And cried—“Thanks, gentle citizens and friends :
This general applause and cheerful shout
Argues your wisdom, and your love to Richard :-"
And even here broke off, and came away.

[you say? [Gloster.] The tongueless blocks! they would not speak,

Will not the mayor, then, and his brethren, come? [Buckingham.] The mayo'r is here at hand : feign you some

And be not spoke'n with, but by mighty suit. [fear,
A pray’r-book in your hand, my lord, were well,
Standing between two churchmen of repute;
For, on that ground I'll make a holy descant:-

Yet, be not easily won to our request.
[Gloster.] My other self! my counsel's consistory!

My oracle! my prophet! my dear cousin !
I, as a child, will go by thy direction.

[my lord; [Buckingham.] Hark! the lord mayo'r's at hand :-away,

Nor doubt but yet we reach the point propos’d. [Gloster.] We cannot fail, my lord, when you are pilot.[under tone us aside] -A little flattery sometimes does well.

Richard quits the place on one side-the lord mayor and aldermen enter on the other : Buckingham receives them : [Buckingham.] Welcome, my lord !- I dance attendance

I am afraid the duke will not be spoken with ; [here :
But here comes Catesby: we shall hear from him :

Catesby, what says the duke to my request ? [Catesby.] My lord, he humbly does entreat your grace,

To visit him to-morrow or the next day :
He's just retir’d with two right reverend fathers,
And would not now, by any worldly suit,

Be interrupted.
[Buckingham.] Catesby, pray return;

Tell him, myself, the mayo'r, and citizens,

.

a

In deep designs, in matters of great moment,
No less importing than the general good,
Are come to have some conference with his

grace:
Pr’ythee, be urgent with him.
Ah, my lord mayo'r, this prince is not an Edward;
He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,
But on his knees at meditation;
Not dally’ing with a brace of courtezans,
But with two deep divines in sacred praying:
Happy were England, would this virtu’ous prince
Take on himself the toil of sovereignty.-
-The door, my lord, by accident is open, -
See where his grace stands 'twixt two clergymen ;
How low he bows to thank them for their care :
And see, a prayer-book is in his hand.
Would he were king! we'd give him leave to pray:
I wish it for the love he bears the city :
How oft I've heard him vow, he thought it hard
The mayo'r should lose his title with his office:
Well, well : who knows? he may perhaps be won.
See, he comes forth :—my friends, be resolute;
I know he's cautious to a fault; but do
Not leave him, till our honest suit be granted.

Gloster enters, and speaks : [Gloster.] Cousin of Buckingham,

I do beseech your grace to pardon me,
Who, earnest on my zealous meditation,
So long defer the service of

my

friends.
—Now do I fear I've done some strange offence,
That looks disgracious in the city's eye:

If so, 'tis just you should reprove my ignorance. [Buckingham.] You have, my lord; and we could wish On our entreaties, would amend

your

fault. [your grace, (Gloster.] Else, wherefore breathe I in a christian land ? [Buckingham.] Know, then, it is your fault, that you reThe sceptred office of your ancestors,

sign To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:

a

а

In this just cause, I come to move your highness,
That, on your gracious self you'd take the charge,
And kingly government of this your land;
Not as protector, not as substitute,

But as your own, by birth, and lineal glory.
The lord

mayor and citizens kneel, and join in the same request: Buckingham renews his instances : and Catesby unites with the rest : after a long pause, Gloster speaks : [Gloster.] I cannot tell, if, to depart in silence,

Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,
Suits best with your degree, and my condition :
Therefore,
To speak in just refusal of your suit,
And yet, in speaking, not to chide my friends,
Definitively thus I answer you:
Your love deserves my thanks; but my desert,
Unmeritable, shuns your

fond request :
For, heaven be thank'd! there is no need of me.
The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellow'd by the stealing hand of time,
Will well become the seat of majesty,
And make us, no doubt, happy by his reign:
On him I lay what you would lay on me,

Which heaven forbid my thoughts should rob him of' [Buckingham.] If you refuse us through a soft remorse,

Loth to depose the child, your brother's son,-
As well we know your tenderness of heart,-
Yet know, though you deny us to the last,
Your brother's son shall never reign our king;
But we will plant some other in the throne,
To the disgrace and downfall of your

house :
And, thus resolv’d, I bid you, sir, farewell.--
My lord, and gentlemen, I beg your pardon
For this vain trouble: my intent was good!
I would have serv'd my country and my king;

But 'twill not be:--farewell, till next we meet.
[Gloster.] My lord of Buckingham !--Call him again :

You will enforce me to a world of cares :

I am not made of stone,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties,

Though, heaven knows, against my own inclining: The several persons take the attitude of earnest, expectant listeners, while Gloster seems preparing to proceed : at length he continues :

Cousin of Buckingham, and sage, grave men,
Since

you

will buckle fortune on my back,
To bear her burthen whether I will or not,
I must have patience to endure the load :
But if black scandal, or foul-fac'd reproach
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your strong enforcement shall acquittance me;
For heaven knows, as you may partly see,
How far I am from the desire of this.

(say it. [Mayor.] Heaven guard your grace! we see it, and will [Gloster.] My good lord mayo'r, you will but say the truth. [Buckingham.] My heart's so full, it scarce has vent for

My knee will better speak my duty now: (words :
Long live our sovereign, Richard, king of England !

[cousin : [Gloster.] Indeed, your words have touch'd me nearly,

Pray rise, pray rise :~I wish you could recall them. [Buckingham.] It would be treason now, my lord.-To

If it so please your majesty, from council [morrow,

Orders shall issue for your coronation. (Gloster.] Even as you please ; since you will have it so.

;

[jesty; [Buckingham.] To-morrow, then, we will attend your ma

And now, my liege, we take our leaves with joy. [Gloster.] Cousin, adieu :my loving friends, farewell. I must unto my holy work again.

[a pause.]

:

*Why, now my golden dream is out.
Ambition, like an early friend, throws back
My curtains with an eager hand, o'erjoy'd
To tell me what I dreamt, is true :—a crown!
Thou bright reward of ever-daring minds,
Oh, how thy awful glory fills my soul!
Nor can the means that got thee, dim thy lustre,
For not men's love-fear pays thee adoration,
And fame.
Not more survives from good than evil deeds :
The aspiring youth that fir'd the Ephesian dome,
Outlives, in fame, the pious fool that rais'd it.
Conscience, lie still! more lives must yet be drain'd;
Crowns got with blood, must be with blood main-

[tain’d.

THE TWO YEARS' REIGN OF RESTLESS ANXIETY, AND THE TROUBLED

DEATH OF RICHARD III.; INDICATED BY SCENES SUPPOSED
TO OCCUR IN THE PALACE; ON A PLAIN NEAR TAMWORTH,
LEICESTERSHIRE; AND ON ANOTHER AT BoswORTH, IN THE
SAME COUNTY

HISTORICAL MEMORANDA.

Richard assumed the crowu June 25, 1483, and was killed Aug. 22, 1485. Henry, earl of Richmond, the conqueror at Bosworth, was of the house of Lancaster : but, admitting the claims of that house to the crown, those of Henry were weak. His grandfather, John duke of Somerset, was only a legitimated grandson of John of Gaunt. Margaret, the daughter of this duke of Somerset, married the earl of Richmond, son of sir Owen Tudor, a Welsh gentleman, by Catherine of France, widow of Henry V. These, namely Margaret and the earl of Richmond, were the immediate progenitors of the conqueror at Bosworth, the first of the royal Tudors; whose title became strong only by reason of his subsequent union with Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV., and the surviving legitimate representative of the house of York. Margaret married twice after her first husband's death: her last husband was lord Stanley, who turned the day against Richard in the battle of Bosworth. Richard had about twelve thousand men; Richmond only half that number: Stanley, whose intentions were known by Richmond, and feared by Richard, had about seven thousand; and with these he joined the former when the opportunity seemed favourable.

• The spirited conclusion of this scene is Cibber's.