K. Edu. Hold, Richard, hold; for we have done too much. Glou. Why should she live, to fill the world with words? K. Edw. What, doth she swoon? use means for her recovery. Glou. Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother; I'll hence to London on a serious matter: Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news. Clar. What? what? Glou. The Tower, the Tower. [Exit. 50 Q. Mar. O Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! Canst thou not speak? O traitors! murderers! They that stabb'd Cæsar shed no blood at all, Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd! The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse: Look in his youth to have him so cut off As, deathsmen, you have rid this sweet young prince! K. Edo. Away with her; go, bear her hence perforce. Q. Mar. Nay, never bear me hence, dispatch me here; Here sheathe thy sword, I'll pardon thee my death: What, wilt thou not? then, Clarence, do it thou 60 70 Olar. By heaven, I will not do thee so much case. Q. Mar. Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it. Clar. Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it? Q. Mar. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself: 'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity. What, wilt thou not? Where is that devil's butcher, K. Ed. Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence. K. Ed. Where's Richard gone? To make a bloody supper in the Tower. K. Edo. He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head. SCENE VI. London. The Tower. [Exeunt. 90 Enter KING HENRY and GLOUCESTER, with the Lieutenant, on the walls. Glou. Good day, my lord. What, at your book so hard? K. Hen. Ay, my good lord:-my lord, I should say rather; 'Tis sin to flatter; "good" was little better: "Good Gloucester" and "good devil And both preposterous; therefore, not "good lord.” were alike, Glou. Sirrah, leave us to ourselves: we must confer. K. Hen. So flies the reckless shepherd from the wolf; [Exit Lieutenant. So first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece And next his throat unto the butcher's knife. What scene of death hath Roscius now to act? Glou. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer. K. Hen. The bird that hath been limed in a bush, With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush; And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird, Have now the fatal object in my eye Where my poor young was limed, was caught and kill'd. That taught his son the office of a fowl! And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd. K. Hen. I, Dædalus; my poor boy, Icarus; Glou. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption, 10 20 309 K. Hen. Hadst thou been kill'd when first thou didst presume, Thou hadst not lived to kill a son of mine. And thus I prophesy, that many a thousand, And many an old man's sigh and many a widow's, And chattering pies in dismal discords sung. And yet brought forth less than a mother's hope, Teeth hadst thou in thy head when thou wast born, And, if the rest be true which I have heard, Thou camest [Stabs him. Glou. I'll hear no more: die, prophet, in thy speech: For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. K. Hen. Ay, and for much more slaughter after this. O, God forgive my sins, and pardon thee! [Dies. 60 Glou. What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted. See how my sword weeps for the poor king's death! O, may such purple tears be alway shed From those that wish the downfall of our house! If any spark of life be yet remaining, Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither: [Stabs him again. I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear. ΤΟ Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it. I have no brother, I am like no brother; And this word "love," which greybeards call divine, And not in me. I am myself alone. Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light: Flourish. 569 80 90 [Exit with the body. SCENE VII. London. The palace. Enter KING EDWARD, QUEEN ELIZABETII, CLARENCE, GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, a Nurse with the young Prince, and Attendants. K. Edo. Once more we sit in England's royal throne, Re-purchased with the blood of enemies. What valiant foemen, like to autumn's corn, Have we mow'd down in tops of all their pride! For hardy and undoubted champions; Two Cliffords, as the father and the son, And two Northumberlands; two braver men Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound; With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague, 10 That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion And made the forest tremble when they roar'd. Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy. Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat, That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace; And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain. 20 Glon. [Aside] I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid; For yet I am not look'd on in the world. This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave; And heave it shall some weight, or break my back: K. Edir. Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely queen; And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. Clar. The duty that I owe unto your majesty I scal upon the lips of this sweet babe. Q. Eliz. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks. 30 Glou. And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st, Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit. [Aside] To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master, And cried "all hail!" when as he meant all harm. K. Edu. Now am I seated as my soul delights, Having my country's peace and brothers' loves. Clar. What will your grace have done with Margaret? Reignier, her father, to the king of France Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem, And hither have they sent it for her ransom. 40 K. Edo. Away with her, and waft her hence to France. Sound drums and trumpets! farewell sour annoy! [Exeunt. |