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. 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, 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 make haste. He was the wretched'st thing, when he was young,9 That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious. Arch. And so, no doubt, he is, my gracious madam. Duch. I hope, he is; but yet let mothers doubt. York. Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd,* 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. [9] The weakest, most puny, least thriving. RITSON. To be remember'd is, in Shakspeare, to have one's memory quick, to have one's thoughts about one. JOHNS. 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? Mes. Such news, my lord, as grieves me to unfold. Q. Eliz. How doth the prince? Mes. Well, madam, and in health. Duch. What is thy news? Mes. Lord Rivers, and lord Grey, Are sent to Pomfret, with them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners. Duch. Who hath committed them? Mes. The mighty dukes, Gloster and Buckingham. Q.Eliz. For what offence? Mes. 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! Upon the innocent and awless throne : 3- Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days! [2] Parlous is keen, shrewd. STEEV.- Corruption of perilous, danger. ous; the reading of the old quartos. The queen evidently means to chide him. RITSON. £3] Not producing awe, not reverenced. To jut upon is to encroach JOH. Or let me die, to look on death no more! Q.Eliz. Come, come, my boy, we will to sanctuary.Madam, farewel. Duch. Stay, I will go with you. Q.Eliz. You have no cause. Arch. My gracious lady, go, [To the Queen. And thither bear your treasure and your goods. For my part, I'll resign unto your grace ACT III. [Exeunt. SCENE I.-The same. A Street. The Trumpets sound. Enter the Prince of WALES, GLOSTER, BUCKINGHAM, Cardinal BOURCHIER, and others. Buckingham. WELCOME, Sweet prince, to London, to your chamber.4 Glo. Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sovereign : 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. Glo. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your 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, 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. all. Prince. I thank you, good my lord ;-and thank you [Exeunt Mayor, &c. I thought my mother, and my brother York, [4] London was anciently called Camera regis. POPE. Would long ere this have met us on the way: Buck. And in good time, here comes the sweating lord. Buck. Fie! what an indirect and peevish course If she deny,-lord Hastings, go with him, Car. My lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory Can from his mother win the duke of York, Anon expect him here: But if she be obdurate We should infringe the holy privilege Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land, Buck. You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord, Too ceremonious, and traditional :5 Weigh it but with the grossness of this age, 6 The benefit thereof is always granted To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place, But sanctuary children, ne'er till now. Car. My lord, you shall o'er-rule my mind for once.Come on, lord Hastings, will you go with me? Hast. I go, my lord. Prin. Good lords, make all the speedy haste you may. [Exeunt Cardinal and HASTINGS. [5] Ceremonious, superstitious; traditional, adherent to old customs. WAR [6] That is, compare the act of seizing him with the gross and licentious practices of these times, it will not be considered as a violation of sanctuary, for you may give such reasons as men are now used to admit. JOHNS 29* VOL. V. -Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come, Glo. Where it seems best unto your royal self. Your highness shall repose you at the Tower : Prin. I do not like the Tower, of any place :- Glo. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place ; Even to the general all-ending day. Glo. So wise, so young, they say, do ne'er live long. 8 Prin. What say you, uncle ? Glo. I say, without charácters, fame lives long. Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity,9 I moralize two meanings in one word. [Aside }Aside. Prin. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man; With what his valour did enrich his wit, Glo. Short summers lightly have a forward spring.' [Aside. [7] Retailed means handed down from one to another.-Goods retailed, are those which pass from one purchaser to another. M. MASON. [8] Is cadit ante senem, qui sapit ante diem a proverbial line. STEEV. Bright, in his Treatise on Melancholy, 1586, says "I have knowne children languishing of the splene obstructed and altered in temper, talke with gravitie and wisdome, surpassing these tender yeares, and their judgement carrying a marvellous imitation of the wisdom of the ancient, having after a sort attained that by disease, which other have by course of years: whereon I take it, the proverbe ariseth, that they be short of life who are of wit so pregnant. REED. [9] See Note at the end of the play. El Commonly, in ordinary course. JOHNS. |