Glo. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's child ren ? Buck. I did; with his contract with lady Lucy, Both in your form and nobleness of mind: I bade them, that did love their country's good, Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word; But, like dumb statuas, or breathless stones, Star'd on each other, and look'd deadly pale. Which when I saw, I reprehended them; And ask'd the mayor, what meant this wilful silence: To be spoke to, but by the recorder. Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr'd; But nothing spoke in warrant from himself. Glo. What tongueless blocks were they; Would they not speak? Will not the mayor then, and his brethren, come? Buck. The mayor is here at hand; Intend some fear; Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit: Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and take it. No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue. the lord mayor [Exit Glo. Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens. Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here; Enter, from the Castle, CATESBY. Now, Catesby? what says your lord to my request? Cate. He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord, To visit him to-morrow, or next day : He is within, with two right reverend fathers, Divinely bent to meditation; And in no worldly suit would he be mov'd, To draw him from his holy exercise. Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke; Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen, In deep designs, in matter of great moment, No less importing than our general good, Are come to have some conference with his grace. Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight. [Exit. Buck. Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward! He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed, But on his knees at meditation; Not dallying with a brace of courtezans, May. Marry, God defend his grace should say us nay! Buck. I fear, he will: Here Catesby comes again; Re-enter CATESBY. Now, Catesby, what says his grace? Cate. He wonders to what end you have assembled Such troops of citizens to come to him, His grace not being warn'd thereof before: He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him. [Exit Catesby. When holy and devout religious men Enter GLOSTER, in a gallery, above, between two May. See, where his grace stands 'tween two cler gymen ! Buck. Two props of virtue for a christian prince, To stay him from the fall of vanity: And, see, a book of prayer in his hand; True ornaments to know a holy man.— Of thy devotion, and right-christian zeal, I rather do beseech you pardon me, Who, earnest in the service of my God, But, leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure? Glo. I do suspect, I have done some offence, And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. your grace, On our entreaties, to amend your fault! Glo. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land? Buck. Know, then, it is your fault, that you resign. The supreme seat, the throne majestical, The scepter'd office of your ancestors, Your state of fortune, and your due of birth, |