Q. Eliz. Kind sister, thanks: we 'll enter all together:- And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes. Enter BRAKENBURY, from the Tower. Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave, How doth the prince, and my young son of York? Brak. Right well, dear madam. By your patience, 2 I may not suffer you to visit them; I mean the lord protector. Q. Eliz. The Lord protect him from that kingly title! 20 Anne. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother: 241 Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame, And take thy office from thee, on my peril. Brak. No, madam, no,-I may not leave it so: I'm bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. [Exit. Enter STANLEY. Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, And reverend looker-on, of two fair queens.—. [To Anne] Come, madam, you must straight, to Westminster, There to be crowned Richard's royal queen. Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news! Q. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee hence! 39 Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house, curse, Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen. Stan. Full of wise care is this your counsel, madam. [To Dorset] Take all the swift advantage of the hours; You shall have letters from me to my son5 50 Duch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery!— 3 From, out of. 4 Thrall, victim (literally, “slave") 5 Son, stepson (i.e. Richmond). Ill-dispersing wind, i.e. wind that scatters evil abroad. That Edward still should live! "True, noble prince!" 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. 19 What say'st thou now? speak suddenly, be brief. Buck. Your grace may do your pleasure. K. Rich. Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezes: Say, have I thy consent that they shall die? Buck. Give me some breath, some little pause, my lord, Before I positively speak herein: I will resolve1 your grace immediately. [Exit. Cate. [Aside to another] The king is angry; see, he gnaws his lip. K. Rich. I will converse with iron-witted fools [Descends from his throne. And unrespective boys: none are for me That look into me with considerate eyes:- 30 High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect. Boy! Page. My lord? K. Rich. Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold Would tempt unto a close exploit of death? Page. I know a discontented gentleman, 3 The touch, i.e. the touchstone. + Resolve, satisfy, answer. 5 Unrespective, careless, unthinking. Close exploit, secret deed. Whose humble means match not his haughty mind: Gold were as good as twenty orators, And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing. His name, my lord, is Tyrrel. 40 K. Rich. I partly know the man: go call him hither. [Exit Page. The deep-revolving witty1 Buckingham How now! what news with you? 49 K. Rich. Why, then thou hast it: two deep enemies, Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep's disturbers, Are they that I would have thee deal upon:-Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower. Tyr. Let me have open means to come to them, And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them. K. Rich. Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrel: Go, by this token:-rise, and lend thine ear: [Whispers. There is no more but so:-say it is done, And I will love thee, and prefer thee for it. Tyr. I will dispatch it straight. Re-enter BUCKINGHAM. 79 [Exit. K. Rich. Because that, like a Jack, thou keep'st the stroke Betwixt thy begging and my meditation. Buck. Why, then resolve1 me whether you will or no. K. Rich. Thou troublest me; I am not in the vein. [Exeunt all except Buckingham. Buck. Is it even so? rewards he my true service With such contempt? made I him king for this? O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone 120 To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on! [Exit. SCENE III. Another room in the palace. Enter TYRREL. Tyr. The tyrannous and bloody act is done, The most arch2 deed of piteous massacre 1 Resolve, answer, satisfy. 2 Arch, chief, out-and-out. 3 Melted, i.e. overcome. |