To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince. Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not stay behind. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A street. Enter two Citizens, meeting. 1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbour: Whither away so fast? 2 Cit. I promise you, I scarcely know myself? Hear you the news abroad? 1 Cit. Yes; the king's dead. 2 Cit. Ill news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better: I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world. Enter another Citizen. 3 Cit. Neighbours, God speed ! 1 Cit. Give you good morrow, sir. 3 Cit. Doth the news hold of good king Edward's death? 2 Cit. Ay, sir, it is too true; God help the while! 3 Cit. Then, masters, look to see a troublous world. 1 Cit. No, no; by God's good grace, his son shall reign. 3 Cit. Woe to that land, that's govern'd by a child! 2 Cit. In him there is a hope of government; That, in his nonage*, council under him, And, in his full and ripen'd years, himself, No doubt, shall then, and till then, govern well. 1 Cit. So stood the state, when Henry the sixth * Minority. Was crown'd in Paris but at nine months old. 3 Cit. Stood the state so? no, no, good friends, God wot*; For then this land was famously enrich'd 1 Cit. Why, so hath this, both by his father and 3 Cit. Better it were they all came by his father; Or, by his father, there were none at all: For emulation now, who shall be nearest, Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not. O, full of danger is the duke of Gloster; And the queen's sons, and brothers, haught and proud: And were they to be rul'd, and not to rule, 1 Cit. Čome, come, we fear the worst; all will 3 Cit. When clouds are seen, wise men put on When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand; 2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear: You cannot reason† almost with a man That looks not heavily, and full of dread. 3 Cit. Before the days of change, still is it so: 2 Cit. Marry, we were sent for to the justices. SCENE IV. The same. A room in the palace. Enter the archbishop of York, the young duke of York, Queen Elizabeth, and the duchess of York. Arch. Last night, I heard, they lay at Stony- And at Northampton they do rest to-night: Duch. I long with all my heart to see the prince; York. Ay, mother, but I would not have it so. Duch. Why, my young cousin? it is good to grow. York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper, My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow More than my brother; Ay, quoth my uncle Gloster, Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace: And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast, Because sweet flowers are slow, and weeds make haste. Duch. 'Good faith, 'good faith, the saying did not hold In him that did object the same to thee: He was the wretched'st thing, when he was young, So long a-growing, and so leisurely, That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious. Arch. And so, no doubt, he is, my gracious ma dam. Duch. I hope, he is; but yet let mothers doubt. York. Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd, I could have given my uncle's grace a flout, To touch his growth, nearer than he touch'd mine. Duch. How, my young York? I pr'ythee, let me hear it. York. Marry, they say, my uncle grew so fast, That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old; 'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth. Grandam, this would have been a biting jest. Duch. I pr'ythee, pretty York, who told thee this? 1 York. Grandam, his nurse. Duch. His nurse? why she was dead ere thou wast born. York. If'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me. Q. Eliz. A parlous* boy: Go to, you are too shrewd. Arch. Good madam, be not angry with the child. Q. Eliz. Pitchers have ears. What is thy news? As grieves me to unfold. Q. Eliz. Mess. Well, madam, and in health. Duch. Mess. Lord Rivers, and lord Grey, are sent to Pomfret, With them sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners. Duch. Who hath committed them? Mess. Gloster and Buckingham. Q. Eliz. The mighty dukes, For what offence? Mess. The sum of all I can, I have disclos'd; Why, or for what, the nobles were committed, Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady. Q. Eliz. Ah me, I see the ruin of my house! Upon the innocent and awless throne :- * Perilous, dangerous. Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days! How many of you have mine eyes beheld? My husband lost his life to get the crown; And often up and down my sons were tost, For me to joy, and weep, their gain, and loss: And being seated, and domestic broils Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors, Q. Eliz. Come, come, my boy, we will to sanctuary. Madam, farewell. Duch. Stay, I will go with you. Q. Eliz. You have no cause. Arch. My gracious lady, go. [To the Queen. And thither bear your treasure and your goods. Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. The same. A street. The trumpets sound. Enter the prince of Wales, Gloster, Buckingham, Cardinal Bouchier, and others. Buck. Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber. Glo. Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sovereign : The weary way hath made you melancholy. Prince. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy : I want more uncles here to welcome me, |