He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber, To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I,—that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, He capers-] War capers. This is poetical, though a little harsh; if it be York that capers, the antecedent is at such a distance, that it is almost forgotten. 5 Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,] By dissembling is not meant hypocritical nature, that pretends one thing, and does another but nature that puts together things of a dissimilar kind, as a brave soul and a deformed body. Feature is used here, as in other pieces of the same age, for beauty in general. And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,] Shakspeare very diligently inculcates, that the wickedness of Richard proceeded from his deformity, from the envy that rose at the comparison of his own person with others, and which incited him to disturb the pleasures that he could not partake. JOHNSON. 7 inductions dangerous,] Preparations for mischief. The induction is preparatory to the action of the play. And, if king Edward be as true and just, This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up; Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. Dive, thoughts, down to my soul! here Clarence comes. Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKENBURY. Brother, good day: What means this armed guard, That waits upon your grace? Clar. His majesty, Clar. Because my name is-George. That you shall be new christen'd in the Tower. 8 Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by 'Tis not the king, that sends you to the Tower; lady Grey, his wife, Clarence, 'tis she, My 8 toys-] Fancies, freaks of imagination. That tempers him to this extremity. Was it not she, and that good man of worship, That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower; Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; His majesty hath straitly given in charge, That no man shall have private conference, Of what degree so ever, with his brother. Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Brakenbury, A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue; Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought The jealous o'er-worn widow, and herself,] That is, the Queen and Shore. Glo. Naught to do with mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow, He that doth naught with her, excepting one, Glo. Her husband, knave:-Would'st thou betray me? Brak. I beseech your grace to pardon me; and, withal, Forbear your conference with the noble duke. Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. Glo. We are the queen's abjects,' and must obey. Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood, Clar. I know it pleaseth neither of us well. Mean time, have patience. Clar. return, Simple, plain Clarence!-I do love thee so, '—the queen's abjects,] The most servile of her subjects, who must of course obey all her commands. 2lie for you:] i. e. be imprisoned in your stead. To lie was anciently to reside, as appears by many instances in these volumes. Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! Glo. As much unto my good lord chamberlain! Well are you welcome to this open air. How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment? Hast. With patience, noble lord, as prisoners must: But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks, That were the cause of my imprisonment. Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too; For they, that were your enemies, are his, Glo. What news abroad? Hast. No news so bad abroad, as this at home;The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy, And his physicians fear him mightily. Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. O, he hath kept an evil diet long, And over-much consum'd his royal person; 'Tis very grievous to be thought upon. What, is he in his bed? Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you. [Exit HASTINGS. He cannot live, I hope; and must not die, Till George be pack'd with posthorse up to heaven. Clarence hath not another day to live: 3 should be mew'd,] A mew was the place of confinement where a hawk was kept till he had moulted. an evil diet-] i. e. a bad regimen. |