That you should be new christen'd in the Tower. Clar. Yea, Richard, when I know; for I protest, He hearkens after prophecies, and dreams; And, for my name of George begins with G, These, as I learn, and such like toys* as these, Glo. Why, this it is, when men are ruled by women : 'Tis not the king, that sends you to the Tower: Was it not she, and that good man of worship, That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower; Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, Are mighty gossips in this monarchy. Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; His majesty hath straitly given in charge, That no man shall have private conference, Of what degree soever, with his brother. Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Brakenbury, We speak no treason, man;-We say, the king A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue; And the queen's kindred are made gentlefolks: How say you, Sir? can you deny all this? Brak. With this, my lord, myself have naught to do. Glo. Naught to do with mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow, He that doth naught with her, excepting one, Brak. What one, my lord? Glo. Her husband, knave:-Wouldst thou betray me? Brak. I beseech your grace to pardon me; and, withal, Forbear your conference with the noble duke. Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. And whatsoever you will employ me in,- Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood, Clar. I know it pleaseth neither of us well. Mean time, have patience. Clar. I must perforce; farewell. [Exeunt CLARENCE, BRAKENBURY, and guard. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return, Simple, plain Clarence!-I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, If heaven will take the present at our hands. But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings? Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment ? Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too; And have prevail'd as much on him as you. Hast. More pity that the eagle should be mew'd, While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. Glo. What news abroad? Hast. No news so bad abroad, as this at home; The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy, And his physicians fear him mightily. Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. O, he hath kept an evil diet long, And over-much consumed his royal person; "Tis very grievous to be thought upon. What, is he in his bed? * Most servile of subjects. † I. e. in prison. Bad regimen. Hast. He is. Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you. [Exit HASTINGS. He cannot live, I hope; and must not die, Till George be pack'd with posthorse up to heaven. Which done, God take king Edward to his mercy, For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter: By marrying her, which I must reach unto. Clarence still breathes; Edward still lives, and reigns; SCENE II.-The same. Another Street. [Exit. Enter the corpse of KING HENRY the Sixth, borne in an open coffin, Gentlemen bearing halberts, to guard it; and LADY ANNE, as mourner. Anne. Set down, set down your honourable load,If honour may be shrouded in a hearse, Whilst I a while obsequiously lament The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.- Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood! To hear the lamentions of poor Anne, Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughter'd son, Stabb'd by the self-same hand that made these wounds! May fright the hopeful mother at the view; * As a funereal mourner. And that be heir to his unhappiness!* Than I am made by my young lord, and thee! And, still as you are weary of the weight, [The bearers take up the corpse, and advance. Enter GLOSTER. Glo. Stay you, that bear the corse, and set it down. Anne. What black magician conjures up this fiend, To stop devoted charitable deeds? Glo. Villains, set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul, I'll make a corse of him that disobeys. 1 Gent. My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass. Glo. Unmanner'd dog! stand thou when I command: Advance thy halbert higher than my breast, Or, by Saint Paul, I'll strike thee to my foot, [The bearers set down the coffin. His soul thou canst not have; therefore, be gone. Anne. Foul devil, for God's sake, hence, and trouble us not; For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell, Fill'd it with cursing cries, and deep exclaims. Provokes this deluge most unnatural. O God, which this blood madest, revenge his death! Glo. But I know none, and therefore am no beast. Of these supposed evils, to give me leave, Anne. Vouchsafe, diffused infection of a man,* For these known evils, but to give me leave, By circumstance, to curse thy cursed self. Glo. Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have Some patient leisure to excuse myself. Anne. Fouler than heart can think thee, thou canst make No excuse current, but to hang thyself. Glo. By such despair, I should accuse myself. Anne. And, by despairing, shalt thou stand excused; For doing worthy vengeance on thyself, That didst unworthy slaughter upon others. Glo. Say, that I slew them not? Anne. Why then, they are not dead: But dead they are, and, devilish slave, by thee. Glo. I did not kill your husband. Anne. Why, then he is alive. Glo. Nay, he is dead; and slain by Edward's hand. Anne. In thy soul's throat thou liest; queen Margaret saw Thy murderous faulchion smoking in his blood; The which thou once didst bend against her breast, But that thy brothers beat aside the point. Glo. I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue, Glo. I grant ye. Anne. Dost grant me, hedge-hog? then God grant me too, Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed! O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous. Glo. The fitter for the King of heaven that hath him. Anne. He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come. Glo. Let him thank me, that holp to send him thither; For he was fitter for that place, than earth. Anne. And thou unfit for any place but hell. Glo. Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it. Glo. Your bed-chamber. Anne. Ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest Glo. So will it, madam, till I lie with you. Anne. I hope so. Glo. I know so.-But, gentle lady Anne,To leave this keen encounter of our wits, And fall somewhat into a slowert method;Is not the causer of the timeless deaths * Wide-spreading pestilence. More serious. |