That you prepare (as is advis'd from council) . Lady A. Alas, I heard of this before, but could not For my soul find heart to tell you of it. Catesby. The king does farther wish your majesty Would less employ your visits at the Tower; He gives me leave t' attend you to the court, And is impatient, madam, till he sees you. Lady A. Farewell to all! and thou, poor, injur'd queen, forgive the unfriendly duty I must pay. Queen. Alas, kind soul, I envy not thy glory; Nor think I'm pleas'd thou’rt partner in our sorrow. Catesby. Madam. Lady A. Attend me! whither ? to be crown'd? [Erit with CATESBY. Stanley. Take comfort, madam. Queen. Alas, where is it to be found? Stanley. In Brittany, Duch. of York. Delay not, madam, change Must surely better our condition. Stanley. I farther would advise you, madam, this instant To remove the princes to some Remote abode, where you yourself are mistress. P. Ed. Dear madam, take me hence; for I shall ne'er Enjoy a moment's quiet here. D. of York. Nor I; pray, mother let me go too. Queen. Come then my pretty young ones, let's away, For here you lie within the falcon's reach, Who watches but th’unguarded hour to seize you. Enter LIEUTENANT, with a Warrant. Lieut. I beg your Majesty will pardon me; But the young princes must, on no account, Have egress from the Tower. Nor must (without the king's especial license) Of what degree soever, any person Have admission to them -all must retire. Queen. I am their mother, sir! who else commands them? If I pass freely, they shall follow me. For you, I'll take the peril of your fault upon myself. Lieut. My inclination, madam, would oblige you; But I am bound by oath, and must obey ; Nor, madam, can I now with safety answer For this continued visit. Please you, my lord, to read these orders. Queen. Oh! heav'nly powers, shall I not stay with them? Lieut. Such are the king's commands, madam. Queen. My lord ! Stanley. 'Tis too true and it were vain to oppose them. Queen. Support me, Heav'n! For life can never bear the pangs of such a parting: Oh! my poor children! oh, distracting thought ! say? me with I dare not bid them, (as I should) farewell; P. Ed. What, must you leave us, mother! . [Aside. take you, mother? I shall be so 'fraid to stay when you are gone. Queen. I cannot speak to them, and yet we must Be parted—then let ihese kisses say farewell. Why! oh why! just Heav'n, must these be our last? Ďuch. of York. Give not your grief such way-be sudden when you part. Queen. I will-since it must be-to heav'n I leave them : may their helpless youth attract men's pity, Both Princes. Oh, mother, mother! [Exeunt severally. SCENE II. The Presence Chamber. Gloster, seated; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, RAT CLIFF, LOVEL, &c. Glost. Stand all apart-Cousin of BuckinghamBuck. My gracious sovereign ! Glost. Give ine thy hand; you ! At length by thy advice and thy assistance, Buck. I hope for ages, sir-long may they grace stone, Buck. Say on, my gracious lord. Glost. I tell thee, coz, I've lately had two spiders Crawling upon my startled hopesNow 'tho thy friendly hand has brush'd them from me, Yet still they crawl offensive to my eyes; I would have some kind friend to tread upon 'em. I would be king, my cousin. Buck. Why, so I think you are, my royal lord. Glost. Ha! am I king? 'tis so-but-Edward lives. Buck. Most true, my lord. Glost. Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull. Shall I be plain—I wish the bastards dead! And I would have it suddenly perform’d! Now, cousin, canst understand me? Buck. None dare dispute your highness' pleasure. Glost. Indeed ! methinks thy kindness freezes, cousin. Thou dost refuse me then ?-they shall not die. Buck. My lord, since 'tis an action cannot be Recall’d, allow me but some pause to think ; I'll instantly resolve your highness. Erit. Glost. !'ll henceforth deal with shorter sighted fools. None are for me, that look into my deeds With thinking eyes- Catesby. I have, my liege. Glost. Give him this ring, and say, myself Will bring him farther orders instantly. [Exit CATESBY. The deep revolving Duke of Buckingham No more shall be the neighbour to my councils; Has he so long held out with me untir’d, And stops he now for breath? Well, be it so. Enter LORD STANLEY. How now, Lord Stanley, what's the news ? Stanley. I hear, my liege, the Lord Marquis of Dorset Is fled to Richmond, now in Brittany. Glost. Why, let him go, my lord: he may be spar'd. Hark thee, Ratcliff, when saw'st thou Anne, my queen? Ratcliff. He has my lord, and fears her mightily. shortly. Glost. And if she does, I have mistook my man! |