SCENE III.-The same. A Street. Enter two Citizens, meeting. 1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbour: Whither away se fast? 2 Cit. I promise you, I scarcely know myself: Hear you the news abroad? 1 Cit. Yes, the king's dead. 2 Cit. Ill news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better: I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world. Enter another Citizen. 3 Cit. Neighbours, God speed! 1 Cit. Give you good morrow, sir. 3 Cit. Doth the news hold of good king Edward's death? 2 Cit. Ay, sir, it is too true; God help, the while! 3 Cit. Then, masters, look to see a troublous world. 1 Cit. No, no; by God's grace, his son shall reign. 3 Cit. Woe to that land, that's govern'd by a child! 2 Cit. In him there is a hope of government; That, in his nonage, council under him, And, in his full and ripen'd years, himself, No doubt, shall then, and till then, govern well. 1 Cit. So stood the state, when Henry the sixth Was crown'd in Paris but at nine months old. 3 Cit, Stood the state so? no, no, good friends, God wot; For then this land was famously enrich'd With politick grave counsel; then the king 1 Cit. Why, so hath this, both by his father and mother. 3 Cit. Better it were, they all came by his father; Or, by his father, there were none at all: For emulation now, who shall be nearest, Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not. O, full of danger is the duke of Gloster; And the queen's sons, and brothers, haught and proud: And were they to be rul'd, and not to rule, This sickly land might solace as before. 1 Cit. Come, come, we fear the worst; all will be well. 3 Cit. When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks; When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand; 2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear: You cannot reason almost with a man, That looks not heavily, and full of dread. 3 Cit. Before the days of change, still is it so: By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing danger; as, by proof, we see The water swell before a boist'rous storm. But leave it all to God. Whither away? 2 Cit. Marry, we were sent for to the justices. 3 Cit. And so was I; I'll bear you company. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter the Archbishop of YORK, the young Duke of YORK, Queen ELIZABETH, and the Duchess of YORK. Arch. Last night, I heard, they lay at Stony-Stratford; And at Northampton they do rest to-night: To-morrow, or next day, they will be here. Duch. I long with all my heart to see the prince; I hope, he is much grown since last I saw him. Q. Eliz. But I hear, no; they say, my son of York Hath almost overta'en him in his growth. York. Ay, mother, but I would not have it so. Duch. Why, my young cousin? it is good to grow. York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper, My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow More than my brother; Ay, quoth my uncle Gloster, hold In him, that did object the same to thee: He was the wretched'st thing, when he was young, That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious. I could have given my uncle's grace a flout, To touch his growth nearer than he touch'd mine. Duch. How, my young York? I pr'ythee, let me hear it. York. Marry, they say, my uncle grew so fast, That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old; Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth. Grandam, this would have been a biting jest. Duch. I pr'ythee, pretty York, who told thee this? York. Grandam, his nurse. Duch. His nurse! why, she was dead ere thou wast born. York. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me. Enter a Messenger. Arch. Here comes a messenger: What news? Mess. Such news, my lord, As grieves me to unfold. Q. Eliz. How doth the prince? Mess. Well, madam, and in health. Duch. What is thy news? Mess. Lord Rivers, and lord Grey, are sent to Pom fret, With them sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners. Duch. Who hath committed them? Mess. The mighty dukes, Gloster and Buckingham. Q. Eliz. For what offence? Mess. The sum of all I can, I have disclos'd; Why, or for what, the nobles were committed, Q. Eliz. Ah me, I see the ruin of my house! Upon the innocent and awless throne :- Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days! Q. Eliz. Come, come, my boy, we will to sanctuary. Madam, farewell. Duch. Stay, I will go with you. Q. Eliz. You have no cause. [To the Queen. And thither bear your treasure and your goods. For my part, I'll resign unto your grace [Exeunt. |