Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there: I shall return before your lordship thence. What, go you toward the Tower? Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there. Buck. And supper too, although thou know'st it not. Come, will you go? Hast. [Aside. 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,To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die, For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. 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 : When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, Then curs'd she Richard :-O, remember, God, To hear her prayers for them, as now for us! Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. London. A room in the Tower. Buckingham, Stanley, Hastings, the bishop of Ely, Catesby, Lovel, and others; sitting at a table: officers of the council attending. Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met Is-to determine of the coronation : In God's name, speak, when is the royal day? Who is most inward* with the noble duke? Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts, He knows no more of mine, than I of yours; Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well; But, for his purpose in the coronation, * Expiated, completed. VOL. VII. + Intimate. I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd Enter Gloster. Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all, good mor row: I have been long a sleeper; but, I trust, Which by my presence might have been concluded. Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my lord, William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,I mean, your voice,-for crowning of the king. Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be bolder; His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.- Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. [Exit Ely. Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business; And finds the testy gentleman so hot, That he will lose his head, ere give consent, His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the royalty of England's throne. Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with you. [Exeunt Gloster and Buckingham. Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph. To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden; Re-enter bishop of Ely. Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent For these strawberries. Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning; There's some conceit* or other likes him well, Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is offended; For, were he, he had shown it in his looks. Re-enter Gloster and Buckingham. Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve, That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevail'd Upon my body with their hellish charms? Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, Makes me most forward in this noble presence Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil, Glo. If thou protector of this damned strumpet, Talk'st thou to me of ifs?-Thou art a traitor :Off with his head :-now, by Saint Paul I swear, I will not dine until I see the same. * Thought. Lovel, and Catesby, look, that it be done; [Exeunt council, with Gloster and Buckingham. Hast. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me; For I, too fond*, might have prevented this: Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, Cate. Despatch, my lord, the duke would be at dinner; Make a short shift, he longs to see your head. Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. Hast. O, bloody Richard!-miserable England! I prophesy the fearful'st time to thee, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head; They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead. Weak, foolish. [Exeunt. |