ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing.
K. Rich. What is his name?

Page.

His name, my lord, is Tyrrel. K. Rich. I partly know the man: go, call him Exit Page.

hither.

The deep-revolving witty Buckingham

No more shall be the neighbour to my counsels :
Hath he so long held out with me untired,
And stops he now for breath?—Well, be it so.

Enter STANLey.

How now! what news with you?

Stan. My lord, I hear the Marquis Dorset's

fled

To Richmond, in those parts beyond the seas

Where he abides.

K. Rich. Come hither, Catesby !

abroad

[Stands apart. Rumour it

That Anne, my wife, is very grievous sick;
I will take order for her keeping close.
Inquire me out some mean-born gentleman,
Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter;-
The boy is foolish, and I fear not him.—
Look, how thou dream'st!—I say again, give out
That Anne, my wife, is sick and like to die:
About it; for it stands me much upon,

To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me.
Exit CATESBY.
I must be married to my brother's daughter,
Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass.—
Murder her brothers, and then marry her!
Uncertain way of gain! But I am in
So far in blood, that sin will pluck on sin:
Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye.

Re-enter Page, with TYRREL.

Is thy name Tyrrel?

Tyr. James Tyrrel, and your most obedient

subject.

K. Rich. Art thou, indeed?

Tyr.

Prove me, my gracious sovereign.

K. Rich. Dar'st thou resolve to kill a friend of mine?

Tyr. Ay, my lord ;

But I had rather kill two enemies.

K. Rich. Why, there thou hast it: two deep enemies,

Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep's disturbers, Are they that I would have thee deal upon :Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower.

Tyr. Let me have open means to come to them, And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them. K. Rich. Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrel :

Go, by this token :-rise, and lend thine ear :

There is no more but so :—say it is done,

[Whispers.

And I will love thee, and prefer thee for it.
Tyr. 'T is done, my gracious lord.

K. Rich. Shall we hear from thee, Tyrrel, ere we

sleep?

Tyr. Ye shall, my lord.

Re-enter BUCKINGHAM.

[Exit.

Buck. My lord, I have considered in my mind The late demand that you did sound me in.

K. Rich. Well, let that pass. Dorset is fled to Richmond.

Buck. I hear that news, my lord.

K. Rich. Stanley, he is your wife's son:—well, look to it.

Buck. My lord, I claim the gift, my due by promise,

For which your honour and your faith is pawned; Th' earldom of Hereford and the moveables

The which you promiséd I should possess.

K. Rich. Stanley, look to your wife: if she convey

Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it.

Buck. What says your highness to my just demand?

K. Rich. As I remember, Henry the Sixth
Did prophesy that Richmond should be king,
When Richmond was a little peevish boy.
A king!-perhaps,—

Buck. My lord!—

K. Rich. How chance the prophet could not at that time

Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him?
Buck. My lord, your promise for the earldom,-
K. Rich. Richmond !-when last I was at Exeter,
The mayor in courtesy showed me the castle,
And called it Rougemont: at which name I started,
Because a bard of Ireland told me once

I should not live long after I saw Richmond.
Buck. My lord !—

K. Rich. Ay, what's o'clock ?

Buck. I am thus bold to put your grace in mind Of what you promised me.

Well, but what's o'clock

K. Rich.
Buck. Upon the stroke of ten.
K. Rich.

Well, let it strike.

Buck. Why let it strike?

K. Rich. Because that, like a Jack, thou keep'st the stroke

Betwixt thy begging and my meditation.

I am not in the giving vein to-day.

Buck. Why, then resolve me whether you will

or no.

vein.

K. Rich. Thou troublest me; I am not in the [Exeunt all but BUCKINGHAM. Buck. Is it even so? rewards he my true service With such contempt? made I him king for this? O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone

To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on! [Exit.

SCENE III.-Another Room in the Palace.
Enter TYRREL.

Tyr. The tyrannous and bloody deed is done,-
The most arch act of piteous massacre
That ever yet this land was guilty of.
Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn
To do this ruthless piece of butchery,

Although they were fleshed villains, bloody dogs,
Melting with tenderness and kind compassion,
Wept like two children in their deaths' sad story.
'Lo thus,' quoth Dighton, 'lay those tender babes :'
'Thus, thus,' quoth Forrest, 'girdling one another
Within their innocent alabaster arms :

Their lips were four red roses on a stalk,
Which in their summer beauty kissed each other.
A book of prayers on their pillow lay;

6

Which once,' quoth Forrest, almost changed my

mind;

But O! the devil'—there the villain stopped;
Whilst Dighton thus told on :-'We smotheréd
The most replenished sweet work of nature
That from the prime creation e'er she framed.'
Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse;
They could not speak; and so I left them both,
To bring this tidings to the bloody king :-
And here he comes.

Enter King RICHARD.

[ocr errors]

All health, my sovereign liege! K. Rich. Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news? Tyr. If to have done the thing you gave in charge

Beget your happiness, be happy then,

For it is done.

K. Rich.

But didst thou see them dead?

Tyr. I did, my lord.

K. Rich.

And buried, gentle Tyrrel? Tyr. The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them; But where, to say the truth, I do not know.

K. Rich. Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after supper, When thou shalt tell the process of their death. Meantime, but think how I may do thee good, And be inheritor of thy desire.

Farewell till then.

[Exit TYRREL. The son of Clarence have I pent up close; His daughter meanly have I matched in marriage; The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom, And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night. Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter,

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »