K. Rich. Ay; I thank God, my father, and | They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens ;
yourseif.

And therefore level not to hit their lives.
Duch. Then patiently hear my impatience. K. Rich. You have a daughter call’d-Eliza.
K. Rich. Madam, I have a touch of your beth,
condition,

Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.
That cannot brook the accent of reproof.

Q. Eliz. And must she die for this ? 0, let Duch. O, let me speak.

her live, K. Rich. Do, then ; but I'll not hear. And I'll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty; Duch. I will be mild and gentle in my words. Slander myself, as false to Edward's bed; K. Rich. And brief, good mother; for I am Throw over her the veil of infamy: in haste.

So she may live unscarr’d of bleeding slaughter, Duch. Art thou so hasty? I have staid for thee, I will contess she was not Edward's daughter. God knows, in torment and in agony.

K. Rich. Wrong not her birth, she is of royal K. Rich. And came I not at last to comfort

blood. you ?

Q. Eliz. To save her life, I'll say—she is not so. Duch. No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it K. Rich. Her life is safest only in her birth. well,

Q. Eliz. And only in that safety died her
Thou cam’st on earth to make the earth my hell. brothers.
A grievous burden was thy birth to me;

K. Rich. Lo, at their births good stars were
Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy ;

opposite. Thy school-days, frightful, desperate, wild, and Q. Eliz. No, to their lives bad friends were furious;

contrary. Thy prime of manhood, daring, bold, and ven K. Rich. All unavoided is the doom of destiny. turous;

Q. Eliz. True, when avoided grace makes
Thyage contirm'd, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody,

destiny:
More inild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred: My babes were destin’d to a fairer death,
What comfortable hour canst thou name, If grace had bless'd thee with a fairer life.
That ever grac'd me in thy company?

k. Rich. You speak, as if that I had slain my
K. lich. 'Faith, none, but Humphrey Hour, cousins.
that cali'd your grace

Q. Eliz. Cousins, indeed ; and by their uncle To breakfast once, forth of my company.

cozen'd If I be so disgracious in your sight,

Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life. Let me march on, and not offend you, madam.- Whose hands soever lanc'd their tender hearts, Strike up the drum.

Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction : Duch. I pr’ythee, hear me speak.

Nodoubt the murderous knife was dull and blunt, K. liich. You speak too bitterly.

Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart, Duch. Ilear me a word ;

To revel in the entrails of my lambs. For I shall never speak to thce again.

But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame, K. kich. So.

My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys, Druch. Either thou wilt die, by God's just or Till that my nails were anchor’d in thine eyes ; dinance,

And I, in such a desperate bay of death, Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror ; Like a poor bark, of sails and tackling reft, Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish, Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom. And never look upon thy face again.

k. Rich. Nadam, so thrive l'in my enterprize, Therefore, take with thee my most heavy curse; And dangerous success of bloody wars

, Which, in the ulay of battle, tire thee more, As I intend more good to you and yours, Than all the complete armour that thou wear'st! Than ever you or yours by me were harm'd! Mly prayers on the adverse party fight;

Q. Eliz. What good is cover'd with the face And there the little souls of Edward's children

of heaven, Whisper the spirits of thine enemies,

To be discover'd, that can do me good ? And promise them success and victory.

K. Rich. The advancement of your children, Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end;

gentle lady. Shame sirves thy life, and doth thy death at Q. Eliz. Up to some scaffold, there to lose tend.

[Erit.

their heads. Q. Eliz. Though far more cause, yet much K. Rich. No, to the dignity and height of less spirit to curse

fortune, Abides in nie; I say amen to her. [Going: The high imperial type of this earth's glory, h. Rich. Stay, madam, I must speak a word Q. Eliz. Flatter my sorrows with report of it;

Tell me, what state, what dignity, what honour, Q. El::. I have no more sons of the royal | Canst thou demise to any child of mine? hlcol,

K. Rich. Even all I have; ay, and myself Forthecto murder: for my daughters, Richard,

4

with you,

and all,

Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,

Will I withal endow a child of thine;

If I did take the kingdom from your sons, So in the Lethe of thy angry soul

To make amends, I'll give it to your daughter.
Thou drown the sadd remembrance of those if I have kill’d the issue of your womb,
wrongs,

To quicken your increase, I will beget
Which, thou supposest, I have done to thee. Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.
Q. Eliz

. Be brief, lest that the process of thy A grandam's name is little less in love,
kindness

Than is the doting title of a mother;
Last longer telling than thy kindness' date. They are as children, but one step below,
K. Rich. Then know, that from my soul, I Even of your mettle, of your very blood;
love thy daughter.

Of all one pain,-save for a night of groans
Q. Eliz. My daughter's mother thinks it with Endur'd of her, for whom you bid like sorrow.
her soul.

Your children were vexation to your youth,
K. Rich. What do you think?

But mine shall be a comfort to your age.
Q. Eliz

. That thou dost love my daughter, The loss, you have, is but—a son being king,
from thy soul :

And, by that loss, your daughter is made queen. So, from thy soul's love, didst thou love her I cannot make you what amends I would, brothers;

Therefore accept such kindness as I can.
And, from my heart's love, I do thank thee for it. Dorset, your son, that, with a fearful soul,
K. Rich. Be not so hasty to confound my Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,
meaning:

This fair alliance quickly shall call home
I mean, that with my soul I love thy daughter, To high promotions and great dignity :
And do intend to make her queen of England. The king, that calls your beauteous daughter,--
Q. Eliz. Well then, who dost thou mean wife,
shall be her king?

Familiarly shall call thy Dorset-brother;
K. Rich. Even he that makes her queen : Again shall you be mother to a king,
Who else should be ?

And all the ruins of distressful times
Q. Eliz. What, thou?

Repair’d with double riches of content.
K. Rich. Even so: What think you of it, what! we have many goodly days to see;
madam?

The liquid drops of tears, that you have shed, Q. Eliz. How canst thou woo her?

Shall come again, transform’d to orient pearl ;
K. Rich. That I would learn of you,

Advantaging their loan, with interest
Ås one being best acquainted with her humour. Of ten-times double gain of happiness.
Q. Eliz. And wilt thou learn of me?

Go then, my mother, to thy daughter go;
K. Rich. Madam, with all my heart.

Make bold her bashful years with your expeQ. Eliz . Send to her, by the man that slew

rience;

Prepare her ears to hear a wooer's tale ;
A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave,

Put in her tender heart the aspiring flame
Redward, and York ; then, haply, will she weep: Of golden sov’reignty ; acquaint the princess
Therefore present to her, -as sometime Margarei With the sweet silent'hours of marriage joys:
Iid to thy father, steep'd in Rutland's wood,

And when this arm of mine hath chastised A handkerchief; which, say to her, did drain

The petty rebel, dull-brain'd Buckingham,
The purple sap from her sweet brother’s body,

Bound with triumphant garlands will I come,
And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal.
If this inducement move her not to love,

And lead thy slaughter to a conqueror's bed ;

To whom I will retail my conquest won,
Send her a letter of thy noble deeds;

And she shall be sole victress, Cæsar's Cæsar.
Tell her, thou mad’st away her uncle Clarence,

Q. Eliz. What were I best to say? her faHer uncle Rivers ; ay, and for her sake,

ther's brother Mad'st quick conveyance with her good aunt would be her lord ? Or, shall I say, her uncle ?

Or, he that slew her brothers, and her uncles ?
K. Rich. You mock me, madam ; this is not

Under what title shall I woo for thee,
That God, the law, my honour, and her love,

Can make seem pleasing to her tender years ? [nless thou could’st put on some other shape,

K. Rich. Infer fair England's peace by this

alliance.
And not be Richard that hath done all this.
K. Rich. Say that I did all this for love of her?

Q. Eliz. Which she shall purchase with still

lasting war. Q. Eliz. Nay, then indeed, she cannot choose

K. Rich. Tell her, the king, that may comHaving bought love with such a bloody spoil.

mand, entreats.

Q. Eliz. That at her hands, which the king's K. Kich. Look, what is done cannot be now

K. Rich. Say, she shall be a high and mighty

queen. Q. Eliz. To wail the title, as her mother doth.

her brothers,

Anne.

the way

To win your daughter.

Q. Eliz. There is no other way;

but have thee,

amended :

King forbids.

Which after-hours give leisure to repent.

dead;

K. Rich. Say, I will love her everlastingly. K. Rich. By the time to come.
Q. Eliz. But how long shall that title, ever, Q. Eliz. That thou hast wronged in the time
last?

o'erpast ;
K. Rich, Sweetly in force unto her fair life's For I myself have many tears to wash
end.

Hereafter time, for time past, wrong'd' y tree. Q. Eliz. But how long fairly shall her sweet The children live, whose parents thou tast life last ?

slaughter'd, K. Rich. As long as heaven, and nature, Ungovern’d youth, to wail it in their age: lengthens it.

The parents live, whose children thou hast buto Q Eliz. As long as hell, and Richard, likes cher's, of it.

Old barren plants, to wail it with their a, e, K. Rich. Say, I, her sov'reign, am her sub- Swear not by time to come; tor that ti.07 best ject low.

Misus'd ere used, by times ill-us'd c'1.past.
Q. Eliz. But she, your subject, loaths such K. Rich. As I intend to prosper, na razent!
sov'reignty.

So thrive I in my dangerous attew.pt
K. Rich. Be eloquent in my behalf to her. Of hostile arms ! myself mys:if crnfound !
Q. Eliz. An honest tale speeds best, being Heaven, and fortune, bar me lasty iours !
plainly told.

Day, yield me not thy light; nor. night, ty rest!
K. Rich. Then, in plain terms tell her my Be opposite all planets of ond luck
loving tale.

To my proceeding, if, with pure heart's love, Q. Eliz. Plain, and not honest, is too harsh a Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts, style.

I tender not thy beauteous princely dauxhter!
K. Rich. Your reasons are too shallow and In her consists my happiness, end thine;
too quick.

Without her, follows to mysel, and thee,
Q. Eliz. O, no, my reasons are too deep and Herself, the land, and many a Christian soul,

Death, desolation, ruin, and decay:
Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their graves. It cannot be avoided, but by this ;
K. Rich. Harp not on that string, madam ; It will not be avoided, but by this.
that is past.

Therefore, dear mother, (I must call you 50,}
Q. Eliz. Harp on it still shall I, till heart- Be the attorney of my love to her.
strings break.

Plead what I will be, not what I have boon; K. Rich. Now, by my George, my garter, and Not my deserts, but what I will deserve: my crown,

Urge the necessity and state of times, Q. Eliz. Profan'd, dishonour'd, and the third And be not peevish found in great designs. usurp'd.

Q. Eliz. Shall I be tempted of the devil thus? K. Rich. I swear.

K. Rich. Ay, if the devil tempt thce to do Q. Eliz. By nothing ; for this is no oath.

good. Thy George, profan'd, hath lost his holy honour;

Q. Eliz. Shall I forget myself, to be myself? Thy garter, blemish’d, pawn'd his knightly K. Rich. Ay, if your selfos remembrance virtue ;

wrong yourself.
Thy crown, usurp’d, disgrac'd his kingly glory: Q. Eliz. But thou didst kill my children.
If something thou would'st swear to be believ'd, K. Rich. But in your daughter's womb I bury
Swear then by something, that thou hast not

them :

Where, in that nest of spicery, they shall breed K. Kich. Now, by the world,

Selves of themselves to your recomforture. Q. Eliza 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.

Q. Eliz. Shall I go win my daughter to thy K. Rich. My father's death,

will ? Q. Eliz. Thy life hath that dishonour'd.

K. Rich. And be a happy mother by the deed. K. Rich. Then, by myself,

Q. Eliz. I go.-Write to me very shortly, Q. Eliz. Thyself is self misus'd.

And you shall understand from me her mind. K. Rich. Why then, by God,

K. Rich. Bear her my true love's kiss, and so Q. Elim. God's wrong is most of all.

farewell.
If thou had’et tear'd to break an oath by him,

[Kissing her. Exit Q. Elizabeth.
The unity, the king thy brother made, Relenting fool, and shallow, changing-woman!
Had not been broken, nor my brother slain. How now ? what news?
If thou had’st fear'd to break an oath by him,
The imperial metal, circling now thy head, Enter RatclifF; Catesby following.
Had grac'd the tender temples of my child ; Rat. Most mighty sovereign, on the western
And both the princes had been breathing here,

coast
Which now, two tender bed-fellows for dust, Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore
Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms. Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,
What canst thou swear by now?

Unarm'd, and unresolv'd to beat them back :

wrong'd.

Cate. I go.

before I go?

"Tis thought, that Richmond is their admiral; Stan. No, mighty liege ; therefore mistrust And there they hull, expecting but the aid

me not. Of Buekingham, to welcome them ashore. K. Rich. Where is thy power then, to beat K. Rich. Some light-foot friend post to the

him back? Duke of Nortolk :

Where be thy tenants, and thy followers ? Ratclif, thrseit,

-or Catesby; where is he? Are they not now upon the western shore, Cati . Here, my good lord.

Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships ? I. Rich. Catesby, fly to the duke.

Stan. No, my good lord, my friends are in Cate. I will, my lord, with all convenient the north. haste.

K. Rich. Cold friends to me: What do they K. Rich. Ratcliff, come hither: Post to Sa in the north, lisbury ;

When they should serve their sovereign in the When thou com’st thither,-Dull unmindful

west ? villain,

[To Catesby. Stan. They have not been commanded, mighty Why stay'st thou here, and go'st not to the duke? king: Cate

. First, mighty liege, tell me your high- Pleaseth your majesty to give me leave, ness' pleasure,

I'll muster up my friends; and meet your grace, What from your grace I shall deliver to him. Where, and what time, your majesty shall please. K. Rich. O, true, good Catesby ;-Bid him K. Rich. Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to levy straight

join with Richmond : The greatest strength and power he can make,

I will not trust

you,

sir. And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.

Stan. Most mighty sovereign,

[Exit. You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtRat. What , may it please you, shall I do at

ful; Salisbury?

I never was, nor never will be false.
K. Rich. Why, what would'st thou do there, K. Rich. Well, go, muster men. But, hear

you, leave behind
Rat. Your highness told me, I should post Your son, George Stanley ; look your heart be
before.

firm,

Or else his head's assurance is but frail,
Enter STANLEY.

Stan. So deal with him, as I prove true to you.
K. Rich. My mind is chang'.-Stanley, what

[Exit Stanley. news with you? Stan. None good, my liege, to please you with

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My gracious sovereign, now in Devon Nor none so bad, but well may be reported.

shire,
K. Rich. Heyday, a riddle ! neither good nor As I by friends am well advertised,
bad !

Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate,
What need'st thou run so many miles about, Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,
When thou may'st tell thy tale the nearest way? With many more confederates, are in arms.
Once more, what news?
Stan. Richmond is on the seas.

Ènter another Messenger.
K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas 2 Mess. In Kent, my liege, the Guildfords are
on him!

in arms; White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there? And every hour more competitors Stan. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.

guess.
K. Rich. Well, as you guess ?

Enter another Messenger.
Stan. Stir'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and 3 Mess. My lord, the army of great Buckinga
Morton,

ham He makes for England, here to claim the crown,

K. Rich. Out on ye, owls ! nothing but songs K. Rich. Is the chair empty? is the sword

of death?

[He strikes him. unsway'd ?

There, take thou that, till thou bring better newe. Is the king dead ? the empire unpossess'd?

3 Mess. The news I have to tell your majesty, What heir of York is there alive, but we ?

Is,—that by sudden floods and fall of waters, And who is England's king, but great York's Buckingham's army is dispers’d and scatter'd ; beir?

And he himself wander'd away alone,
Then, tell me, what makes he upon the seas? No man knows whither.
Stan. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.

K. Rich. O, I cry you mercy :
K. Rich. Unless for that he comes to be your There is my purse, to cure that blow of thine.
liege,

Hath any well-advised friend proclaim'd You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman Reward to him, that brings the traitor in ?

3 Mess. Such proclamation bath been made, Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear.

my liege.

the hearing ;

comes.

Enter another Messenger.

SCENE V.-A room in Lord Stanley's house. 4 Mess. Sir Thomas Lovel, and lord marquis Dorset,

Enter STANLEY and Sir CHRISTOPHER 'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.

URSWICK.
But this good comfort bring I to your highness, - Stan. Sir Christopher, tell Richmond this
The Bretagne navy is dispers’d by tempest :

from me:
Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat That, in the sty of this most bloody boar,
Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks, My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold;
If they were his assistants, yea, or no;

If I revolt, off goes young George's head;
Who answer’d him, they came from Buckingham The fear of that withholds my present aid.
Upon his party : he, mistrusting them, But, tell me, where is princely Richmond now?
Hois’d sail, and made his course again for Bretagne. Chris. At Pembroke, or at Ha’rford-west, in
K. Rich. March on, march on, since we are

Wales, up in arms;

Stan. What men of name resort to him? If not to fight with foreign enemies,

Chris. Sir Walter Herbert, a renowned solYet to beat down these rebels here at home.

dier;

Sir Gilbert Talbot, sir William Stanley;
Enter CATESBY.

Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, sir James Blunt, Cate. My liege, the duke of Buckingham is And Rice ap Thomas, with a valiant crew; taken,

And many other of great fame and worth : That is the best news; That the Earl of Rich- And towards London do they bend their course, mond

If by the way they be not fought withal.
Is with a mighty power landed at Milford, Stan. Well, hie thee to thy lord; commend
Is colder news, but yet they must be told.

me to him ;
K. Rich. Away towards Salisbury; while we Tell him the queen hath heartily consented
reason here,

He shall espouse Elizabeth her daughter. A royal battle might be won and lost :

These letters will resolve him of my mind. Some one take order, Buckingham be brought Farewell. [Gives papers to Sir Christopher. To Salisbury ;-the rest march on with me.

[Exeunt. [Exeunt.

ACT V.

1

This, this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul, SCENE I.-Salisbury. An open place. Is the determin'd respite of my wrongs.

That high All-seer, which I dallied with,
Enter the Sheriff, and Guard, with Bucking-

Hath turn’d my feigned prayer on my head,
HAM, led to execution.

And given in earnest what I begg’d in jest. Buck. Will not king Richard let me speak with Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men him?

To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms: Sher. No, my good lord ; therefore be patient. Thus Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck,Buck. Hastings, and Edward's children, Ri- When he, quoth she, shall split thy heart with vers, Grey,

sorrow, Holy king Henry, and thy fair son Edward, Remember Margaret was a prophetess.Vaughan, and all that have miscarried

Come, sirs, convey me to the block of shame; By underhand corrupted foul injustice ; Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of It that your moody discontented souls

blame. [Ereunt Buckingham, &c.
Do through the clouds behold this present hour,
Even for revenge mock my destruction ! -

SCENE II.--Plain near Tamworth.
This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not ?
Sher. It is, my lord.

Enter, with drum and colours, Richmond, Ox~ Buck. Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's FORD, Sir JAMES BLUNT, Sir Walter HEBdoomsılay.

BERT, and Others, with Forces, marching.
This is the day, which, in king Edward's time, Richm. Fellows in arms, and my most loving
I wish'd might fall on me, when I was found

friends,
False to his children, or his wife's allies : Bruis’d underneath the yoke of tyranny,
This is the day, wherein I wish'd to fall Thus far into the bowels of the land
By the false faith of him whom most I trusted ; 1 Have we march'd on without impediment ;