Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and Brakenbury. Brother, good day: What means this armed guard, Clar. Glo. Upon what cause? Clar. Because my name is-George. That you shall be new christen'd in the Tower. He hearkens after prophecies, and dreams; And, for my name of George begins with G, Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by women: Was it not she, and that good man of worship, That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower; Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, But the queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds That trudge betwixt the king and mistress Shore. toys, fancies, freaks. Heard you not, what an humble suppliant Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; His majesty hath straitly given in charge, That no man shall have private conference, Of what degree so ever, with his brother. Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Brakenbury, You may partake of any thing we say: We speak no treason, man ;-We say, the king A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue; Brak. I beseech your grace to pardon me; and, Forbear your conference with the noble duke. [withal, Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. Glo. We are the queen's abjects, and must obey. Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood, 1 The queen. • Meaning Shore. 3 The widow Grey, spoken contemptuously. already called her, the jealous o'er-worn widow. Gloster has Clar. I know it pleaseth neither of us well. Glo. Well, your imprisonment shall not be long; I will deliver you, or else lie for you: Mean time, have patience. Clar. I must perforce; farewell. That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! Glo. As much unto my good lord chamberlain! Well are you welcome to this open air. How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment? Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too; Glo. What news abroad? Hast. No news so bad abroad, as this at home;The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy, And his physicians fear him mightily. Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. O, he hath kept an evil diet long, And over-much consum'd his royal person; 'Tis very grievous to be thought upon. What, is he in his bed? Hast. He is. Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you. 1i. e. confined. [Exit HASTINGS. He cannot live, I hope; and must not die, Till George be pack'd with posthorse up to heaven. Which done, God take king Edward to his mercy, For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter: By marrying her, which I must reach unto. Clarence still breathes; Edward still lives, and reigns; SCENE II.-The same. Another street. [Exit. Enter the corpse of King HENRY the Sixth, borne in an open coffin, Gentlemen bearing halberds, to guard it; and Lady ANNE as mourner. Anne. Set down, set down your honourable load,— If honour may be shrouded in a hearse,— Whilst I a while obsequiously lament Th' untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.Poor key-cold figure of a holy king! Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster! Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood! Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost, To hear the lamentations of poor Anne, Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughter'd son, Stabb'd by the self-same hand that made these wounds! Lo, in these windows, that let forth thy life, I pour the helpless balm of my poor eyes : O, cursed be the hand that made these holes! May fright the hopeful mother at the view; And, still as you are weary of the weight, Rest you, whiles I lament king Henry's corse. The Bearers take up the corpse, and advance. Glo. Stay you, that bear the corse, and set it down. Anne. What black magician conjures up this fiend, To stop devoted charitable deeds? Glo. Villains, set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul, I'll make a corse of him that disobeys. 1 Gent. My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass. Glo. Unmanner'd dog! stand thou when I command: Advance thy halberd higher than my breast, Or, by Saint Paul, I'll strike thee to my foot, [The Bearers set down the coffin. Anne. What, do you tremble? are you all afraid? Alas, I blame you not; for you are mortal, And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil.Avaunt, thou dreadful minister of hell! Thou had'st but power over his mortal body, His soul thou canst not have; therefore, be gone. |