Prince. That Julius Cæfar was a famous man "the fables of their gods by moral verities; a fentiment wonderfully "well adapted to the character of Richard, who must be fuppos'd "here to fpeak ironically and to this effect. You men of morals, who fo much extol your formal wife antiquity, in what am I inferior to it, "which was but an equivocator as I am, and could moralize two "meanings in one word ?" I come now to the explanation of the text, as it is exhibited in the printed copies. By vice, perhaps the author may mean not a quality but a perfon. There was hardly an old play, till the period of the reformation, which had not in it a devil, and a drole character, a jefter; (who was to play upon, and work, the devil;) and this buffoon went by the name of vice. A vice in a play, badin, mime; to play the vice, badiner; mime, a vice, fool, jefter, &c. in a play; fays Cotgrave. Mimo, (mimus) a jefter, a vice; fays Minshew in his Spanish dictionary. If it be worth the while to spend a word or two upon derivation, we are told, this vice comes from the Saxon word Ieck, which comes from the Greek sixa, vanus fatuus. I confefs, I think, we may go a nearer way to work. This vice, in my mind, comes from the Greek original: for, adding the Eolic digamma to sixa, (fcil. Favar) and then throwing out the termination, vice is very nearly produced. But to pass over from etimology. This buffoon was at first accoutred with a long jerkin, a cap with a pair of afs's ears, and a wooden dagger, with which (like another harlequin) he was to make sport in belabouring the devil. This was the conftant entertainment in the times of popery, whilst fpirits, and witchcraft, and exorcifing held their own. When the reformation took place, the ftage fhook off fome groffities, and encreas'd in refinements. The mafter-devil then was foon difmiffed from the fcene; and this buffoon was chang'd into a fubordinate fiend, whose business was to range on earth, and feduce poor mortals into that perfonated vicious quality, which he occafionally fupported; as, iniquity in general, bypocrify, ufury, vanity, prodigality, gluttony, &c. Now as the fiend, (or vice) who perfonated iniquity (or hypocrify, for inftance) could never hope to play his game to the purpose but by hiding his cloven foot, and affuming a femblance quite different from his real character; he muft certainly put on a formal demeanour, moralize, and prevaricate in his words, and pretend a meaning directly oppofite to his genuine and primitive intention. If this does not explain the paffage in queftion, 'tis all that I can at prefent fuggeft upon it.- -Sub judice lis eft; I relinquish it to more able judgments, Buck. Buck. What, my gracious Lord ? Prince. An if I live until I be a man, I'll win our ancient right in France again, Or die a foldier, as I liv'd a King. Glo. Short fummer lightly has a forward fpring. Enter York, Haftings, and Archbishop. Buck. Now in good time here comes the Duke of York. Glo. How fares our coufin, noble Lord of York? York. And therefore is he idle? Glo. O, my fair coufin, I must not say so. York. I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger. York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give; Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give my coufin. York. A greater gift? O, that's the fword to it. Glo. Ay, gentle coufin, were it light enough. York. O, then I fee, you'll part but with light gifts; In weightier things you'll fay a beggar nay. Glo. It is too weighty for your Grace to wear. York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier. Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little Lord? York. I would, that I might thank you, as you call me. Glo. How? York. Little. Prince. My Lord of York will ftill be cross in talk: Uncle, Uncle, your Grace knows how to bear with him. He thinks, that you should bear me on your fhoulders. He prettily and aptly taunts himself; So cunning, and fo young, is wonderful. York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my Lord? York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghoft: Glo. Nor none that live, I hope. Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. But come, my Lord, and with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Torver. [Exeunt Prince, York, Haftings and Dorfet. Manent Glocester, Buckingham and Catesby. Buck. Think you, my Lord, this little prating York Was not incenfed by his fubtle mother, To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously? Glo. No doubt, no doubt: oh, 'tis a per'lous boy, Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable; He's all the mother's, from the top to toe. Buck. Well, let them reft: come, Catesby, thou art fworn As deeply to effect what we intend, As closely to conceal what we impart: Thou know'it our reasons urg'd upon the way; VOL. V. L In . In the feat royal of this famous ifle ? Catef. He for his father's fake fo loves the Prince, That he will not be won to aught against him. Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley? will not he? Catef. He will do all in all as Haftings doth. Buck. Well then, no more than this: go, gentle Catefty, If thou doft find him tractable to us, Glo. Commend me to Lord William; tell him, Catesby, Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this bufinefs foundly. Catef. My good Lords both, with all the heed I can. Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we fleep? Catef. You fhall, my Lord. Glo. At Crosby-place, there you fhall find us both. [Exit Catesby. Buck. My Lord, what shall we do, if we perceive, Lord Haftings will not yield to our complots? Glo. Chop off his head, man; fomewhat we will do ; Buck. I'll claim that promife at your Grace's hand. [Exeunt. SCENE, before Lord Haflings's Houfe. Enter a Meffenger to the door of Haftings. Y Lord, my Lord, MM Haft. [within.] Who knocks? Mef. One from Lord Stanley. Mef. Upon the stroke of four. Enter Lord Haftings. Haft. Cannot thy mafter fleep thefe tedious nights? Mef. Then certifies your Lordship, that this night Which you make And with all speed poft with him tow'rds the north; Haft. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy Lord, Tell him, his fears are fhallow, wanting inftance; L 2 Enter |