it so.

ter.

From all the impure blots and stains thereof; | That my pent heart may have some scope tu beat
For God he knows, and you may partly see, Ur else I swoon with this dead-killing news.
How far I am from the desire of this.

(say it.

Anne. Despiteful tidings ! O unpleasing news May. God bless your grace! we see it, and will Dor. Be of good cheer :-Mother, how fares your Glo. In saying so, you shall but say the truth.

grace ? Buck. Then I salute you with this royal title, - Q. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee gone, Long live king Richard, England's worthy king! Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; All Amen.

(crown'd ? | Thy mother's name is ominous to children: Buck. To-morrow may it please you to be If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas, Glo. Even when you please, since you will have And live with Richmoud, from the reach of hell.

[grace; Go, hie thee, hie thee, from this slavghter-house, Buck. To-morrow then we will attend your Lest thou increase the number of the dead; And so, most joyfully, we take our leave.

And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse,Glo. Come, let us to our holy work again

:- Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen.

(To the Bishops. Stan. Full of wise care is this your counsel, Farewell, good cousin ;-farewell, gentle friends.

madam :-
[Ereunt. Take all the swift advantage of the hours ;

You shall have letters from me to my son
In your behalf, to meet you on the way;

Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay.
ACT IV.

Duch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery !
O my accursed womb, the bed of death;

A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world,
SCENE I.-Before the Tower.

Whose unavoided eye is murderous !
Enter, on one side, QUEEN ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF

Stan. Come, madam, come; I in all haste was sent. YORK, and MARQUIS OF DORSET; on the other,

Anne. And I with all unwillingness will go.Anne, Duchess op GLOSTER, leading Lady MAR- O, would to God, that the inclusive verge GARET PLANTAGENET, Clarence's young daugh- of golden metal, that must round my brow,

Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain !

Anointed let me be with deadly venom; Duch. Who meets as here my niece Planta- And die, ere men can say—God save the queen! genet

Q. Eliz. Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory; Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloster ? To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm. Loow, Now, for my life, she's wand'ring to the Tower, Anne. No! why?- When he that is my husband On pure heart's love, to greet the tender prince.- Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse; (hards Daughter, well met.

When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his Anne.

God give your graces both Which issu'd from my other angel husband, A happy and a joyful time of day! [away? And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd;

Q. Eliz. As much to you, good sister !-Whither 0, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face,

Anne. No farther than the Tower; and, as I guess, This was my wish, ---Be thou, quoth I, accurs'd, Upon the like devotion as yourselves,

For making me, so young, so old a widow ! To gratulate the gentle princes there. [gether. And, when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed ; Q. Eliz. Kind sister, thanks; we'll enter all to- And be thy wife (if any be so mad) Enter BRAKENBURY.

More miserable by the life of thee, And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes.

Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death ! Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave,

Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again, How doth the prince, and my young son of York ?

Even in so short a space, my woman's heart Brak. Right well, dear madam: By your patience, And prov'd the subject of mine own soul's curs

Grossly grew captive to his honey words,
I may not suffer you to visit them;
The king hath strictly charg'd the contrary.

Which ever since hath held mine eyes from rest Q. Eliz. The king! who's that?

For never yet one hour in his bed Brak. mean, the lord protector. But with his timorous dreams was still awak'd.

Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep,
Q. Elis. The Lord protect him from that kingly Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick;

title!
Hath he set bounds between their love, and me?

And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me. I am their mother; who shall bar me from them?

Q. Eliz. Poor heart, adieu; I pity thy complaining.

Anne. No more than with my soul I mourn for yours. Duch. I am their father's mother; I will see them.

Dor. Farewell, thou woful welcomer of glory! Anne. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother: Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame,

Anne. Adieu, poor soul, that tak’st thy leave of it! And take thy office from thee, on my peril.

Duch. Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune Brak. No, madam, no,

guide thee!

(To DORSET. may not leave it so; I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me.

Go thou to Richard, and good angels tend thee!

[ To ANNE. [Exit BrakeNBURY. Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess Enter STANLEY.

thee!

(To Q. ELIZABETH. Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me! And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen, And reverend looker-on of two fair queens. And each hour's joy wreck'd with a week of teen. Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster, Q. Eliz. Stay yet; look back, with me, unto the (To the DuchESS OP GLOSTER.

Tower. 'There to be crowned Richard's royal queen. Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes Q. Eliz. Ah, cut my lace asander !

Whom envy hath immur'd within your walls !

Rough cradle for such little pretty ones!

Inquire me out some mean-born gentleman, Rude ragged nurse ! old sullen play-fellow Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter For tender princes, use my babies well!

The boy is foolish, and I fear not him.So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell. (Exeunt. Look, how thou dream'st!--I say again, give out,

That Anne my queen is sick, and like to die: SCENE II.-A Room of State in the Palace. About it; for it stands me much upon,

To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me.Flourish of trumpets RICHARD, as King, upon his

(Exit CATESBY throne ; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, a Page and I must be married to my brother's daughter, others.

Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass :K. Rich. Stand all apart.-Cousin of Bucking. Murder her brothers, and then marry her! ham,

Uncertain way of gain! But I ain in Buck. My gracious sovereign.

[advice, So far in blood, that sin will pluck on sin. K. Rich. Give me thy hand. Thus high, by thy Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye.And thy assistance, is king Richard seated:

Re-enter Page, with TYRREL.
But shall we wear these glories for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them ?

Is thy name-Tyrrel ?
Buck. Still live they, and for ever let them last!

Tyr. James Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject

K. Rich. Art thou, indeed ? K. Rich. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch,

(speak.

Тут. To try if thou be current gold, indeed :

.

Prove me, my gracious lord.

K. Rich. Dar'st thou resolve to kill a friend of Young Edward lives.-Think now what I would

mine? Buck. Say on, my loving lord.

[king. K. Rich. Why Buckingham, I say, I would be

Tyr. Please you; but I had rather kill two enemies.

K. Rich. Why, then thou hast it; two deep enemies, Buck. Why, so you are, my thrice-renowned liege. K. Rich. Ha! am I king? "f'is so : but Edward lives. Foes to my rest

, and my sweet sleep’s disturbers, Buck. True, noble prince.

Are they that I would have thee deal upon : K. Rich.

O bitter consequence,

Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower. That Edward still should live:true, noble prince ! - And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them.

Tyr. Let me have open means to come to them, Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull :Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead;

K. Rich. Thou sing’st sweet musick. Hark, come

hither Tyrrel; And I would have it suddenly perform’d. What say'st thou now? speak suddenly, be brief.

Go, by this token :-Rise, and lend thine ear: Buck. Your grace may do your pleasure. (freezes: There is no more but so :—Say, it is done,

[Whispers K. Rich. Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness And I will love thee, and prefer thee for it. Say, have I thy consent that they shall die ? Buck. Give me some breath, some little pause,

Tyr. I will despatch it straight.

[Erit. dear lord,

Re-enter BUCKINGHAM. Before I positively speak in this :

Buck. My lord, I have consider'd in my mind I will resolve your grace immediately.

The late demand that you did sound me in.

(Exit BuckINGHAM. K. Rich. Well, let that rest. Dorset is filed to Cate. The king is angry; see, he gnaws his lip.

Richmond.

(Aside. Buck. I hear the news, my lord. [look to it. K. Rich. I will converse with iron-witted fools, K. Rich. Stanley, he is your wife's son :- -Well,

(Descends from his throne. Buck. My lord, I claim the gift, my due by proAnd unrespective boys; none are for me,

mise, That look into me with considerate eyes;- For which your honour and your faith is pawn'd; High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect.- The earldom of Hereford, and the moveables, Boy,

Which you have promised I shall possess. Page. My lord.

[gold K. Rich. Stanley, look to your wife; if she convey K. Rich. Know'st thou not any, whom corrupting Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it. Would tempt unto a close exploit of death >

Buck. What says your Highness to my just request? Page. I know a discontented gentleman,

K. Rich. I do remember me-Henry the Sixth Whose humble means match not his haughty mind: Did prophesy, that Richmond should be king, Gold were as good as twenty orators,

When Richmond was a little peevish boy.
And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing. A king !-perhaps-
K. Rich. What is his name?

Buck. My lord,

(that tine Page.

His name, my lord, is-Tyrrel. K. Rich. How chance, the prophet could not at K. Rich. I partly know the man; Go, call him Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him? hither boy.

(Erit Page. Buck. My, lord, your promise for the earldom,The deep-revolving witty Buckingham

K. Rich. Richmond !--When last I was at Exeter, No more shall be the neighbour to my counsels : The mayor in courtesy show'd me the castle, Hath he so long held out with me untird,

And callid it-Rouge-mont: at which name I And stops he now for breath well, be it so.

started :

Because a bard of Ireland told me once,
Enter STANLEY.

I should not live long after I saw Richmond.
How now, lord Stanley ? what's the news ?

Buck. My lord, Stan.

Know, my loving lord, K. Rich. Ay, what's o'clock ? The marquis Dorset, as I hear, is filed

Buck.

I am thus bold To Richmond, in the parts where he abides. To put your grace in mind of what you promis'd me?

K. Rich. Coine hither, Catesby: rumour is abroad, K. Rich. Well, but what is't o'clock ? That Anne, my wife, is very grievous sick;

Buck.

Upon the stroke I will take order for her keeping close.

Of leu.

K. Rich. Well, let it strike.

Is in the field, and still his power encreaseth. (Dear Buck.

Why, let it strike ? K. Rich. Ely with Richmond troubles me more K. Rich. Because that, like a Jack, thou keep'st Than Buckiugham and his rash-levied strength. the stroke

Come, -I have learn'd, that fearful commenting Betwixt thy begging and my meditation.

Is leaden servitor to dull delay; I am not in the giving vein to-day

Delay leads impotent and snail-pac'd beggary: Buck. Why then, resolve me whe'r you will, or no. Then fiery expedition be my wing, K. Rich. Thou troublest me; I am not in the vein. Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king !

(Eseunt King Richard and Train. Go, muster men: My counsel is my shield; Buck. And is it thus ? repays he my deep service we must be brief, when traitors brave the field. With such contempt? made I him king for this ?

[Ereund 0, let me think on Hastings; and be gone To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on. [Erit. SCENE IV.—The same. Before the Palace. SCENE III. The same.

Enter QUEEN MARGARET.
Enter TYRREL

Q. Mar. So, now prosperity begins to mellow,

And drop into the rotten mouth of death. Tyr. The tyrannous and bloody act is done ; Here in these confines slily have I lurk’d, The most arch deed of piteous massacre,

To watch the waning of mine enemies. That ever yet this land was guilty of.

A dire induction am I witness to, Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn

And will to France ; hoping, the consequence To do this piece of ruthless treachery,

Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical. Albeit they were flesh'd villains, bloody dogs,- Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret ! who comes here? Melting with tenderness and mild compassion, Wept like two children, in their death's sad story.

Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the Duchess of York. O thus, quoth Dighton, lay the gentle babes -

Q. Eliz. Ah, my poor princes ! ah, my tender babes ! Thus, thus, quoth Forrest, girdling one another My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets ! Within their alabaster innocent arms :

If yet your gentle souls fly in the air, Their lips were four red roses on a stalk,

And be not fix'd in doom perpetual, Which, in their summer beauty, kiss'd each other. Hover about me with your airy wings, A book of prayers on their pillow lay:

And bear your mother's lamentation! Which once, quoth Forrest, almost chany'd my mind; Q. Mar. Hover about her; say, that right for right But, 0, the devil-there the villain stopp'd; Hath dimm'd your infant morn to aged night. When Dighton thus told on, -we smothered

Duch. So many miseries have craz'd my voice, The most replenished sweet work of nature,

That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute; That, from the prime creation, e'er she fram'd.- Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead ? Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse, Q. Mar. Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet, They could not speak; and so I left them both, Edward for Edward pays a dying debt. (lambs To bear this tidings to the bloody king.

Q. Eliz. Wilt thou, O God, diy from such gentle Enter King RICHARD.

And throw them in the entrails of the wolf ? And here he comes :- All bealth, my sovereign lord! Why didst thou sleep, when such a deed was done ? K. Rich. Kind Tyrrel! am I happy in thy news ?

Q. Mar. When holy Harry died, and my sweet son. Tyr. If to have done the thing you gave in charge

Duch. Dead life, blind sight, poor mortal-living Beget your happiness, be happy then,

ghost,

[usurp'd For it is done.

Woe's scene, world's shame, grave's due by life K. Rich. But didst thou see them dead ?

Brief abstract and record of tedious days, Tyr. I did, my lord.

Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth, K, Rich. And buried, gentle Tyrrel? | Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood!

(Sitting down Tyr. The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them But where, to say the truth, I do not know.

Q. Eliz. Ah, that thou would'st as soon afford a K. Rich. Come to me, Tyrrel, soon, at after supper, , As thou canst yield a melancholy seat;

grave, When thou shalt tell the process of their death. Mean time, but think how I may do thee good,

Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here ! And be inheritor of thy desire.

Ah, who hath any cause to mourn, but we? Farewell, till then.

Sitting down by her Tyr. I humbly take my leave. [Exit.

Q. Mar. If ancient sorrow be most reverent, K. Rich. The son of Clarence have I penn’d up. And let my griefs frown on the upper hand.

Give mine the benefit of seniory, close; His daughter meanly have I match'd in marriage;

If sorrow can admit society, (Sitting down urth them. The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom,

Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine :And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night.

I had an Edward, tilì a Richard kili'd him; Now, for I know the Bretagne Richmond aims

I had a husband, till a Richard kill'd him : At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter,

Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard kill'd him And, by that knot, looks proudly on the crown,

Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard kill'd him. To her go I, a jolly thriving wooer.

Duch. I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill

him; Enter CATESBY.

I had a Rutland too, thou holp'st to kill him. Cate. My lord,

įso bluntly? Q. Mar. Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard] K. Rich. Good news or bad, that thou com'st in

kill'd him. Cate. Bad news, my lord: Morton is fled to Rich- Prom forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept mond;

A hell-hound, that doth hunt us all to deatb: and Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welshnen, That dog, that had his teeth before his oves,

To worry lambs, and lap their gentle blood, And he, that slew them, fouler than he is :
That fous defacer of God's handy-work,

Bettering thy loss makes the bad-causer worse;
That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,

Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.
That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls,

Q. Eliz. My words are dull, O, quicken them with
Thy womb let loose, to chase us to our graves.-

thine ! O upright, just, and true-disposing God,

Q. Mar. Thy woes will make them sharp, and How do I thank thee, that this carnal cur

pierce like mine. [Erit Q. MARGARET. Preys on the issue of his mother's body,

Duch. Why should calamity be full of words ?
And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan! Q. Eliz. Windy attorneys to their client woes,

Duch. O, Harry's wife, triumph not in my woes; Airy succeeders of intestate joys,
God witness with me, I have wept for thine. Poor breathing orators of miseries !

Q. Mar. Bear with me; I am hungry for revenge, Let them have scope : though what they do impart
And now I cloy me with beholding it.

Help nothing else, yet do they ease the heart.
Thy Edward he is dead, that kill'd my Edward; Duch. If so, then be not tongue-ty'd: go with me,
Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward ; And in the breath of bitter words let's smother
Young York he is but boot, because both they My damned son, that thy two sweet sons smother'd.
Match not the high perfection of my loss.

[Drums, within,
Thy Clarence he is dead, that stabb’d my Edward; I hear his drum,-be copious in exclaims.
And the beholders of this tragick play,
The adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,

Enter King Richard, and his Train, marching.
Untimely smother'd in their dusky graves.

K. Rich. Who intercepts me in my expedition ? Richard yet lives, hell's black intelligencer;

Duch. O, she, that might have intercepted thee,
Only reservd their factor, to buy souls,

By strangling thee in her accursed womb,
And send them thither: But at hand, at hand, From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done.
Ensues his piteous and unpitied end :

Q. Eliz. Hid'st thou that forehead with a golden
Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray,

crown, To have him suddenly convey'd from hence :- Where should be branded, if that right were right, Cancel his bond of life, dear God, I pray,

The slaughter of the prince that ow'd that crown, That I may live to say, The dog is dead! (come, And the dire death of my poor sons, and brothers?

Q. Eliz. O, thou didst prophecy, the time would Tell me, thou villain-slave, where are my children ? That I should wish for thee to help me curse

Duch. Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother
That bottle spider, that foul hupch-back'd toad.

Clarence ?
Q. Mar. I call thee then, vain flourish of my And little Ned Plantagenet, his son ?
fortune;

Q.Eliz. Where is the gentle Rivers, Vaughan, Grey? I call'd thee then, poor shadow, painted queen; Duch. Where is kind Hastings ? [drums ! The presentation of but what I was,

K. Rich. A flourish, trumpets !-strike alarum, The flattering index of a direful pageant,

Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women One heav'd a high, to be bursd down below; Rail on the Lord's anointed: Strike, I say.A mother only mock'd with two fair babes;

(Flourish. Alarums. A dream of what thou wast; a garish flag,

Either be patient, and entreat me fair, To be the aim of every dangerous shot;

Or with the clamorous report of war A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble;

Thus will I drown your exclamations. A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.

Duch. Art thou my son ?

(self. Where is thy husband now? where be thy brothers ? K. Rich. Ay; I thank God, my father, and yourWhere be thy two sons ? wherein dost thou joy? Duch. Then patiently hear my impatience. Who sues, and kneels, and says--God save the queen? K.Rich. Madam, I have a touch of your condition, Where be the bending peers that flatter'd thee? That cannot brook the accent of reproof. Where be the thronging troops that follow'd thee? Duch. O, let me speak. Decline all this, and see what now thou art.

K. Rich.

Do, then, but I'll not hear. For happy wife, a most distressed widow;

Duch. I will be mild and gentle in my words. For joyful mother, one that wails the name;

K. Rich. And brief, good mother; for I am in For one being sued to, one that humbly sues;

haste.
For queen, a very caitiff crown'd with care;

Duch. Art thou so hasty ? I have staid for thee,
For one that scornd at me, now scorn'd of me; God knows, in torment and in agony.
For one being fear'd of all, now fearing one;

K. Rich. And came I not at last to comfort you?
For one commanding all, obey'd of none.

Duch. No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it well, Thus hath the course of justice wheel'd about, Thou cam’st on earth to make the earth my hell. And left thee but a very prey to time;

A grievous burden was thy birth to me;
Having no more but thought of what thou wert, Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;

[rious; To torture thee the more, being what thou art. Thy school-days, frightful, desperate, wild and fuThou didst usurp my place; and dost thou not Thy prime of manhood, daring, bold, and venturous; Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?

Thy age confirm’d, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody, Now thy proud neck bears half my burden'd yoke; More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred : From which even here I slip my wearied head. What comfortable hour canst thou naine, And leave the burden of it all on thee.

That ever grac'd me in thy company? Farewell

, York's wife-and queen of sad mischance- K. Rich. 'Faith, none, but Humphrey Hour, thao These English woes shall make me smile in France.

call'd your grace Q. Eliz. O thou well skill'd in curses, stay awhile, To breakfast once, forth of my company. And teach me how to curse mine enemies. [day; If I be so disgracious in your sight,

Q. Mar. Forbear to sleep the night, and fast the Let me march on, and not offend you, madani Compare dead happiness with living woe;

Strike up the drum. Think that thy babes were fairer than they were, Duch.

pr’ythee, hear me speak

K Rich. You speak too bitterly.

K. Rich. No, to the dignity and height of fortune, Duch.

Hear me a word, The high imperial type of this earth’s glory. For I shall never speak to thee again.

Q. Eliz. Flatter my sorrows with report of it; K, Rich. So.

(nance, Tell me, what state, what dignity, what honour, Duch. Either thou wilt die, by God's just ordi- Canst thou demise to any child of mine? Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror ;

K. Rich. Even all I have; ay, and myself and all Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish, Will I withal endow a child of thine; And never look upon thy face again.

So in the Lethe of thy angry soul Therefore, take with thee my most heavy curse ;

Thou drown the sad remembrance of those trongs Which, in the day of battle, tire thee more

Which, thou supposest, I have done to thee. Than all the complete armour that thou wear’st ! Q. Eliz. Be brief, lest that the process of thy My prayers on the adverse party fight:

kindness And there the little souls of Edward's children Last longer telling than thy kindness' date. Whisper the spirits of thine enemies,

K. Rich. Then know, that, from my soul, I lore And promise them success and victory.

thy daughter.

(soul. Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end;

Q. Eliz. My daughter's mother thinks it with her Shame serves thy life, and doth thy death attend. K, Rich. What do you think?

| Erit. Q. Eliz. That thou dost love my daughter, from Q. Eliz. Though far more cause, yet much less

thy soul; spirit to curse

So, from thy soul's love, didst thou love her brothers; Abides in me; I say amen to her. " [Going. And, from my heart's love, I do thaok thee for it. K. Rich. Stay, madam, I must speak a word with K. Rich. Be not so hasty to confound my meaning; you.

I mean, that with my soul I love thy daught r, Q. Eliz. I have no more sons of the royal blood, And do intend to make her queen of England. For thee to murder: for my daughters, Richard, - Q. Eliz. Well then, who dost thou mean shall be They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens;

her king ? And therefore level not to hit their lives.

K. Rich. Even he, that makes her queen ; Who K. Rich. You have a daughter call'd-Elizabeth,

else should be ? Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.

Q. Eliz. What thou ? Q. Eliz. And must she die for this ? O, let her live, K. Rich.

Even so: What think you And I'll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty;

of it, madam ? Slander myself, as false to Edward's bed;

Q. Eliz. How canst thou woo her? Throw over her the veil of infamy:

K. Rich.

That I would learn of you, So she may live unscarrid of bleeding slaughter, As one being best acquainted with her humour. I will confess she was not Edward's daughter. Q. Eliz. And wilt thou learn of me? K. Rich. Wrong not her birth; she is of royal K. Rich.

Madam, with all my heart. blood.

Q. Eliz. Send to her, by the man that slew her Q. Eliz. To save her life, l'll say—she is not so.

brothers, K. Rich. Her life is safest only in her birth. A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave, Q. Eliz. And only in that safety died her brothers. Edward and York; then, haply, will she weep: K. Rich. Lo, at their births good stars were oppo- Therefore present to her, -as sometime Margaret site.

(trary. Did to thy father, steep'd in Rutland's blood, — Q. Eliz. No, to their lives bad friends were con. A handkerchief; which, say to her, did drain K. Rich. All unavoided is the doom of destiny. The purple sap from her sweet brother's body,

Q. Eliz. True, when avoided grace makes destiny: And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal. My babes were destin'd to a fairer death,

If this inducement move her not to love, If grace had bless'd thee with a fairer life.

Send her a letter of thy noble deeds; Ř. Rich. You speak, as if that I had slain my Tell her, thou mad’st away her uncle Clarence, cousins.

(zen'd Her uncle Rivers; ay, and for her sake, Q. Eliz. Cousins, indeed; and by their uncle co- Mad'st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne. Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life.

K. Rich. You mock me, madam; th.s is uit the Whose hands soever lanc'd their tender hearts,

way Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction :

To win your daughter. No doubt the murderous knife was dull and blunt, Q. Eliz.

There is no other way; Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart, Unless thou could'st put on some other shape, To revel in the entrails of my lambs.

And not be Richard that hath done all this. But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame, K. Rich. Say, that I did all this for love of her? My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys, Q. Eliz. Nay, then, indeed, she cannot choose but Till that my nails were anchor'd in thine eyes ;

bave thee, And I, in such a desperate bay of death,

Having bought love with such a bloody spoil. Like a poor bark, of sails and tackling reft,

K. Řich. Look, what is done cannot be now Rush aữ to pieces on thy rocky bosom.

amended; K. Rich. Madam, so thrive I in my enterprize, Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes, And dangerous success of bloody wars,

Which after-hours give leisure to repent. As I intend more good to you and yours,

If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
Than ever you or yours by me were harmd ! To make amends, I'll give it to your daughter.
Q. Eliz. What good is cover'd with the face of If I have kill'd the issue of your womb,
heaven,

To quicken your increase, I will beget
To be discover'd, that can do me good ? (lady. Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.

K. Rich. The advancement of your children, gentle A grandam's name is little less in love,
Q. Eliz. Up to some scaffold, there to lose their Than is the doating title of a mother;
heads ?

They are as children, but one step below