The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare

2 Cit. Ill news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better: I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world.

Enter another Citizen.

3 Cit. Neighbours, God speed!

1 Cit. Give you good morrow, sir!

3 Cit. Doth the news hold of good king Edward's death?

2 Cit. Ay, sir, it is too true; God help, the while! 3 Cit. Then, masters, look to see a troublous world! 1 Cit. No, no; by God's good grace, his son shall reign.

3 Cit. Woe to that land, that's govern'd by a child! 2 Cit. In him there is a hope of government; That, in his nonage, council under him, And, in his full and ripen'd years, himself, No doubt, shall then, and till then, govern well. 1 Cit. So stood the state, when Henry the sixth Was crown'd in Paris but at nine months old. 3 Cit. Stood the state so? no, no, good friends,

God wot;

For then this land was famously enrich'd
With politic grave counsel; then the king
Had virtuous uncles, to protect his grace.

1 Cit. Why, so hath this, both by his father and mother.

3 Cit. Better it were, they all came by his father;
Or, by his father, there were none at all:
For emulation now, who shall be nearest,
Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not.'
O, full of danger is the duke of Gloster,

And the queen's sons, and brothers, haught and proud:
And were they to be rul'd, and not to rule,
This sickly land might solace, as before.

1 Cit. Come, come, we fear the worst; all will be well. 3 Cit. When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks;

When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand;
When the sun sets, who doth not look for night?
Untimely storms make men expect a dearth.
All may be well; but, if God sort it so,
'Tis more, than we deserve, or I expect.

2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear:
You cannot reason almost with a man
That looks not heavily, and full of dread.
3 Cit. Before the days of change still is it so :
By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust
Ensuing danger; as, by proof, we see
The water swell before a boist'rous storm.
But leave it all to God! Whither away?

2 Cit. Marry, we were sent for to the justices.
3 Cit. And so was I; I'll bear you company. [Exeunt.
SCENEIV. The same. A room in the palace.
Enter the Archbishop of Yonk, the young Duke of
YORK, Queen ELIZABETH, und the Duchess of YoRK.
Arch. Last night, I heard, they lay at Stony-Strat-
ford;

And at Northampton they do rest to-night:
To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.
Duch. I long with all my heart to see the prince.
I hope, he is much grown, since last I saw him.
Q. Eliz. But I hear, no; they say, my son of York
Hath almost overta'en him in his growth.
York. Ay, mother, but I would not have it so.
Duch. Why, my young cousin? it is good to grow.
York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper,
My uncle Rivers talk'd, how I did grow

More than my brother; Ay, quoth my uncle Gloster,
Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:
And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast,
Because sweet flowers are slow, and weeds make haste.
Duch.'Good faith,'good faith, the saying did not hold
In him, that did object the same to thee:

He was the wretched'st thing, when he was young,

So long a growing, and so leisurely,
That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious.
Arch. And so, no doubt, he is, my gracious madam.
Duch. I hope, he is; but yet let mothers doubt!
York. Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd,
I could have given my uncle's grace a flout,
To touch his growth nearer, than he touch'd mine.
Duch. How,my young York? I pr'ythee,let me hear it.
York. Marry, they say, my uncle grew so fast,
That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old;
'Twas full two years, ere I could get a tooth.
Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.
Duch. I pr'ythee, pretty York, who told thee this?
York. Grandam, his nurse.

Duch. His nurse! why, she was dead, ere thou wast

born.

York. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell, who told me. Q. Eliz. A parlous boy! Go to, you are too shrewd. Arch. Good madam, be not angry with the child! Q. Eliz. Pitchers have ears.

Enter a Messenger. Arch. Here comes a messenger: What news?

Mess. Such news, my lord,
As grieves me to unfold.

Q. Eliz. How doth the prince?
Mess. Well, madam, and in health.

Buch. What is thy news?

Mess. Lord Rivers, and lord Grey, are sent to Pomfret,

With them sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.
Duch. Who hath committed them?
Mess. The mighty dukes,
Gloster and Buckingham.

Q. Eliz. For what offence?

Mess. The sum of all I can, I have disclos'd; Why, or for what, the nobles were committed, Is all unkown to me, my gracious lady.

Q. Eliz. Ah me, I see the ruin of my house!
The tiger now hath seiz'd the gentle hind.
Insulting tyranny begins to jut

Upon the innocent and awless throne: ---
Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre!
I see, as in a map, the end of all.

Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days!
How many of you have mine eyes beheld!
My husband lost his life, to get the crown,
And often up and down my sons were tost,
For me to joy, and weep, their gain and loss:
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors,
Make war upon themselves, brother to brother,
Blood to blood, self 'gainst self: — O, preposterous
And frantic courage, end thy damned spleen;
Or let me die, to look on death no more!
Q. Eliz. Come,come, my boy, we will to sanctuary.-
Madam, farewell!

Duch. Stay, I will go with you. Q. Eliz. You have no cause. Arch. My gracious lady, go, [To the Queen. And thither bear your treasure and your goods! For my part, I'll resign unto your grace The seal I keep. And so betide to me, As well I tender you, and all of yours! Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary. [Exeunt.

Glo. Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sovereign!
The weary way hath made you melancholy.
Prince. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way
Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy :
I want more uncles here to welcome me.
Glo. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years
Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit :
No more can you distinguish of a man,
Than of his outward show; which, God he knows,
Seldom, or never, jumpeth with the heart.
Those uncles, which you want, were dangerous;
Your grace attended to the sugar'd words,
But look'd not on the poison of their hearts:
God keep you from them, and from such false friends!
Prince. God keep me from false friends! but they

were none.

Glo. My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet

you.

Your highness shall repose you at the Tower:
Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit
For your best health and recreation.
Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place:
Did Julius Caesar build that place, my lord?
Glo. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place,
Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified.
Prince. Is it upon record? or else reported
Successively from age to age, he built it?
Buck. Upon record, my gracious lord.
Prince. But say, my lord, it were not register'd;
Methinks, the truth shall live from age to age,
As 'twere retail'd to all posterity,
Even to the general all-ending day.
Glo. So wise so young, they say, do ne'er live long.
[Aside.

Enter the Lord Mayor, and his Train. May. God bless your grace with health and happy days!

all.

Prince. I thank you, good my lord; and thank you
[Exeunt Mayor, etc.
I thought my mother, and my brother York,
Would long ere this have met us on the way.
Fye, what a slug is Hastings! that he comes not
To tell us, whether they will come, or no.
Enter HASTINGS.

Buck. And in good time here comes the sweating lord.

Prince. Welcome, my lord! What, will our mother come?

Hast. On what occasion, God he knows, not I, The queen your mother, and your brother York, Have taken sanctuary. The tender prince Would fain have come with me, to meet your grace, But by his mother was perforce withheld.

Buck. Fye! what an indirect and peevish course Is this of hers? Lord cardinal, will your grace Persuade the queen, to send the duke of York Unto his princely brother presently?

Prince. What say you, uncle?

Aside.

Glo. I say, without charácters, fame lives long.
Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity,Į
moralize two meanings in one word.)
Prince. That Julius Caesar was a famous man;
With what his valour did enrich his wit,
His wit set down to make his valour live:
Death makes no conquest of this conqueror;
For now he lives in fame, though not in life.-
I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham.
Buck. What, my gracious lord?
Prince. An if I live until I be a man,
I'll win our ancient right in France again,
Or die a soldier, as I liv'd a king.
Glo. Short summers lightly have a forward spring.

If she deny, lord Hastings, go with him,
And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce!
Card. My lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory
Can from his mother win the duke of York,
Anon expect him here! but if she be obdurate
To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid,
We should infringe the holy privilege

Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land,
Would I be guilty of so deep a sin.

Buck. You are too senseless obstinate, my lord, Too ceremonious, and traditional.

Aside.

Enter YORK, HASTINGS, and the Cardinal. Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the duke of

York.

Prince. Richard of York! how fares our loving brother?

York. Well, my dread lord; so must I call you now. Prince, Ay, brother; to our grief, as it is yours: Too late he died, that might have kept that title, Which by his death hath lost much majesty. Glo. How fares our cousin, noble lord of York? York. I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord, You said, that idle weeds are fast in growth: The prince my brother hath outgrown me far. Glo. He hath, my lord.

Weigh it but with the grossness of this age,
You break not sanctuary in seizing him.
The benefit thereof is always granted
To those, whose dealings have deserv'd the place,
And those, who have the wit to claim the place:
This prince hath neither claim'd it, nor deserv'd it;
And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it:
Then, taking him from thence, that is not there,
You break no privilege, nor charter there.
Oft have I heard of sanctuary men;
But sanctuary children, ne'er till now.
Card. My lord, you shall o'er-rule my mind for

Once.

Come on, lord Hastings, will you go with me?
Hast. I go, my lord.
Prince. Good lords, make all the speedy haste yon
may!
[Exeunt Card, and Hastings.
Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come,
Where shall we sojourn till our coronation?
Glo. Where it seems best unto your royal self,
If I may counsel you, some day, or two,

York. And therefore is he idle?

Glo. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so. York. Then is he more beholden to you, than I. Glo. He may command me, as my sovereign; But you have power in me, as in a kinsman. York, I pray you, uncle, then, give me this dagger! Glo. My dagger, little cousin! with all my heart. Prince. A beggar, brother?

York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give; And, being but a toy, which is no grief to give. Glo. A greater gift, than that, I'll give my cousin. York. A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it? Glo. Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough. York. O then, I see, you'll part but with light gifts; In weightier things you'll say a beggar, nay. Glo. It is too weighty for your grace to wear. York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier. Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little lord? York. I would, that I might thank you as you call me.

Glo. How?

York. Little.

Prince. My lord of York will still be cross in talk ;Uncle, your grace knows, how to bear with him. York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me:Uncle, my brother mocks both and me; you Because that I am little, like an ape,

He thinks, that you should bear me on your shoulders.

Buck. With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle, He prettily and aptly taunts himself: So cunning, and so young, is wonderful.

Glo. My gracious lord, will't please you pass along? Myself, and my good cousin Buckingham, Will to your mother; to entreat of her, To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you. York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord? Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so. York. I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower. Glo. Why, sir, what should you fear? York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost; My grandam told me, he was murder'd there. Prince. I fear no uncles dead.

Glo. Nor none that live, I hope.

Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. But come, my lord, and with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.

[Exeunt Prince, York, Hastings,
dinal, and Attendants.

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Hast. Cannot thy master sleep the tedious nights? Mess. So it should seem by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble lordship. Hast. And then,

Mess. And then he sends you word, he dreamt To-night the boar had rased off his helm: Besides, he says, there are two councils held; Car-And that may be determin'd at the one,

York

Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating
Was not incensed by his subtle mother,
To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?
Glo. No doubt, no doubt. O, 'tis a parlous boy;
Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable;
He's all the mother's, from the top to toe.
Buck. Well, let them rest!-

Come hither, gentle Catesby! thou art sworn
As deeply to effect what we intend,
As closely to conceal what we impart :
Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way;-
What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter
To make William lord Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke
In the seat royal of this famous isle?
Cate. He for his father's sake so loves the prince,
That he will not be won to aught against him.
Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley? will
not he?

Cate. He will do all in all as Hastings doth.
Buck. Well then, no more but this: Go, gentle
Catesby,

And, as it were far off, sound thou lord Hastings,
How he doth stand affected to our purpose;
And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,
To sit about the coronation.

If thou dost find him tractable to us,"
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons:
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou so too; and so break off the talk,
And give us notice of his inclination :
For we to-morrow hold divided councils,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd.
Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him, Catesby,
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle;
And bid my friend, for joy of this good news,
Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.
Buck. Good Catesby, go,effect this business soundly!
Cute. My good lords both, with all the heed I can.
Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?
Cate. You shall, my lord!

Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us both. [Exit Catesby. Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we perceive

Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?
Glo. Chop off his head, man; - somewhat we will
do:

And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me
The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables
Whereof the king my brother was possess'd.

Which may make you and him to rue at th'other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship's plea

sure,

If presently you will take horse with him,
And with all speed post with him toward the north,
To shun the danger that his soul divines.
Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord!
Bid him not fear the separated councils:
His honour, and myself, are at the one;
And, at the other, is my good friend Catesby;
Where nothing can proceed, that toucheth us,
Whereof I shall not have intelligence.
Tell him, his fears are shallow, wanting instance;
And for his dreams-I wonder, he's so fond
To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers:
To fly the boar, before the boar pursues,
Were to incense the boar to follow us,
And make pursuit, where he did mean no chase.
Go, bid thy master rise and come to me;
And we will both together to the Tower,
Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.
Mess.I'll go,my lord,and tell him what you say.[Exit.

Enter CATESBY.

Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord! Hast. Good morrow, Catesby! you are early stirring: What news, what news, in this our tottering state? Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord; And, I believe, will never stand upright, Till Richard wear the garland of the realm. Hast. How? wear the garland? dost thou mean the crown?

Cate. Ay, my good lord!

Hast. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders.

Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd.
But canst thou guess, that he doth aim at it?
Cate. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you forward
Upon his party, for the gain thereof:
And, thereupon, he sends you this good news,
That, this same very day, your enemies,
The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.
Hast. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news,
Because they have been still my adversaries:
But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side,
To bar my master's heirs in true descent,
God knows, I will not do it, to the death.
Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!
Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelvemonth
hence,

That they, who brought me in my master's hate,
I live to look upon their tragedy.

Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,
I'll send some packing, that yet think not on't.

Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepar'd, and look not for it.
Hast. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out
With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do
With some men else, who think themselves as safe
As thou, and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear
To princely Richard, and to Buckingham.
Cute. The princes both make high account of you,
For they account his head upon the bridge. [Aside.
Hast. I know, they do; and I have well deserv'd it.

Enter STANLEY.

Come on, come on! where is your boar-spear, man ?
Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?
Stan. My lord, good morrow; and good morrow,
Catesby!-

You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,
I do not like these several councils, I.

Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours;
And never, in my life, I do protest,
Was it more precious to me than 'tis now;
Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would be so triumphant as I am?

SCENE III.- Pomfret. Before the Castle.
Enter RATCLIFF, with a Guard, conducting RIVERS,
GREY, and VAUGHAN, to execution.
Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners.
Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this,-
To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die,
For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.
Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you!
A knot you are of damned blood-suckers.
Vaugh. You live,that shall cry woe for this hereafter.
Rat. Dispatch; the limit of your lives is out.
Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison,
Fatal and ominous to noble peers!
Richard the second here was hack'd to death;
Within the guilty closure of thy walls
And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,
We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink.
Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our heads,
When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I,
For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.
Riv. Then curs'd she Hastings, then curs'd she Buck-
ingham,

Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from
London,

Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure,
And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust;
But yet, you see, how soon the day o'er-cast.
This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt;
Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!
What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.
Hast. Come, come, have with you!-Wot you what,
my lord?

To-day, the lords you talk of are beheaded.

Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their
heads,

Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their hats.
But come, my lord, let's away!

Enter a Pursuivant.

Then curs'd she Richard. O, remember, God,
To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!
And for my sister, and her princely sons, —
Be satisfied, dear God, with our true bloods,
Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt!
Rat. Make haste, the hour of death is expiate!
Riv. Come, Grey,- come, Vaughan, let us here

embrace:

Farewell, until we meet again in heaven! [Exeunt.
SCENE IV.- London. A room in the Tower.
BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the Bishop of EL,
CATESBY, LOVEL, and Others, sitting at a table:
Officers of the Council attending.
Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met
Is-to determine of the coronation:
In God's name, speak, when is the royal day?
Buck. Are all things ready for that royal time?
Stan. They are; and wants but nomination.
Ely. To-morrow then I judge a happy day.
Buck. Who knows the lord protector's mind herein?
Who is most inward with the noble duke?
Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his
mind.

Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow!
[Exeunt Stanley and Catesby.
How now, sirrah? how goes the world with thee?
Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask.
Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now,
Than when thou met'st me last, where now we meet :
Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
By the suggestion of the queen's allies;
But now, I tell thee, (keep it to thyself,)
This day those enemies are put to death,
And I in better state than ere I was.
Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good content!
Hast. Gramercy, fellow! There, drink that for me!
[Throwing him his purse.
Purs. I thank your honour! [Exit Pursuivant.

Enter a Priest.

Pr. Well met, my lord! I am glad to see your honour.
Hast. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my heart.
I am in your debt for your last exercise;

Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.
Enter BUCKINGHAM.

Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain?
Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;
Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.
Hast. 'Good faith, and when I met this holy man,
The men you talk of came into my mind.
What, go you toward the Tower?

Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there:
I shall return before your lordship thence.
Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there.
Buck. And supper too, although thou know'st it not.

Come, will you go?

Hast. I'll wait upon your lordship.

Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts,-
He knows no more of mine, than I of yours;
Nor I, of his, my lord, than you of mine:-
Lords Hastings, you and he are near in love.
Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;
But, for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious pleasure any way therein:
But you, my noble lord, may name the time;
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part.

Enter GLOSter.

Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself!
Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all, good morrow!
have been long a sleeper; but, I trust,
My absence doth neglect no great design,
Which by my presence might have been concluded.
William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,
Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my lord,
I mean, your voice,
for crowning of the king.
Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be

bolder;

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well. My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries in your garden there; [Aside. I do beseech you, send for some of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all [Exeunt. [Exit Ely.

heart.

Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you!
[Takes him aside.
Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business;
And finds the testy gentleman so hot,
That he will lose his head, ere give consent
His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it,
Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.
Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with yon.
[Exeunt Gloster and Buckingham.
Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden;
For I myself am not so well provided,
As else I would be, were the day prolong'd.
Re-enter Bishop of ELY.

Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent
For these strawberries.

Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this
morning;

There's some conceit or other likes him well,
When he doth bid good morrow with such spirit.
I think, there's ne'er a man in Christendom,
Can lesser hide his love, or hate, than he;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
Stan. What of his heart perceive you in his face,
By any likelihood he show'd to-day?
Hust. Marry, that with no man here he is offended;
For, were he, he had shown it in his looks.

Re-enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM.
Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve,
That do conspire my death with devilish plots
Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevail'd
Upon my body with their hellish charms?
Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,
Makes me most forward in this noble presence
To doom the offenders. Whosoe'er they be,
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.
Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil,
Look how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm
Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up:
And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.
Hast. If they have done this deed, my noble lord, -
Glo. If! thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Talk'st thou to me of ifs?-Thou art a traitor:
Off with his head! - now, by Saint Paul I swear,
I will not dine until I see the same!—
Lovel, and Catesby, look, that it be done!
The rest, that love me, rise, and follow me!

SCENE V.- The same. The Tower walls. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favoured.

Glo. Come, cousin! canst thou quake, and change thy colour?

Murder thy breath in middle of a word, —
And then again begin, and stop again,

As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror?
Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian;
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforced smiles;
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time, to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?

Glo. He is; and see, he brings the mayor along.
Enter the Lord Mayor and CATESBY.
Buck. Let me alone to entertain him. Lord
mayor,-

Glo. Look to the draw-bridge there!
Buck. Hark, hark! a drum!

Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls!

Gio. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies!
Buck. Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent for you,—
Buck. God and our innocence defend and guard us!
Enter LovEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS's head.
Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratcliff, and Lovel.
Lov. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep.
I took him for the plainest harmless't creature,
That breath'd upon the earth a Christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts:
So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue,
That, his apparent open guilt omitted,-
I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife, -
He liv'd from all attainder of suspect.
Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd
That ever liv'd. Look you, my lord mayor,
Would you imagine, or almost believe,
(Were't not, that by great preservation
We live to tell it you,) the subtle traitor
This day, had plotted, in the council-house,
To murder me, and my good lord of Gloster?
May. What! had he so?

traitor [Exeunt Council, with Gloster and

Buckingham.

Hast. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me;
For I, too fond, might have prevented this:
Stanley did dream, the boar did rase his helm;
But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly.
Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
And startled, when he look'd upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.
O, now I want the priest that spake to me:
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triumphing, how mine enemies
To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O, Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.
Cate. Dispatch, my lord, the duke would be at

ner;

Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head.

Glo. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels?
Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death;
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England, and our persons' safety,
Enforc'd us to this execution?

May. Now, fair befal you! he deserv'd his death;
And your good graces both have well proceeded,
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
din-I never look'd for better at his hands,

Hast. O momentary grace of mortal men,
Which we more hunt for than the grace of God!
Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast;

After he once fell in with mistress Shore.
Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he should die,
Until your lordship came to see his end;
Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Somewhat against our meaning, hath prevented:
Because, my lord, we would have had heard
you

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