― Go thou [to CAT.] to friar Penker; bid them both Now will I in, to take some privy order SCENE VI. A Street. Enter a Scrivener. [Exit. Scriv. Here is the indictment of the good lord Hast ings; Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd, That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's. And mark how well the sequel hangs together:- 8 For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me; Here's a good world the while! - Who is so gross, Yet who so bold, but says he sees it not? of the Treasury, to furnish the advocates for the administration of the day, with plausible topicks of argument on great political measures, (the established mode of the present time,) formerly it was customary to publish the court creed from the pulpit at Saint Paul's Cross. As Richard now employed Dr. Shaw to support his claim to the crown, so, about fifteen years before, the great earl of Warwick employed his chaplain Dr. Goddard to convince the people that Henry VI. ought to be restored, and that Edward IV. was an usurper. MALONE. 8 The precedent --] The original draft from which the engrossment was made. Bad is the world; and all will come to nought, [Exit. SCENE VII. The same. Court of Baynard's Castle. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, meeting. Glo. How now, how now? what say the citizens? Glo. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children? Buck. I did; with his contract with lady Lucy, And his contract by deputy in France; The insatiate greediness of his desires, And his enforcement of the city wives; His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy, As being got, your father then in France; And his resemblance, being not like the duke. Withal, I did infer your lineaments, — Being the right idea of your father, Both in your form and nobleness of mind: Laid open all your victories in Scotland, I bade them, that did love their country's good, Glo. And did they so? Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word; But, like dumb statuas, or breathless stones, + 9 detection. seen in thought,] That is, seen in silence, without notice or Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale. And ask'd the mayor, what meant this wilful silence: Glo. What tongueless blocks were they: Would they not speak? Will not the mayor then, and his brethren, come? No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue. 1 2 Buck. Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks. [Exit GLOSTER. —intend some fear:] Perhaps, pretend; though intend will stand in the sense of giving attention. JOHNSON.. • As I can say nay to thee, &c.] i. e. if (says Richard) you speak for them as plausibly as I in my own person, or my own purposes, shall seem to deny your suit, there is no doubt but we shall bring all to a happy issue. Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens. Enter, from the Castle, CATESBY. Now, Catesby! what says your lord to my request? He is within, with two right reverend fathers, Divinely bent to meditation: And in no wordly suit would he be mov'd, To draw him from his holy exercise. 3 Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke; Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen, In deep designs, in matter of great moment, No less importing than our general good, Are come to have some conference with his grace. Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight. [Exit. Buck. Ah, ha! my lord, this prince is not an Edward! He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed, 3 But on his knees at meditation; Not dallying with a brace of courtezans, But meditating with two deep divines; Not sleeping, to engross his idle body, But praying, to enrich his watchful soul: Happy were England, would this virtuous prince Take on himself the sovereignty thereof: But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it. May. Marry, God defend, his grace should say us nay (5 3 4 - day-bed,] i. e. a couch, or sofa. ·to engross—] to fatten, to pamper. 5 God defend, his grace should say us nay!] This pious and courtly mayor was Edmund Shaw, brother to Dr. Shaw, whom Richard had employed to prove his title to the crown, from the pulpit at Saint Paul's Cross. Buck. I fear, he will: Here Catesby comes again. Re-enter CATESBY. Now, Catesby, what says his grace? Cate. He wonders to what end you have assembled Such troops of citizens to come to him, His grace not being warn'd thereof before, vita He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him. Buck. Sorry I am, my noble cousin should GŤ Suspect me, that I mean no good to him: By heaven, we come to him in perfect love; And so once more return and tell his grace. [Exit CATESBY. When holy and devout religious men A Enter GLOSTER, in a Gallery above, between Troo A Bishops. CATESBY returns. May. See, where his grace stands 'tween two clergy Buck. Two props of virtue for a christian prince, .......vi To stay him from the fall of vanity: And, see, a book of prayer in his hand; True ornaments to know a holy man. And pardon us the interruption Of thy devotion, and right christian, zeal. I rather do beseech you pardon me, Who, earnest in the service of my God, Neglect the visitation of my friends. But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure? Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above, And all good men of this ungovern'd isle., |