Enter STANley. Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, Q. Eliz. Ah, cut my lace asunder! That my pent heart may have some scope to beat, Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news. Anne. Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news! Dor. Be of good cheer:-Mother, how fares your grace? gone, Q. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee Take all the swift advantage of the hours; Duch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery!- Stan. Come, madam, come; I in all haste was sent. O, would to God, that the inclusive verge Of golden metal, that must round my brow, now, my husband Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse; When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his hands, Which issu'd from my other angel husband, And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd; Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death! Even in so short a space, my woman's heart And prov'd the subject of mine own soul's curse: Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep, 4 But with his timorous dreams was still awak'd. Q. Eliz. Poor heart, adieu; I pity thy complaining. 3 Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain !] She seems to allude to the ancient mode of punishing a regicide, or any other egregious criminal, viz. by placing a crown of iron, heated redhot, upon his head. But with his timorous dreams-] 'Tis recorded by Polydore Virgil, that Richard was frequently disturbed by terrible dreams: this is therefore no fiction. JOHNSON. Anne. No more than with my soul I mourn for yours. Dor. Farewell, thou woful welcomer of glory! Anne. Adieu, poor soul, that tak'st thy leave of it! Duch. Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide thee!TO DORSET. Go thou to Richard, and good angels tend thee![To ANNE. thee! Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes, [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets. RICHARD, as King upon his Throne; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, a Page, and Others. K. Rich. Stand all apart.-Cousin of Buckingham, Buck. My gracious sovereign. And each hour's joy wreck'd with a week of teen.] Teen is sorrow. K. Rich. Give me thy hand. Thus high, by thy advice, And thy assistance, is king Richard seated:- Buck. Still live they, and for ever let them last! K. Rich. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if thou be current gold, indeed:— Young Edward lives;-Think now what I would speak. Buck. Say on, my loving lord. K. Rich. Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king. Buck. Why, so you are, my thrice-renowned liege. K. Rich. Ha! am I king? 'Tis so: but Edward lives. Buck. True, noble prince. K. Rich. O bitter consequence, That Edward still should live,-true, noble prince!- What say'st thou now? speak suddenly, be brief. K. Rich. Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezes: Say, have I thy consent, that they shall die? Buck. Give me some breath, some little pause, dear lord, Before I positively speak in this: I will resolve your grace immediately. [Exit BUCKINGHAM. 6 now do I play the touch,] To play the touch is to represent the touchstone. Cate. The king is angry; see, he gnaws his lip." [Aside. K. Rich. I will converse with iron-witted fools, [Descends from his Throne. And unrespective boys; none are for me, That look into me with considerate eyes;— High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect.Boy, Page. My lord. K. Rich. Know'st thou not any, whom corrupting gold Would tempt unto a close exploit' of death? Whose humble means match not his haughty mind: 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 hither, boy.[Exit Page. The deep-revolving witty' Buckingham No more shall be the neighbour to my counsels: And stops he now for breath?-well, be it so. Enter STANLEY. How now, lord Stanley? what's the news? Know, my loving lord, see, he gnaws his lip.] Several of our ancient historians observe, that this was an accustomed action of Richard, whether he was pensive or angry. And unrespective boys;] Unrespective is inattentive to consequences, inconsiderate. · close exploit —] Is secret act. witty-] In this place signifies judicious or cunning. A wit was not at this time employed to signify a man of fancy, but was used for wisdom or judgment. |