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

done?

Duch. of York. So many miseries have drain'd my eyes,

That my woe-weary'd tongue is still and mute;-
Why should calamity be full of words?

Queen. Let's give them scope; for though they

can't remove,

Yet, do they ease, affliction.

Duch.of York. Why, then, let us be loud in exclamations,

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-I'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 yourself.

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

speak

Without a tongue.-Methinks, the very sight
Of me should turn thee into stone!

Where 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!

[Exit. 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, call'd Elizabeth

Queen. 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
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
It shall be so.

him.

[4side.

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

Glost. Now, by the sacred host of saints aboveQueen. Oh, do not swear, my lord, I ask no oath, Unless my daughter like you more than I. so)

you

Glost. Oh, my kind mother! (I must call 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, expect

To hear, how fair a progress I have made: Till when, be happy, as you're penitent. Glost. My heart goes with you to my love. Farewell! [Exit QUEEN. Relenting, shallow-thoughted women!

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.
Glost. We must prevent him, then-Come hither,

[Exit.

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.