But come, dangers retreat, when boldly they're confronted,

And dull delays lead impotence and fear;
Then fiery expedition raise my arm,

And fatal may it fall on crush'd rebellion!
Let's muster men-my counsel is my shield,
We must be brief, when traitors brave the field. [Exit.

SCENE V.

A Court in the Tower.

Enter QUEEN and DUCHESS OF YORK.

Queen. Oh, my poor children!-Oh, my tender babes!

My unblown flowers, pluck'd by untimely hands:
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air,
And be not fix'd in doom perpetual,
Hover about me, with your airy wings,
And hear your mother's lamentation!
Why slept their guardian angels, when this deed was

To Richard, haste, and pierce him with our cries :

[Trumpet sounds a March. Hark, his trumpet sounds !—this way he must pass.

Queen. Alas, I've not the daring to confront him ! Duch. of York. I have a mother's right-l'll force

him to hear me.

Enter Gloster and CATESBY, with Forces.

Trumpet sounds a March. Glost. Who interrupts me, in my expedition ? Duch. of York. Dost thou not know.me? Art thou

not my son ? Glost. I cry your mercy, madam-is it you? Duch. of York. Art thou my son? Glost. Ay, I thank Heaven, my father, and your

self. Duch. of York. Then I command thee, hear me. Glost. Madam, I have a touch of

your condition, That cannot brook the accent of reproof. Duch. of York. Stay, I'll be mild, and gentle, in my

words. Glost. And brief, good mother, for I am in haste. Duch. of York. Why, I have staid for thee, (just

Heav'n knows)
In torment, and in agony.

Glost. And came not I at last, to comfort you?
Duch. of York. No, on my soul! too well thou

know'st it,
A grievous burden was thy birth to me,
Techy, and wayward, was thy infancy;
Thy prime of manhood, daring, bold, and stubborn;
Thy age confirm'd, most subtle, proud, and bloody!

Glost. If I am so disgracious in thy eye,
Let me march on, and not offend thee, madam;

Duch, of York. Yet stay, I charge thee, hear me.
Queen. If not, hear me; for I have wrongs will

Without a tongue.-Methinks, the very sight
Of me should turn thee into stone!
W! :re are my children, Gloster ?

Duch. of York. Where is thy brother, Clarence ?
Queen. Where Hastings?
Duch. of York. Rivers ?
Queen. Vaughan?
Duch. of York. Grey ?

Glost. A flourish, trumpets ; strike alarum, drums;
Let not the Heav'ns hear these tell-tale women
Rail on the Heav'ns anointed !-Strike, I say!

[Alarm of Drums and Trumpets. Either be patient, and entreat me fair, Or, with the clamorous report of war, Thus will I drown your exclamations. Duch. of York. Then hear me, Heav'n! and Heav'n,

at his latest hour, Be deaf to him, as he is now to me! Ere, from this war he turn a conqueror, Ye Powers, cut off his dangerous thread of life, Lest his black sins rise higher in account, Than hell has, pains to punish! Mischance, and sorrow, wait thee to the field! Heart's discontent, languid, and lean despair, With all the hell of guilt, pursue thy steps, for ever!

[Erit. Queen. Though far more cause, yet much less pow

er to curse

Abides in me, I say amen to her.
Glost. Stay, madam, I would beg some words with

you. Queen. What canst thou ask, that I have now to

grant? Is't another son? Gloster, I have none. Glost. You have a beauteous daughter, callid Eli

zabethQueen. Must she die too?

G

Glost. For whose fair sake, I'll bring more good to

you, Than ever you, or yours, had from me, harm : So, in the Lethe of thy angry soul, Thou'lt drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs, Which, thou supposest me the cruel cause of. Queen. Be brief, lest, that the process of thy kind

ness, Last longer telling, than thy kindness' date. Glost. Know, then, that, from my soul, I love the

fair Elizabeth, and will, with your permission, Seat her on the throne of England.

Queen. Alas, vain man ! how canst thou woo her ?

Glost. That, I would learn of you, As one, being best acquainted with her humour. Queen. If thou wilt learn of me, then woo her

thus : Send to her, by the man who kill'd her brothers, A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrav’d, Edward, and York—then, haply, will she weep : On this, present her with an handkerchief, Stain'd with their blood, to wipe her woeful eyes : If this inducement move her not to love, Read o'er the history of thy noble deeds ; Tell her, thy policy took off her uncles, Clarence, Rivers, Grey; nay, and, for her sake, Made quick conveyance with her dear aunt, Anne. Glost. You mock me, madam ; this is not the way

2 To win your daughter.

Queen. What shall I say ?-Still to affront his love, I fear, will but incense him to revenge ; And, to consent, I should abhor myself: Yet I may seemingly comply, and thus, By sending Richmond word of his intent, Shall gain some time, to let my child escape him. It shall be so.

[4side.

I have consider'd, sir, of your important wishes,
And, could I but believe

youl

realGlost. Now, by the sacred host of saints above

Queen. Oh, do not swear, my lord, I ask no oath, Unless my daughter like

you more than I.
Glost. 'Oh, my kind mother! (I must call you so)
Be thou to her, my love's soft orator ;
Plead what I will be, not what I have been;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve.
And, when this warlike arm, shall have chastis'd
The audacious rebel, hot-brain'd Buckingham;
Bound with triumphant garlands, will I come,
And lead your daughter, to a conqueror's bed.
Queen. My lord, farewell-in some few days, ex-

pect
To hear, how fair a progress I have made:
Till when, be happy, as you're penitent.
Glost. My heart goes

with
you

love. Farewell!

[Exit QUEEN. Relenting, shallow-thoughted women!

to my

Enter RATCLIFF.

How now the news?
Ratcliff. Most gracious sovereign, on the western

coasts,
Rides a most powerful navy, and our fears
Inform us, Richmond is their admiral.
There do they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham, to welcome them ashore. [Erit.
Glost. We must prevent him, then-Come hither,

Catesby.
Catesby. My lord, your pleasure ?

Glost. Post to the Duke of Norfolk, instantly,-
Bid him, straight levy all the strength and power
That he can make, and meet me, suddenly,
At Salisbury.—Commend me to his grace--away!

[Exit CATESBY.