At length by thy advice and thy assistance, What, shall we wear these glories for a day? Buck. I hope for ages, sir-long may they grace you! Glost. Oh! Buckingham! now do I play the touchstone, To try if thou be current friend indeed : Young Edward lives, so does his brother York. 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. 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. [Exit. Glost. ' henceforth deal with shorter sighted fools. None are for me, that look into my deeds With thinking eyes— High reaching Buckingham grows circumspect; Glost. Give him this ring, and say, myself [Exit CATESBY. The deep revolving Duke of Buckingham Enter LORD STANLEY. How now, Lord Stanley, what's the news? 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? No matter what's the way-for while they live, My goodly kingdom's on a weak foundation. 'Tis done, my daring heart's resolv'd-they're dead! Enter BUCKINGHAM. Buck. My lord, I have consider'd in my mind, The late request, that you did sound me in. Glost, Well, let that rest-Dorset is fled to Richmond. Buck. I have heard the news, my lord. Glost. Stanley, he's your near kinsman-well, look to him. Buck. My lord, I claim that gift, my due by pro- For which your honour and your faith's eng ag'd; Glost. Stanley, look to your wife; if she convey Buck. what says your highness to my just re- Glost. I do remember me, Harry the Sixth, Enter CATESBY. Catesby. My lord, I have obey'd your highness' orders. Buck. May it please you to resolve me in my Glost. Lead Tirrel to my closet, I'll meet him. Glost. I'm busy-thou troublest ine-I'm not i' th' vein. [Exit. Buck. Oh patience, Heav'n! is't thus he pays my service? Was it for this I rais'd him to the throne? [Exit. SCENE III. An Apartment in the Tower. Enter TIRREL, DIGHTON, and FOREST. Tirrel. Come, gentlemen, Have you concluded on the means? Forest. Smothering will make no noise, sir. see Their young faces, who knows how far their looks Enter LIEUTENANT. Lieut. I have them, sir. Tirrel. Then here's your warrant to deliver them. [Giving a Ring. Licut What can this mean! why at this dead of night To give them too! 'tis not for me to inquire. [Exit. Tirrel. Gentlemen, there lies your way. [Exeunt severally. SCENE IV, The Presence Chamber. Enter GLOSTer. Glost. 'Would it were done! There is a busy something here, That foolish custom has made terrible, To the intent of evil deeds? and nature too, Tugs at my heart-strings with complaining cries, To talk me from my purpose- And then the thought of what men's tongues will say, Of what their hearts must think; To have no creature love me living, nor My memory when dead. Shall future ages, when these children's tale Is told, drop tears in pity of their hapless fate, And read with detestation, the misdeeds of Gloster. The crook-back'd tyrant, cruel, barbarous, And bloody? will they not say too, That to possess the crown, nor laws divine Nor human stopt my way?-Why, let them say it ;' They can't but say I had the crown; I was not fool as well as villain. Enter TIRREL. Now, my Tirrel, how are the brats dispos'd? |