That you prepare (as is advis'd from council)
To-morrow for your royal coronation.

Queen. What do I hear! support me, Heav'n!
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. I come.

Catesby. Shall I attend your majesty?

Lady A. Attend me! whither? to be crown'd? Let me with deadly venom be anointed,

And die ere man can say, Long live the Queen!

[Exit with CATESBY.

Stanley. Take comfort, madam.

Queen. Alas, where is it to be found?
Death and destruction follow us so close,
They shortly must o'ertake us!
Stanley. In Brittany,

My son-in-law, the Earl of Richmond, still
Resides, who with a jealous eye observes
The lawless actions of aspiring Gloster;
To him would I advise you, madam, fly
Forthwith for aid, protection, and redress:
He will, I'm sure, with open arms receive you.
Duch. of York. Delay not, madam,

For 'tis the only hope that Heav'n has left us.
Queen. Do with me what you please for any
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

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.

you.

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!

I dare not bid them, (as I should) farewell;
And then to part in silence stabs my soul!
P. Ed. What, must you leave us, mother!
Queen. What shall I say?

[Aside. But for a time, my loves-we shall meet again, At least in heaven.

D. of York. Won't you take me with 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 these kisses say farewell.

Why oh why! just Heav'n, must these be our last? Duch. 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:

Hear me, ye guardian powers of innocence !
Awake or sleeping-Oh! protect them still!
Still may their helpless youth attract men's pity,
That when the arm of cruelty is rais'd,
Their looks may drop the lifted dagger down
From the stern murderer's relenting hand,
And throw him on his knees in penitence !
Both Princes. Oh, mother, mother!
Queen. Oh! my poor children!

[Exeunt severally.

SCENE II.

The Presence Chamber.

GLOSTER, seated; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, RATCLIFF, LOVEL, &c.

Glost. Stand all apart-Cousin of BuckinghamBuck. My gracious sovereign!

Glost. Give me thy hand;

At length by thy advice and thy assistance,
Is Gloster seated on the English throne,
But say, my cousin-

What, shall we wear these glories for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?

Buck. I hope for ages, sir-long may they grace you!

Glost. Oh! Buckingham! now do I play the touch

stone,

To try if thou be current friend indeed :

Young Edward lives, so does his brother York.
Now think what I would speak,

Buck. Say on, my gracious lord.

Glost. I tell thee, coz, I've lately had two spiders Crawling upon my startled hopes

Now 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.

[Exit.

fools.

None are for me, that look into my deeds

With thinking eyes

High reaching Buckingham grows circumspect;
The best on't is, it may be done without him,
Tho' not so well, perhaps-had he consented,
Why, then the murder had been his, not mine.
We'll make a shift as 'tis-Come hither, Catesby:
Where's that same Tirrel, whom thou told'st me of?
Hast thou given him those sums of gold I order'd ?
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?

Is she still weak? has my physician seen her?

Ratcliff. He has my lord, and fears her mightily. Glost. But he's exceeding skilful, she'll mend shortly.

Ratcliff. I hope she will, my lord.

Glost. And if she does, I have mistook my man! I must be married to my brother's daughter, At whom I know the Briton, Richmond, aims; And by that knot, looks proudly on the crown. But then to stain me with her brother's blood; Is that the way to woo the sister's love?