538

KING RICHARD III.

May. Now, fair befal you! he deserv'd his death! | That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's,
And your good graces both have well proceeded,

To warn false traitors from the like attempts.

I never look'd for better at his hands,
After he once fell in with mistress Shore.

Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he should die,
Until your lordship came to see his end;
Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Somewhat against our meaning hath prevented:
Because, my lord, we would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons;
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who, haply, may
Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.

[serve,

May. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall
As well as I had seen, and heard him speak: [serve,
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this case.

Glo. And to that end we wish'd your lordship here,
To avoid the censures of the carping world.
Buck. But since you came too late of our intent,
Yet witness what you hear we did intend :
And so, my good ford mayor, we bid farewell.
Glo. Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham,
[Exit Lord Mayor.
The mayor towards Guildhall hies him with all post :-
There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward's children :
fell them, how Edward put to death a citizen,
Only for saying-he would make his son
Heir to the crown; meaning, indeed, his house,
Which, by the sign thereof was termed so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury,
And bestial appetite in change of lust;
Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye, or savage heart,
Without control, listed to make his prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person :-
Tell them, when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York,

My princely father, then had wars in France;
And, by just computation of the time,
Found, that the issue was not his begot,
Which we'l appeared in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble duke my father:
Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere far off;
Because, my lord, you know, my mother lives.
Buck. Doubt not, my lord: I'll play the orator,
As if the golden fee, for which I plead,
Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu. [castle;
Glo. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's
Where you shall find me well accompanied,
With reverend fathers, and well-learned bishops.
Buck. I go; and, towards three or four o'clock,
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.

Glo. Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw,-
[Exit BUCKINGHAM.
Go thou [to CAT.] to friar Penker ;-bid them both
Meet me, within this hour, at Baynard's castle.
Now will I in, to take some privy order
[Exeunt LovEL and CATESBY.
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight;
And to give notice, that no manner of person
Have, any time, recourse unto the princes.

SCENE VI.-A Street.

Enter a Scrivener

Hastings;

[Exit.

And mark how well the sequel hangs together :
Eleven hours I have spent to write it over,
For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me;
The precedent was full as long a doing:
And yet within these five hours Hastings liv'd,
Untainted, unexamin'd, free, at liberty.
Here's a good world the while!-Who is so gross,
That cannot see this palpable device?
Yet who so bold, but says-he sees it not?
Bad is the world; and all will come to nought,
When such bad dealing must be seen in thought.
[Eru

SCENE VII.-The same. Court of Baynard's Cast.e.
Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, meeting.
Glo. How now, how now? what say the citizens?
Buck. Now by the holy mother of our Lord,
The citizens are mum, say not a word.

Glo. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's chil
The insatiate greediness of his desires,
Buck. I did; with his contract with lady Luey,
[dren'
And his contract by deputy in France:
And his enforcement of the city wives;
As being got, your father then in France;
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,-
Withal, I did infer your lineaments,-
And his resemblance, being not like the duke.
Being the right idea of your father,
Both in your form and nobleness of mind:
Laid open all your victories in Scotland,
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;
Indeed, left nothing, fitting for your purpose,
I bade them, that did love their country's good,
Untouch'd, or slightly handled, in discourse.
And, when mine oratory grew to an end,
Cry-God save Richard, England's royal king
Glo. And did they so?

Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word;
But, like dumb statuas, or breathless stones,
Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale.
Which when I saw, I reprehended them;

And ask'd the mayor, what meant this wilful silence:
His answer was the people were not us'd
To be spoke to, but by the recorder.
Then he was urg'd to tell my tale again ;-
Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr'd;
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.
And some ten voices cried, God save king Richard!
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
And thus took the vantage of those few,-
At lower end o' the hall, hurl'd
up their caps,
Thanks, gentle citizens, and friends, quoth I;
This general applause, and cheerful shout,
Argues your wisdom, and your love to Richard:
And even here brake off, and came away.
Will not the mayor then, and his brethren, come!
Glo. What tongueless blocks were they;
they not speak?
Would
Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit:
Buck. The mayor is here at hand, intend some fear;
And look you, get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord;
For on that ground I'll make a holy descant:
And be not easily won to our requests;
Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and take it.
Glo. I go; and if you plead as well for them,
As I can say nay to thee for myself,

Scriv. Here is the indictment of the good lord No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue

Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd,

Buck. Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor
[Exit GLOSTER.

knocks.

Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens.
Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here;
I think, the duke will not be spoke withal.—

Enter from the castle, CATESBY.

Now, Catesby! what says your lord to my request?
Cate. He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord,
To visit him to-morrow, or next day :

He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation:

And in no worldly suit would he be mov'd,
fo draw him from his holy exercise.

[ward!

Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke;
Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen,
In deep designs, in matter of great moment,
No less unporting than our general good,
Are come to have some conference with his grace.
Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight. [ Erit.
Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Ed.
He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,
But on his knees at meditation;
Not dallying with a brace of courtezans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:
Happy were England, would this virtuous prince
Take on himself the sovereignty thereof:
But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it. [nay!
May. Marry, God defend, his grace should say us
Buck. I fear, he will: Here Catesby comes again;-
Re-enter CATESBY.

Now, Catesby, what says his grace?
Cate. He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to come to him,
His grace not being warn'd thereof before;
Ele fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.

Buck. Sorry I am, my noble cousin should
Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love;
And so once more return and tell his grace.
[Erit CATESBY.
When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, 'tis hard to draw them thence;
So sweet is zealous contemplation.

Enter GLOSTER, in a gallery above, between Two
Bishops. CATESBY returns.

May. See, where his grace stands 'tween two cler-
gymen !

Buck. Two props of virtue for a christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity:
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand?
1e ornaments to know a holy man.-
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favourable ear to our requests;
And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion, and right christian zeal.

Glo. My lord, there needs no such apology,
I rather do beseech you pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Neglect the visitation of my friends.
But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure?
Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above,
And all good men of this ungovern'd isle.

Glo. I do suspect, I have done some offence,
That seems disgracious in the city's eye;
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.
Buck. You have, my lord; Would it might please
your grace,

On our entreaties to amend your fault!

Gio. Else, wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?
Buck. Know, then, it is your fault, that you resign

The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The scepter'd office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:
Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,
(Which here we waken to our country's good,)
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs;
Her face defac'd with sears of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shoulder'd in the swallowing gulf
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion.
Which to recure we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land
Not as protector, steward, substitute,
Or lowly factor for another's gain:
But as successively, from blood to blood,
Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
For this, consorted with the citizens,
Your very worshipful and loving friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just suit come I to move your grace.
Glo. I cannot tell, if to depart in silence,
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,
Best fitteth my degree, or your condition:
If, not to answer,--you might haply think,
Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded
To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,
Which fondly you would here impose on ne
If to reprove you for this suit of yours,
So season'd with your faithful love to me,
Then, on the other side, I check'd my friends.
Therefore,-to speak, and to avoid the first;
And then, in speaking, not to incur the last,-
Definitively, thus I answer you.

Your love deserves my thanks; but my desert
Unmeritable, shuns your high request.
First, if all obstacles were cut away,
And that my path were even to the crown,
As the ripe revenue and due of birth;
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty, and so many, my defects,
That I would rather hide me from my greatness,-
Being a bark to brook no mighty sea,-
Than in my greatness covet to be hid,
And in the vapour of my glory smother'd.
But, God be thank'd, there is no need of me,
(And much I need to help you, if need were ;)
The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellow'd by the stealing hours of time,
Will well become the seat of majesty,
And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.
On him I lay what you would lay on me,
The right and fortune of his happy stars,-
Which, God defend, that I should wring from him
Buck. My lord, this argues conscience in your grace
But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,
All circumstances well considered.
You say that Edward is your brother's son ;
So say we too, but not by Edward's wife:
For first he was contract to lady Lucy,
Your mother lives a witness to his vow;
And afterwards by substitute betroth'd
To Bona, sister to the king of France.
These both put by, a poor petitioner,
A care-craz'd mother to a many sons,
A beauty-waning and distressed widow,
Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye,
Seduc'd the pitch and height of all his thoughts
To base declension, and loath'd bigamy;

By het, in his unlawful bed, he got
Now, for my life, she's wand'ring to the Tower,
This Edward, whom our manners call-the prince. On pure heart's love, to greet the tender prince.-