Enter HASTINGS. 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, Would fain have come with me to meet your grace, Buck. Fie, what an indirect and peevish course If she deny,-Lord Hastings, go with him, Card. My Lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory Can from his mother win the Duke of York, Buck. You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord, Too ceremonious and traditional: Weigh it but with the grossness of this age,(*) To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place, You break no privilege nor charter there. Oft have I heard of sanctuary-men; But sanctuary-children ne'er till now. Card. My lord, you shall o'er-rule my mind for once.Come on, Lord Hastings, will you go with me? Hast. I go, my lord. Prince. Good lords, make all the speedy haste you may. [Exeunt Cardinal and Hastings. Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation ? Glo. Where it seems(23) best unto your royal self. If I may counsel you, some day or two Your highness shall repose you at the Tower: Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place.- Buck. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place; Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified. 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, Even to the general all-ending day. Glo. So wise so young, they say, do never live long. [Aside. Prince. What say you, uncle? Glo. I say, without charácters, fame lives long.— Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity, [Aside. I moralize two meanings in one word. Prince. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man; With what his valour did enrich his wit, Prince. An if I live until I be a man, I'll win our ancient right in France again, Glo. Short summers lightly have a forward spring. [Aside. Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the Duke of York. Enter YORK, HASTINGS, and the Cardinal. Prince. Richard of York! how fares our loving brother? York. Well, my dread lord; so must I call you now. Prince. Ay, brother,—to our grief, as it is yours: Too late 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, And therefore is he idle? Glo. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so. York. I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger. York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give ; Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin. York. O, then, I see, you will part but with light gifts; In 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 lord? York. Little. Prince. My Lord of York will still be cross in talk:Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him. York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me:— He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders. To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle, Glo. My lord, will't please you pass along? To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you. York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord? Glo. Why, 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. [Senet. Exeunt Prince, York, Hastings, Cardinal, and Attendants. Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incensed 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: He is all the mother's, from the top to toe. Buck. Well, let them rest.—Come hither, Catesby. Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way;- In the seat royal 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 not he? Buck. Well, then, no more but this: go, gentle Catesby, And, as it were far off, sound thou Lord Hastings, If thou dost find him tractable to us, 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 lord, for joy of this good news, Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly. 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 do:— Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's hand. Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Before Lord HASTINGS' house. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord! my lord! Hast. [within] Who knocks? [Knocking. |