's so fond' To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers: To fly the boar, before the boar pursues, Were to incense the boar to follow us, And make pursuit, where he did mean no chase. (5) Weak
Go, bid thy master rise and come to me; And we will both together to the Tower, Where, he shall see, the boar' will use us kindly. Mess. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you say. Enter Catesby.
Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord! Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring:
What news, what news, in this our tottering state? Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord; And, I believe, will never stand upright, Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.
Hast. How! wear the garland? dost thou mean the crown?
Hast. Come, come, have with you.-Wot' you what, my lord?
To-day, the lords you talk of are beheaded.
Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads,
Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their hats, But come, my lord, let's away.
Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fer- low. [Exeunt Stan. and Catesby. How now, sirrah? how goes the world with thee? Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Than when thou met'st me last where now we meet: Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
Hast. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my By the suggestion of the queen's allies;
Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd. But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?
Cate. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you for- ward
Upon his party, for the gain thereof:
And, thereupon, he sends you this good news,- That, this same very day, your enemies,
The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.
Hast. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news, Because they have been still my adversaries: But, that I'll give my voice in Richard's side, To bar my master's heirs in true descent, God knows, I will not do it, to the death.
Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!
Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence,
That they, who brought me in my master's hate, I live to look upon their tragedy.
Well, Catesby, ere a fornight make me older, I'll send some packing, that yet think not on't. Cale. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, When men are unprepar'd, and look not for it. Hast. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do With some men else, who think themselves as sa As thou, and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear To princely Richard, and to Buckingham.
Cate. The princes both make high account
Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, man? Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided? Stan. My lord, good morrow; and good morrow, Catesby:-
u may jest on, but by the holy rood,2 Jo not like these several councils, I.
Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours; And never, in my life, I do protest,
Was it more precious to me than 'tis now: Think you, but that I know our state secure, I would be so triumphant as I am?
Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from
Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure, And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust; But yet, you see, how soon the day o'ercast. This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt; Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward! What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.
1) i. e. Gloster, who had a boar for his arms.
But now, I tell thee (keep it to thyself,) This day those enemies are put to death, And I in better state than ere I was.
Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good con
SCENE III-Pomfret. Before the Castle. En- ter Ratcliff, with a guard conducting Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan, to execution.
Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this,- To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die, For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.
Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you!
A knot vou are of damned blood-suckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry wo for this
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