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;
When the sun sets, who doth not look for night?
Untimely storms make men expect a dearth:
All may be well; but, if God sort it so,
'Tis more than we deserve, or I expect.

2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear:
You cannot reason2 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.

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.

Duch. I hope, he is; but yet let mothers doubt. York. Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd,

Arch. Last night, I heard, they lay at
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.
QEliz. But I hear, no; they say, my son of
York

(2) Converse.

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,
Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:
And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast,
Because sweet flowers are slow, and weeds nake
haste.
Duch. 'Good faith, good faith, the saying did

not hold

In him that did object the same to thee:
He was the wretched'st thing, when he was young,
So long a growing, and so leisurely,
That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious.
Arch. And so, no doubt, he is, my gracious
madam.

(1) Knowys.

Gloster and Buckingham. [Exeunt.

How doth the prince?

Q. Eliz.
For what offence?
Mess. The sum of all I can, I have disclos'd;
Why, or for what, the nobles were committed,
Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady.

Q. Eliz. Ah me, I see the ruin of my house!
The tiger now hath seiz'd the gentle hind;
Stony-Insulting tyranny begins to jut

Upon the innocent and awless throne:--
Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre!
I see, as in a map, the end of all.

Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days!
How many of you have mine eyes beheld?
My husband lost his life to get the crown;
And often up and down my sons were tost,
For me to joy, and weep, their gain, and loss:
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors,
Make war upon themselves; brother to brother,
Blood to blood, self 'gainst self:-O, preposterous
And frantic courage, end thy damned spleen;
Or let me die, to look on death no more!
Q. Eliz. Come, come, my boy, we will to sanc-
tuary.-
Madam, farewell.
Duch.
Stay, I will go with you.
Q. Eliz. You have no cause.
Arch.

Pomfret,

With them sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.
Duch. Who hath committed them?
Mess.
The mighty dukes,

My gracious lady, go.
[To the Queen.
And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I'll unto your grace
The seal I keep; And so betide to me,
As well I tender you and all of yours!
Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary. [Exeunt.

(3) Perilous, dangerous.

ACT III.

SCENE 1-The same. A street. The trumpets sound. Enter the prince of Wales, Gloster, Buckingham, Cardinal Bouchier, and others. Buck. Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber.

Glo. Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sove-
reign:

The weary way hath made you melancholy.
Prince. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way
Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy:
I want more uncles here to welcome me.

Prince. Good lords, make all the speedy haste
you may. [Exe. Cardinal and Hastings.
Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come,
Where shall we sojourn till our coronation?
Glo. Where it seems best unto your royal self.
If I may counsel you, some day or two,

Glo. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your Your highness shall repose you at the Tower:

Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit
For your best health and recreation.

Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place :-
Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord?

Glo. 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 ;
Methinks, the truth should live from age to age,
As 'twere retail'd to all posterity,
Even to the general all-ending day.

Glo. So wise so young, they say, do ne'er 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,
His wit set down to make his valour live:
Death makes no conquest of this conqueror;
For now he lives in fame, though not in life.-
I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham.
Buck. What, my gracious lord?

Prince. An if I live until I be a man,
I'll win our ancient right in France again,
Or die a soldier, as I liv'd a king.

Glo. Short summers lightly2 have a forward
spring.
[Aside.

years

Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit :
No more can you distinguish of a man,
Than of his outward show; which, God he knows,
Seldom, or never, jumpeth with the heart.
Those uncles, which you want, were dangerous;
Your grace attended to the sugar'd words,
But look'd not on the poison of their hearts:
God keep you from them, and from such false

friends!

Prince. God keep me from false friends! but they were none.

Glo. My lord, the mayor of London comes to

greet you.

Enter the Lord Mayor, and his train. May. God bless your grace with health and happy days!

Prince. I thank you, good my lord ;—and thank you all. [Exeunt Mayor, &c. I thought my mother, and my brother York, Would long ere this have met us on the way: Fie, what a slug is Hastings! that he comes not To tell us, whether they will come, or no.

Enter Hastings.

Buck. And in good time, here comes the sweating lord.

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,
Have taken sanctuary: The tender prince
Would fain have come with me to meet your grace,
But by his mother was perforce withheld.

Buck. Fie! what an indirect and peevish course
Is this of hers!-Lord cardinal, will your grace
Persuade the queen to send the duke of York
Unto his princely brother presently?
If she deny,-lord Hastings, go with him,
And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce.
Card. My lord of Buckingham, if my weak
oratory

Then, taking him from thence, that is not there,
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

Can from his mother win the duke of York,
Anon expect him here: But if she be obdurate
To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid
We should infringe the holy privilege
Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land,
Would I be guilty of so deep a sin.

Buck. You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord,
Too ceremonious, and traditional :
Weigh it but with the grossness of this age,
You break not sanctuary in seizing him.
The benefit thereof is always granted

To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place,
And those who have the wit to claim the place:
This prince hath neither claim'd it, nor deserv'd it ;
And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it :

(1) Sensible vice, the buffoon in the old plays.

once.

Come on, lord Hastings, will you go with me?
Hast. I go, my lord.

Enter York, Hastings, and the Cardinal. Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the duke of York. 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 late3 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,
You said, that idle weeds are fast in growth:
The prince my brother hath outgrown me far. }
Glo. He hath, my lord.
York.
And therefore is he idle?
Glo. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so.
York. Then is he more beholden to you, than I?
Glo. He may command me, as my sovereign;
you have power in me, as in a kinsman
York. I pray you, uncle, then give me this
dagger.

But

Glo. My dagger, little cousin? with all:
my heart.
Prince A beggar brother?
York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give;

(2) Commonly.

(3) Lately,

And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me

Glo. My gracious lord, will't please you pass The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables

you

Go, bid thy master rise and come to me;
Hast. Come, come, have with you.-Wot3 you
And we will both together to the Tower,
what, my lord?
Where, he shall see, the boar1 will use us kindly.To-day, the lords talk of are beheaded.
Mess. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you say. Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear
their heads,
Enter Catesby.
Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their hats,
But come, my lord, let's away.

Enter a Pursuivant.

low.

Hast. So on before, I'll talk with this good fel[Exeunt Stan. and Catesby. How now, sirrah? how goes the world with thee? Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Than when thou net'st me last where now we meet: Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, Hast. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my By the suggestion of the queen's allies; shoulders, But now, I tell thee (keep it to thyself,) This day those enemies are put to death, And I in better state than ere I was.

Cate. Ay, my good lord.

Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good content!

Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord! Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring :

What news, what news, in this our tottering state?
Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
And, I believe, will never stand upright,
Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.
Hast. How! wear the garland? dost thou mean
the crown?

Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?

Cate. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you for-
ward

Upon his party, for the gain thereof:
And, thereupon, he sends you this good news,--
That, this same very day, your enemies,
The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.

Hast. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news,
Because they have been still my adversaries:
But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side,
To bar my master's heirs in true descent,
God knows, I will not do it, to the death.

Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious
mind!

Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month
hence,

That they, who brought me in my master's hate,
I live to look upon their tragedy.
Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,
I'll send some packing, that yet think not on't.

Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepar'd, and look not for it.

Hast. Omonstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do With some men else, who think themselves as safe As thou, and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear To princely Richard, and to Buckingham.

Cate. The princes both make high account of

You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,2
I do not like these several councils, I.

Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours;
And never, in my life, I do protest,
Was it more precious to me than 'tis now:
Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would be so triumphant as I am?

Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from
London,
Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure,
And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust;
But yet, you see, how soon the day o'ercast.
This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt;
Pray God, I say, I.prove a needless coward!
What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.

(1) i. e. Gloster, who had a boar for his arms.

me.

Hast. Gramercy, fellow: There, drink that for
[Throwing him his purse.
Purs. I thank your honour. [Exit Pursuivant.
Enter a Priest.

Priest. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour.

Hast. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my heart.

I am in your debt for your last exercise;
Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.
Enter Buckingham.

When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I,
For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.
Riv. Then curs'd she Hastings, then curs'd she
Buckingham,

Then curs'd she Richard :-0, remember, God,
To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!
And for my sister, and her princely sons,--
Be satisfied, dear God, with our true bloods,
Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt!
Rat. Make haste, the hour of death is expiate.
Riv. Come, Grey,-come, Vaughan,-let us here

embrace :

Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV-London. A room in the Tower.
Buckingham, Stanley, Hastings, the bishop of
Ely, Catesby, Lovel, and others, sitting at a
table: officers of the council attending.

Who is most inward2 with the noble duke?

Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.

To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden;
For I myself am not so well provided,
As else I would be, were the day prolong'd.
Re-enter bishop of Ely.

Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are For, were he, he had shown it in his looks.

met

Re-enter Gloster and Buckingham.

Is to determine of the coronation:

In God's name, speak, when is the royal day?

Buck. Are all things ready for that royal time?
Stan. They are; and wants but nomination.
Ely. To-morrow then I judge a happy day.
Buck. Who knows the lord protector's mind
herein?

Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve,
That do conspire my death with devilish plots
Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevail'd
Upon my body with their hellish charms?

Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,
Makes me most forward in this noble presence
To doom the offenders: Whosoe'er they be,
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil,
Look how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm
Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up:
And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.
Hast. If they have done this deed, my noble
lord,-

(2) Intimate.

Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent For these strawberries.

Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning;

Buck. We know each other's faces: for our
hearts,-

He knows no more of mine, than I of yours;
Nor I, of his, my lord, than you of mine :-
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.

Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;
But, for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious pleasure any way therein:
But you, my noble lord, may name the time;
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part.

Enter Gloster.

Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself.
Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all, good mor-

row:

I have been long a sleeper; but, I trust,
My absence doth neglect no great design,
Which by my presence might have been concluded.
Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my lord,
William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,-O,
I mean, your voice,-for crowning of the king.
Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be
bolder;

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.
My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn,
I saw good strawberries in your garden there;
I do beseech you send for some of them.
Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.
[Exit Ely.
Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.
[Takes him aside.
Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business;
And finds that testy gentleman so hot,
That he will lose his head, ere give consent,
His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it,
Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.
Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with
you. [Exeunt Gloster and Buckingham.
Stan. We have not yet set down this day ofI
triumph.

(1) Expiated, completed.

There's some conceit3 or other likes him well,
When he doth bid good morrow with such spirit.
I think, there's ne'er a man in Christendom,
Can lesser hide his love, or hate, than he;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
Stan. What of his heart perceive you in his face,
By any likelihood he show'd to-day?

Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is. of-
fended;

Glo. If! thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Talk'st thou to me of ifs ?-Thou art a traitor:-
Off with his head :-now, by saint Paul I swear,
I will not dine until I see the same.-
Lovel, and Catesby, look, that it be done;
The rest that love me, rise, and follow me.

[Exeunt council, with Gloster and Buckingham.
Hast. Wo, wo, for England! not a whit for me;
For I, too fond,4 might have prevented this:
Stanley did dream, the boar did rase his helm;
But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly.
Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
And startled, when he look'd upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.

now I want the priest that spake to me:
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triumphing, how mine enemies,
To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O, Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.

Cate. Despatch, my lord, the duke would be at
dinner;

Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head.
Hast. O momentary grace of mortal men,
Which we more hunt for than the grace of God!
Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast;
Ready, with every nod, to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to ex-
claim.

Hast. O, bloody Richard!-miserable England! prophesy the fearful'st time to thee, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.-

(3) Thought.

(4) Weak, foolis