a

my lord ?

at a table:

Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, SCENE II. - Pomfret. Before the Castle.
When men are unprepar’d, and look not for it. Enter RATCLIFF, with a Guard, conducting Rivers,

llast. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out Grey, and Vaughan, to execution.
With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners.
With some men else, who think themselves as safel Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this, –
As thou, and I ; who, as thou know'st, are dear To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die,
To princely Richard, and to Buckingham.

For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.
Cate. The princes both make high account of you, Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you!
For they account his head upon the bridge. [-4 side. A knot you are of damned blood-suckers.
Hust. I know, they do; and I have well deservd it. Vaugh. Yon live,that shall cry woe for this hereafter.
Enter STANLEY.

Rat. Dispatch; the limit of your lives is out.
Come on, come on! where is your boar-spear, man? Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison,
Fear
you
the boar, and go so uvprovided ?

Fatal and ominous to noble peers!
Stan. My lord, good morrow; and good morrow, Richard the second here was hack'd to death ;

Within the guilty closure of thy walls
Catesby! -
You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,

And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,
I do not like these several councils, I.

We give thee up our guiltless blood to driok.
Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours ;

Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our heads,

When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I,
And never, in my life, I do protest,
Was it more precious to me than 'tis now;

For standing by when Richard stabb’d her son.
Think you, but that I know our state secure,

Riv. Then curs’d she Hastings, then curs'd she Buck I would be so triumphant as I am?

ingham,

Then curs'd she Richard. O, remember, God,
Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!
London,

And for my sister, and her princely sons,
Were jocund, and suppos’d their states were sure, Be satisfied, dear God, with our true bloods,
And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust; Which, as thou know’st, unjust!y must be spilt!
But yet, you see, how soon the day o'er-cast. Rat. Make haste, the hour of death is expiate!
This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt;

Riv. Come, Grey, - come, Vaughan, - let us here
Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!

embrace :
What, shall we toward the Tower ? the day is spent. Farewell, until we meet again in heaven! (Exeunt.
Hast. Come, come, have with you! --Wot you what, SCENE IV. - London, A room in the Tower.

Buckinghau, Stanley, Hastings, the Bishop of ELY,
To-day, the lords you talk of are beheaded. CatesEY, Lovel, and Others, sitting
Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their officers of the Council attending.
leads,

Xast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met
Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their hats. Is-to determine of the coronation:
But come, my lord, let's away!

In God's name, speak, when is the royal day?
Enter a Pursuivant.

Buck. Are all things ready for that royal time ?
Hast. Goon before, I'll talk with this good fellow! Stan. They are; and wants but nomination.

(Exeunt Stanley and Catesby. Lly. To-morrow then I judge a happy day;
How now, sirrah? how goes the world with thee?

Buck. Who knows the lord protector's mind herein?
Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Who is most inward with the noble duke?
Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his
Than when thou met'st me last, where now we meet: mind,
Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,

Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts, --
By the suggestion of the queen's allies ;

He knows no more of mine, thau I of yours;
I tell thee, (keep it to thyself,)

Nor I, of his, my lord, than you of mine :-
This day those enemies are put to death,

Lords Hastings, you and he are near in love.
And I in better state than ere I was.

Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;
Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good content! But, for his purpose in the coronation,
Hast. Gramercy, fellow! There, drink that for me! I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd

[Throwing him his purse. His gracious pleasure any way therein:
Purs. I thank your honour! [Exit Pursuivant. But you, my noble lord, may name the time;
Enter a Priest.

And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Pr. Well met, my lord! I am glad to see your honour. Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part.
Hast. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my heart.

Enter Gloster.
I am in your debt for your last exercise;

Lly. In happy time, here comes the duke himself
Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.

Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all

, good morrow !
Enter BuckINGHAM.
Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain? My absence doth neglect no great design,

I have been long a sleeper; but, I trust,
Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; Which by my presence might have been concluded.
Your honour hath no shriving work in hand. Buck. Nad you not come upon your cue, my lord

, Hast. 'Good faith, and when I met this holy man, William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part, The men you talk of came into my mind,

I mean, your voice, — for crowning of the king.
What, go you toward the Tower?

Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be
Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there:

bolder;
I shall return before your lordship thence.
Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there. My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn,

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well

.
Buck. And supper too, although thou know’st it not. I saw good strawberries in your garden there ;

[Aside. I do beseech you, send for some of them.
Come, will you go?
Hast. I'll wait upon your lordship.

Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. (Exeunt.

But now,

[Exit Ely.

At

a

Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you! Ready, with every nod, to tumble down

[Takes him aside. Into the fatal bowels of the deep.
Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business; Lov. Come, come, dispatch! 'tis bootless to exclaim.
And finds the testy gentleman so hot,

Hast. O, bloody Richard! – miserable England !
That he will lose his head, ere give consent I prophesy the fearful'st time to thee,
His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.-
Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.

Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head;
Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with yon. They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead. [Exeunt.

[Exeunt Gloster and Buckingham.
Stan. Wehave not yet set down this day of triumph. SCENE V. - The same. The Tower walls.
To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden; Enter Gloster and BUCKINGHAM, in rusty armour,
For I myself am not so well provided,

marvellous ill-favoured.
As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Glo. Come, cousin! canst thou quake, and change
Re-enter Bishop of Ely.

thy colour?
Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent

Murder thy breath in middle of a word,-
For these strawberries.

And then again begin, and stop again,
Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror?
morning;

Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian;
There's some conceit or other likes him well,

Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
When he doth bid good morrow with such spirit.

Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
I think, there's ne'er a man in Christendom,

Intending deep suspicion : ghastly looks
Can lesser hide his love, or hate, than he;

Are at my service, like enforced smiles;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.

And both are ready in their offices,
Stan. What of his heart perceive you in his face,

any time, to grace my stratagems.
Ву
any
likelihood he show'd to-day?

But what, is Catesby gone?
Hust. Marry, that with no man here he is offended; Glo. He is; and see, he brings the mayor along.
For, were he, he had shown it in his looks.

Enter the Lord Olayor and CaresBY.

Buck. Let me alone to entertain him. - Lord Re-enter Glosten and BUCKINGHAM.

mayor, Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve,

Glo. Look to the draw-bridge there! That do conspire my death with devilish plots

Buck. Hark, hark! a drum! Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevailid

Glo. Catesby, o’erlook the walls ! Upon my body with their hellislı charms ? Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, Glo. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies!

Buck. Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent for you, -Makes me most forward in this noble preseuce To doom the offenders. Whosoe'er they be,

Buck. God and our innocence defend and guard us!

Enter Lovel and Ratcliff, with Hastings's head. I say, my lord, they have deserved death. Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil,

Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratclill, and Lovel. Look how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm

Lov. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up:

The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings. And this is Edward's wife, that monstrons witch,

Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep. Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,

I took him for the plainest harmless't creature,

That breath'd upon the earth a Christian ;
That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.
Hast. If they have done this deed, my noble lord, -

Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
Glo. If! thou protector of this damned strumpet, so smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue,

The history of all her secret thoughts:
Talk'st thou to me of its? -- Thou art a traitor:-
Off with his head! — now, by Saint Paul I swear,

That, his apparent open guilt omitted,
I will not dine until I see the same!

I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife,

He liv'd from all attainder of suspect. Lovel, and Catesby, look, that it be done!

Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd The rest, that love me, rise, and follow me!

traitor [Exeunt Council, with Gloster and

That ever liv’d. - Look you, my

lord

mayor, Buckingham.

Would you imagine, or almost believe, Hast. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me; (Were't not, that by great preservation For I, too fond, might have prevented this:

We live to tell it you, the subtle traitor Stanley did dream, the boar did rase his helm;

This day, had plotted, in the council-house, But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly.

To murder me, and my good lord of Gloster? Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, May. What! had he so ? And startled, when he look'd upon the Tower, Glo. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels? As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house. Or that we would, against the form of law, O, now I want the pricst that spake to me: Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death; I now repent I told the pursuivant,

But that the extreme peril of the case, As too triumphing, how mine enemies

The peace of England, and onr persons' safoty, To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd, Enforc'd us to this execution ? And I myself secure in grace and favour.

Muy. Now, fair befal you! he deserv'd his death; 0, Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse

And your good graces both have well proceeded, Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.

To warn false traitors from the like attempts,
Cate. Dispatch, my lord, the duke would be at din- I never look'd for better at his hands,
ner ;

After he once fell in with mistress Shore,
Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head. Buck. Yet had we not determin’d he should die,
Hast. O momentary grace of mortal men, Until your lordship oame to see his end;
Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Who builds his hope in air of your fuir looks, Somewhat against our meanivg, hath preventeri:
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast;

Because, my lord, we would have had

you

heard

a

The traitor speak, and timorously confess
Bad is the world; and all will come to nought,

Te The manner and the purpose of his treasons; When such bad dealing must be seen in thought. In That you might well have signified the same

(Exis. Unto the citizens, who, haply, may SCENE VII. – The same. Court of Baynard's Castle.

No

Ar Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.

Enter Gloster and Buckinghau, meeting.

с May. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall Glo. How now, how vow? what say the citizens?

B serve, Buck. Now by the holy mother of our Lord,

He As well, as I had seen, and heard him speak: The citizens are mum, say not a word.

Bu And do not doubt, right noble princes both, Glo. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children?

NO But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens Buck. I did; with his coạtráct with lady Lucy,

Во With all your just proceedings in this case. And his contract by deputy in France:

NO Glo. And to that end we wish'd your lordship here, The insatiate greediness of his desires,

Бn To avoid the censures of the carping world. And his enforcement of the city wives;

II Buck. But since you came too late of our intent, His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy, –

Та Yet witness what you hear we did intend: As being got, your father then in France;

ВА And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farwell. And his resemblance, being not like the duke.

3 [Exit Lord Mayor. Withal, I did infer your lineaments,Glo. Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham ! Being the right idea of your father,

1 The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post: Both in your form and nobleness of mind: There, at the meetest vantage of the time, Laid open all your victories in Scotland,

N Infer the bastardy of Edward's children:

Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Tell them, how Edward put to death a citizen,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;

S။
Only for saying --- he would make his son Indeed, left nothing, fitting for your purpose,
Heir to the crown; meaning, indeed, his house, Untouch'd, or slightly handled, in discourse.

H Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.

And, when my oratory grew to an end, Moreover, urge his hateful luxury,

I bade them, that did love their country's good,
And bestial appetite in change of lust;

Cry -- God save Richard, England's royal king!
Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters,wives, Glo. And did they so?
Even where his raging eye, or savage heart, Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word;
Without controul, listed to make his prey.
But, like dumb statues, or breathless stones,

1 Nay, for a need, thus far come near any person:

Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale.
Tell them, when that my mother went with child Which wlien I saw, I reprehended them;
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York,

And ask'd the mayor, what meant this wilful silence : My princely father, then had wars in France;

His answer was,

the people were not us'd And, by just computation of the time,

To be spoke to, but by the recorder. Found, that the issue was not his begot;

Then he was urg'd to tell my tale again;Which well appeared in his lineaments,

Thus saith the dike, thus hath the duke inferr'd; Being nothing like the noble duke my father: But nothing spoke in warrant from himself. Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere far off; When he had done, some followers of mine own, Because, my lord, you know, my mother lives. At lower end o’the hall, hurl'd up their caps,

Buck. Doubt not, my lord ; I'll play the orator, And some ten voices cried: God save king Richard! As if the golden fee, for which I plead,

And thus I took the vantage of those few,Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu! Thanks, gentle citizens, and friends, quoth I; Glo. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's This general applåuse, and cheerful shout, castle';

Argues your wisdom, and your love to Richard: Where

you

shall find me well accompanied, And even here brake off, and came away. With reverend fathers, and well-learned bishops. Glo. What tongueless' blocks were they! Would Buck. I go; and, towards three or four o'clock, they not speak? Look for the news that the Guild-hall ailords. Will not the mayor then, and his brethren, come?

(Exit Buckingham. Buck. The mayor is here at hand; intend some fear; Glo. Go, Lovel, with all speed to doctor Shaw, Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit: Go thou (To Cat.) to friar Penker; – bid them both And look you get a prayer-book in your hand, Meet me, within this hour, at Baynard's castle. And stand between two churchmen, good my lord;

[Exeunt Lovel and Catesby. For on that ground I'll make a holy descant: Now will I in, to take some privy order

And be not easily won to our requests ;
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight: Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and take it.
And to give notice, that no manner of person Glo. I go; and if you plead as well for them,
Have, any time, recourse unto the princes. (Exit. As I can say nay to thee for myself,
SCENE VI. - A street.

No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue.
Enter a Scrivener.

Buck. Go, go, up to the leads! the lord mayor knocks !
Scriv. Here is the indictment of the good lord Ha-
stings;

Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens. Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd,

Welcome, my lord! I dance attendance here; That it may be to-day read o’er in Paul's.

I think, the duke will not be spoke withal. – And mark how well the sequel hangs together:

Enter, from the Castle, CaTESBY. Eleven hours I have spent to write it over, Now, Catesby! what says your lord to my request

? For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me; Cate. He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord, The precedent was full as long a doing:

To visit him to-morrow, or next day:
And yet within these five hours Hastings liv'd, He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Untainted, unexamin'd, free, at liberty.

Divinely bent to meditation;
Here's a good world the while! - Who is so gross, And in no worldly suit would he be mor’d,
That cannot see this palpable device?

To draw him from his holy exercise.
Yet who so bold, but says — he sees it not? Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracions duke :

[Exit Gloster.

Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen, And kingly government of this your land:
In deep designs, in matter of great moment, Not as protector, steward, substitute,
No less importing than our general good,

Or lowly factor for another's gain;
Are come to have some conference with his grace. But as successively, from blood to blood,
Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight. (Exit. Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward ! For this, consorted with the citizens,
He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,

Your very worshipful and loving friends,
But on his knees at meditation;

And by their vehement instigation,
Not dallying with a brace of courtezans,

In this just suit come I to move your grace.
But meditating with two deep divines;

Glo. I cannot tell, if to depart in silence,
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,

Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:

Best fitteth my degree, or your condition :
Happy were England, would this virtuous prince If, not to answer, - you might haply think,
Take on himself the sovereignty thereof: Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded
But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it. To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,
May. Marry, God defend, his grace should say Which fondly you would here impose on me;
us nay!

If to reprove you for this suit of yours,
Buck. I fear, he will. Here Catesby comes again ; So season'd with your faithful love to me ;
Re-enter CATESBY.
Then, on the other side, I check'd my

friends. Now, Catesby, what says his grace?

Therefore, - to speak, and to avoid the first;
Cate. He wonders to what end you have assembled And then, in speaking, not to incur the last -
Such troops of citizens to come to him,

Definitively, thus I answer you.
His grace not being warn’d thereof before; Your love deserves my thanks; but my desert,
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him. Unmeritable, shuns your high request.
Buck. Sorry I am, my noble cousin should First, if all obstacles were cut away,
Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:

And that my path were even to the crown,
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love; As the ripe revenue and due of birth;
And so once more return and tell his grace. Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,

[Exit Catesby. So mighty and so many my defects,
When holy and devout religious men

That I would rather hide me from my greatness,
Are at, their beads, 'tis hard to draw them thence; Being a bark to brvok no mighty sea,
So sweet is zealous contemplation.

Than in my greatness covet to be hid,
Enter GLOSTER, in a gallery above, between two And in the vapour of my glory smother'd.
Bishops. Catesby returns.

But, God be thank'd, there is no need of me; May. See, where his grace stands 'tween two cler- (And much I need to help you, if need were ; ) gymen!

The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Buck. Two props of virtue for a christian prince, Which, mellow'd by the stealing hours of time,
To stay him from the fall of vanity:

Will well become the seat of majesty,
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand;

And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.
True ornaments to know a holy man.

On him 1 lay what you would lay on me,
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,

The right and fortune of his happy stars, –
Lend favourable ear to our requests;

Which, God defend, that I should wring from him!
And pardon us the interruption

Buck. My lord, this argues conscience in your grace; of thy devotion, and right christian zeal.

But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,
Glo. My lord, there needs no such apology;' All circumstances well considered.
I rather do beseech you pardon me,

You say, that Edward is your brother's son ;
Who, earnest in the service of my God,

So say we too, but not by Edward's wife:
Neglect the visitation of my friends.

For first he was contract to lady Lucy,
But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure ? Your mother lives a witness to his vow;
Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above, And afterwards by substitute betroth'd
And all good men of this ungovern’d isle. To Bona, sister to the king of France.
Glo. I do suspect, I have done some offence, These both put by, a poor petitioner,
That seems disgracious in the city's eye;

A care-craz'd mother to a many sons,
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. A beauty-waning and distressed widow,
Buck. You have, my lord ! 'would it might please Even in the afternoon of her best days,
your grace,

Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye,
On our entreaties to amend your

fanlt!

Seduc'd the pitch and height of all his thoughts
Glo. Else wherefore breathe I in a christian land ? To base declension and loath'd bigamy:
Buck. Know, then, it is your fault, that you resign By her, in his unlawful bed, he got
The
suprenie seat, the throne majestical,

This Edward, whom our manners call the prince.
The scepter'd office of your ancestors,

More bitterly could I expostulate,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth, Save that, for reverence to some alive,
The lineal glory of your royal house,

I give a sparing limit to my tongue.
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:

Then, good my lord, take to your royal self
Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts, This proffer'd benefit of dignity:
(Which here we waken to our country's good,) If not to bless us and the land withal,
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs; Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry
Her face defac'd with scars of infamy,

From the corruption of abusing time,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,

Unto a lineal true-derived course.
And almost shoulder'd in the swallowing gulf May. Do, good my lord! your citizens entreat you!
of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion.

Buck. Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer'd love! Which to recure, we heartily solicit

Cate. O, make them joyful, grant their lawfalcnit! Your gracious self to take on you the charge Glo. Alas, why would you heap those cares on me?

a

Did

0.1

you to

say it.

For I am unfit for state and majesty:

I may not suffer you to visit them;
I do beseech you, take it not amiss;
The king hath strictly charg'd the contrary.

But
I cannot, nor I will not, yield to you.
Q. Eliz. The king! who's that?

Besid Buck. If you refuse it, as in love and zeal, Brak. I mean, the lord protector.

And
Loath to depose the child, your brother's son; Q. Eliz. The lord protect him from that kingly title!
As well we know your tenderness of heart,

Hath he set bounds between their love and me?
And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse,
I am their mother: who shall bar me from them?

Іer Which we have noted in

your

kindred, Duch. I am their father's mother, I will see them, And equally, indeed, to all estates, Anne. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother:

Duc Yet know, whe'r you accept our suit or no,

Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame, Your brother's son shall never reign our king; And take thy office from thee, on thy peril.

Got But we will plant some other in your throne,

Brak. No, madam, no, I may not leave it so;
To the disgrace and downfal of

your
house. I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me!

Gott And, in this resolution, here we leave you;

[Exit Brakenbury. Come, citizens, we will entreat no more!

Enter STANLEY.

I to (Exeunt Buckingham and Citizens. Stun. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence,

Eigh Cate.Gall them again, sweet prince,accept their suit! And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, Jf you deny them, all the land will rne it.

And reverend looker-on of two fair queens.Glo. Will you enforce me to a world of cares? Come, madan, you must straight to Westminster, Well, call them again! I am not made of stone,

[To the Duchess of Gloster.

Pitr But penetrable to your kind entreaties,(Exit Catesby. There to be crowned Richard's royal queen.

WI Albeit against my conscience and my soul.- Q. Eliz. Ah, cut my lace asunder!

Pou Re-enter Buckingham, and the rest. That my pent heart may have some scope to beat,

Red Cousin of Buckingham, -and sage, grave men, Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news.

for Since you will buckle fortune on my back, Anne. Despiteful tidings ! O unpleasing news!

So To bear her burden, whe'r I will, or no,

Dor. Be of good cheer! -- Mother, how fares your I must have patience to endure the load:

grace? But if black scandal, or foul-fac'd reproach, l. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee gone!

Flo Attend the sequel of your imposition,

Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me Thy mother's name is ominous to children:

K. From all the impure blots and stains thereof; If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas,

B For God he knows, and you may partly see, And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell!

K How far l am from the desire of this ! Go, hie thee, hie thee, from this slaughter-house,

An Dlay. God bless your grace! we see it, and will Lest thou increase the number of the dead!

BUL And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse, Or Glo. În saying so, you shall but say the truth. Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen! Buck. Then I salute you with this royal title, Stan. Full ofwise care is this your counsel, madam!Long live king Richard, England's worthy king! Take all the swift advantage of the hours;

Tc All, Amen! You shall have letters from me to my son

1
Buck. To-morrow may it please yon to be crown'd? In your behalf, to meet you on the way:
Glo. Even when you please, since you will have it so. Be not ta’en tardy by unwise delay.
Buck. To-morrow then we will attend your grace; Duch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery!
And so, most joyfully, we take our leave.

O my accursed womb, the bed of death;
Glo. Come, let us to our holy work again! A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world,

[To the Bishops. Whose unavoided eye is murderous ! Farewell, good cousin !- Farewell, gentle friends! Stan. Come, madam, come! I in all haste was sent.

(Exeunt. Anne. And I with all unwillingness will go.

0, would to God! that the inclusive verge

Of golden metal, that must round my brow,
A C T IV.

Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain!
SCENE I. — Before the Tower,

Anointed let me be with deadly venom;
Enter, on one side, Queen Elizabeth, Duchess of And die, ere men can say: God save the queen!
Yonk, and Marquis of Dorset; on the other, Anne, Q. Eliz

. Go, go, poor soul! I envy not thy glors ; Duchess of Gloster, leading Lady Margaret Piar- To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm, TAGENET, CLARENCE's young Daughter.

Anne. No! why? - When he, that is

my
Duch. Who meets us here?-my niece Plantagenet now,
Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloster? Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse;
Now, for my life, she's wand'ring to the Tower, When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his
On pure heart's love, to greet the tender prince.- hands,
Daughter, well met!

Which issued from my other angel husband,
Anne. God give your graces both

And that dead saint, which then I weeping follow'd;
A happy and a joyful time of day!

0, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face,
Q. Eliz. As much to you, good sister! Whither This was my wish,- Be thou, quoth I, accurs'd,
away?

For making me, so young, so old a widow!
Anne. No further than the Tower; and, as I gness, And, when thou wedd'st,ʻlet sorrow haunt thy bedi
Upon the like devotion as yourselves,

And be thy wife (if any be so mad,)
To gratulate the gentle princes there.

More miserable by the life of thee,
Q. Eliz. Kind sister, thanks! we'll enter all together: Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death!
Enter BRAKENBURY.

Lo! ere I can repeat this curse again,
And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes.- Even in so short a space, my woman's heart
Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave, Grossly grew captive to his honey words,
How doth the prince, and my young son of York? And prov'd the subject of mine own soul's curse:
Brak. Right well, dear madam! By your patience, which ever since hath held mine eyes from rest;

husband

a