No less importing than our general good, Are come to have some conference with his grace. [Exit. Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward! He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed, But on his knees at meditation; Not dallying with a brace of courtezans, Happy were England, would this virtuous prince But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it. May. Marry, God defend, his grace should say us nay! 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, And so once more return and tell his grace. [Ex.CATE. 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 clergygymen !7 Buck. Two props of virtue for a Christian prince, And, see, a book of prayer in his hand; Of thy devotion, and right-christian zeal. Glo. My lord, there needs no such apology; [6] To fatten : to pamper. JOHNS.' [7] This pious and courtly Mayor was Edmund Shaw, brother to Doctor Shaw, whom Richard had employed to prove his title to the crown, from the pulpit at Saint Paul's Gross. MAL I rather do beseech you pardon me, But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure? Glo. I do suspect, I have done some offence, On our entreaties to amend your fault! Glo. 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, Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts, And almost smoulder'd in the swallowing gulf. To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty, Your love deserves my. thanks; but my desert First, if all obstacles were cut away, That I would rather hide me from my greatness,— Than in my greatness covet to be hid, But, God be thank'd, there is no need of me, You say, that Edward is your brother's son ; A care-craz'd mother to a many sons, A beauty-waning and distressed widow, Even in the afternoon of her best days, Seduc'd the pitch and height of all his thoughts [9] And I want much of the ability requisite to give you help, if help were needed. JOHNS. To base declension and loath'd bigamy: By her, in his unlawful bed, he got This Edward, whom our manners call-the prince. Save that, for reverence to some alive, I give a sparing limit to my tongue. Then, good my lord, take to your royal self If not to bless us and the land withal, May. Do, good my lord; your citizens entreat you. Buck. Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer'd love. Cate. O, make them joyful, grant their lawful suit. Glo. Alas, why would you heap those cares on me? I am unfit for state and majesty : I do beseech you, take it not amiss ; I cannot, nor I will not, yield to you. Buck. If you refuse it,-as in love and zeal, Yet know, whe'r you accept our suit or no, [Exeunt BUCK. and Citizens, Cate. Call them again,sweet prince, accept their suit ; If you deny them, all the land will rue it. Glo. Will you enforce me to a world of cares? [Exit CATE. Re-enter BUCKINGHAM, and the rest. Attend the sequel of your imposition, Your meer enforcement shall acquittance me May. God bless your grace! we see it, and will say it. Glo. In saying so, you shall but say the truth. Buck. Then I salute you with this royal title,— Long live king Richard, England's worthy king! All. Amen. Buck. To-morrow may it please you to be crown'd? Glo. Even when you please, since you will have it so. Buck. To-morrow then we will attend your grace; And so, most joyfully, we take our leave. Glo. [To the Bishops.] Come, let us to our holy work again : Farewel, good cousin ;-farewel, gentle friends. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE I-Before the Tower. Enter, on one side, Queen ELIZABETH, Duchess of YORK, and Marquis of DORSET; on the other, ANNE Duchess of GLOSTER, leading Lady MARGARET PLANTAGENET, CLARENCE's young Daughter. Duchess. WHO meets us here ?-my niece Plantagenet Anne. God give your graces both A happy and a joyful time of day ! Q.Eliz. As much to you, good sister! Whither away? Anne. No further than the Tower; and, as I guess, Upon the like devotion as yourselves, To gratulate the gentle princes there. Q.Eliz. Kind sister, thanks; we'll enter all together: Enter BRAKENBURY. And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes.— |