How he doth stand affected to our purpose; If thou dost find him tractable to us, Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him, Catesby, Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly. Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us both. Glo. Chop off his head, man;-somewhat we will do:~ And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables Whereof the king my brother was possess'd. Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's hand. Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness. Come, let us sup betimes; that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form. SCENE II.7 [Exeunt. Before Lord HASTINGS' house, Enter a Messenger. Mes. My lord, my lord,— Hast. [Within] Who knocks? [Knocking, Mes. One from lord Stanley. Hast. [Within] What is't o'clock ? Mes. Upon the stroke of four. [8] That is, a private consultation, separate from the known and public councilSo, in the next scene, Hastings says: "Bid him not fear the separated councils." JOHNSON. [7] Every material circumstance in the following scene is taken from Holinshed's Chronicle, except that it is a knight with whom Hastings converses, instead of Buckingham. STEEVENS. Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights ? Mes. So it should seem by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble lordship. Hast. And then, Mes. And then he sends you word, he dreamt And with all speed post with him toward the north, Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; Tell him, his fears are shallow, wanting instance : Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.' Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord! Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring : What news, what news, in this our tottering state? Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord; And, I believe, will never stand upright, Till Richard wear the garland of the realm. Hast. How! wear the garland? dost thou mean the crown? Cate. Ay, my good lord. Hast. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders, [8] That is, wanting some example or act of malevolence, by which they may be justified: or which, perhaps, is nearer to the true meaning, wanting any immediate ground or reason. JOHNSON. you forward Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd. : Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind! Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older, Cate. The princes both make high account of you,For they account his head upon the bridge. [Aside. Hast. I know, they do; and I have well deserv'd it. Enter STANLEY. Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, man? Stan. My lord, good morrow; and, good morrow, --- You may jest on, but, by the holy rood," Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours; And never, in my life, I do protest, Was it more precious to me than 'tis now : I would be so triumphant as I am? [9] i. e. the cross. So in Spenser's Fairy Queen, B. VI. c. vi: "And nigh thereto a little chapell stoode Which being all with yvy overspred, Deck'd all the roofe, and shadowing the roode, VOL. VII. STEEVENS. C 2 Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from Lon don, Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure, To-day, the lords you talk of are beheaded. Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads, Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their hats. Enter a Pursuivant. Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow. [Exeunt STANLEY and CATESBY. How now, sirrah? how goes the world with thee? Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Than when thou met'st me last where now we meet : Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, By the suggestion of the queen's allies; But now, I tell thee, (keep it to thyself,) This day those enemies are put to death, And I in better state than e'er I was. Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good content! Hast. Gramercy, fellow : There, drink that for me. [Throwing him his purse. [Exit Pursuivant. Purs. I thank your honour. Enter a Priest. Priest. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your ho nour. Hast. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my heart. I am in your debt for your last exercise ; Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. Enter BUCKINGHAM. Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain ? Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest ; [1] This phrase signified merely "I will go along with you ;" and is an expression in use at this day. M. MASON. [2] Attending him in private to hear his confession. MALONE. Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.3 What, go you toward the Tower? Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there; I shall return before your lordship thence. Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there. Buck. And supper too, altho' thou know'st it not. [Aside. -Come, will you go? Hast. I'll wait upon your lordship. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Pomfret. Before the castle. Enter RATCLIFF, with a Guard, conducting RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, to execution. Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this,- Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you! A knot you are of damned blood-suckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter. Rat. Despatch; the limit of your lives is out. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers! Within the guilty closure of thy walls, Richard the Second here was hack'd to death: And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink. Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our heads, When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son. Riv. Then curs'd she Hastings, then curs'd she Buckingham, Then curs'd she Richard :-O, remember, God, To hear her prayers for them, as now for us! brace : Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. Shriving work is confession. JOHNSON. [Exeuni Expiate is used for expiated; It seems to mean, fully completed and ended. |