Redeemer ;

While this scene is proceeding in the Tower, another is going on in the king's apartment, from which we have been kept. But the imagination is not limited ; and we can still be witnesses of the latter : king Edward on his couch is surrounded by his queen and her kindred, by Hastings, Buckingham, and others of his court : Gloster has not yet entered: the king speaks : (K. Edward.] Why, so :-now have I done a good day's

Continue, peers, in this united league: (work:
For me, I every day expect a call
From
my

and shall

part

in

peace, Now I have made my friends at peace on earth. There wanteth but our brother Gloster here

To make our circle blessed and complete. [Buckingham.] And in good time, my liege, here comes the

[duke. [Gloster.] Good morrow to my sovereign king, and brother :

And princely peers, a happy time of day! [K. Edward.] Happy, indeed, as we have spent the day :-Brother, we have done deeds of charity,

of enmity, and love of hate,
Among these swelling, wrong-incensed peers.
[Gloster.] A blessed labour, my most sovereign liege.

Among this princely troop, if any here,
By false intelligence or wrong surmise,
Hold me a foe;
If I unwittingly, or in my rage,
Have aught committed that is hardly borne
in this
presence,

I desire
To reconcile me to his friendly peace :
'Tis death to me to be at enmity;
I hate it, and desire all good men's love.-
First, madam, I entreat true peace

of

you,
Which I will purchase with my duteous service;
Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
If any grudge were ever lodg’d between us ;-

Made peace

By any

Of you, lord Rivers,-and, lord Grey, of you,
That have, without a cause, been us’d to frown on me;
Of all I ask,-dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen.
I do not know that Englishman alive
With whom my soul is any jot at odds,
More than the infant that is born to-night;

I thank my God for my humility! The queen comes forward, and gives her hand to Gloster with much alacrity, while she speaks : [Q. Elizabeth.] A holiday shall this be kept hereafter:

I would to heaven all strifes were thus compounded !
My sovereign lord, I do beseech your highness
To take our brother Clarence to your grace.

Gloster prevents the king's reply by speaking first. [Gloster.] Why, madam, have I offer'd love for this,

That you should choose the time of sweet forgiveness
To flout thus bitterly?

Who knows not that the gentle duke is dead ? They all start, turn pale, and look at each other with affright, while the king exclaims, [K. Edward] Who knows not he is dead! who knows he What, if I sign’d a warrant, did I not

[is ? Reverse the order ? sign’d I not a pardon ? (Gloster.] But he, poor man, by your first order died,

Which by some winged Mercury was borne,
The while some cripple carried after him
Your lagging countermand : and would to heaven
That some who are less noble and less loyal,
Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,
Who yet go current from suspicion,

Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did! [K. Edward.] Ah, wretched that I am, and full of sorrow!

What, can my tongue give pardon to a slave ?
And could I not redeem a brother's life?

a

But now, and one of you was at my feet,
Beseeching me to grant his servant's life,
Due, for he kill'd a fellow in a riot :
My brother kill'd no man, his fault was thought,
And yet his punishment was bitter death :
Who sued to me for him ? who, in my wrath,
Kneeld at my feet, and bade me be advis'd ?
Who spoke of brotherhood ? who spoke of love?
Who told
nie, how the

poor

soul did forsake The mighty Warwick, and did fight for me? Who came and told me that, at Tewkesbury, When Oxford had me down, he rescued me, And said, “ Dear brother, live, and be a king ?” Who told me, how he wrapp'd me in his garments Giving himself unto the numb cold night, What time we lay upon the battle field, Frozen almost to death? All this, from my remembrance, brutish wrath Sinfully pluck'd, and not a man of you Had so much

grace to put it in my mind :
But when your carters or your waiting-vassals
Have done a drunken slaughter, and defac'd
God's image in a fellow creature,
You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon,
And I, unjustly too, must grant it you ;-
But, for my brother, not a man would speak, —
Nor I, ungracious, speak for him myself, -
Poor soul, poor soul! The proudest of you

all
Have been beholden to him in his life;
Yet none of you would plead to save his life.
O God, I fear thy justice will take hold
On

THE ARTS OF THE PROTECTOR, RICHARD DUKE OF GLOSTER, TO

OBTAIN THE CROWN DURING THE SHORT REIGN OF EDWARD
V.; INDICATED

BY SCENES SUPPOSED TO OCCUR IN LONDON,
NAMELY, IN A PUBLIC PLACE; IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT
THE TOWER; ON THE WALLS OF THE SAME; AND IN THE COURT
OF BAYNARD'S CASTLE.

HISTORICAL MEMORANDA. Young Edward was at Ludlow with his maternal uncle Rivers when his father died. This was April 9, 1483. Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan, accompanying the prince toward London, were arrested on the way, and sent to Pomfret Castle. Edward made his entry into London on the 4th of May; and his reign terminated by the proclamation of the duke as king, on the 25th of June.

Young Edward having reached London from Ludlow, we may imagine a public place just on his entrance into the city, at which he is received by the Protector and a train of noblemen; also by cardinal Bourchier, archbishop of Canterbury, and the lord mayor, with a train of Alder

men:

[Gloster.] Welcome, my royal cousin, welcome hither!

We a’re all right glad to see you. Look, my lord,
The mayo’r and citizens approach to greet you,

And bless your grace with health and happy days. [K. Edward V.] I thank them, and I thank you all, my lords. [Gloster.] My gentle cousin,

The weary way hath made you melancholy. [K. Edward.] No, uncle; but our crosses on the way

Have made it tedious, wearisome and heavy :

I want more uncles here to welcome me. [Gloster. ] Sweet prince, the ’untainted virtue of your years

Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit:
You can distinguish of a man, no more
Than just his outward show; which, heaven well knows,
Seldom or never indicates the heart.
Those uncles which you want, are dangerous :
Heaven keep you from them, and from all false friends

[are none. [K. Edward.] Heaven keep me from false friends! but they

I thought my mother and my brother York

Would long ere this have met us on the way. [Gloster.] My royal cousin,

Heaven knows on what occasion,—I do not,-
The queen your mother, and your brother York,
Have taken sanctua’ry. The tender prince
Would fain have come with me to meet your grace,
But, by his mother, was perforce withheld.
Here is my gracious lord of Canterbury,
Who, peradventure, can persuade the queen
To send the duke your brother presently;

Or he shall pluck him from her arms perforce. [Car. Bourchier.] My lord protector, if that my weak oratory

Can, from his mother, win the duke of York,
Anon expect him here. But if she's obdurate
To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid
We should infringe the holy privilege

Of blessed sanctuary.-I go, my liege. [K. Edward.] Good cardi'nal, make all speedy haste you may.

Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come,

Where shall we sojourn till our coronation ?
[Gloster.] Where it seems best unto your royal self.

May I advise you, sir, some day or two
Your highness shall repose you at the Tower ;
Then, where you please, and shall be thought most fit
For
your

best health and recreation. [K. Edward.] I do not like the Tower,—but as you please.

Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord ? [Gloster.] He did, my gracious lord, begin that place,

Which since succeeding ages have re-edified. [K. Edward.] Is it upon record ? or else reported ? [Gloster.] It is upon record, my gracious cousin.