SCENE IV

[London. 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 Northampton;
At Stony-Stratford they do rest to-night.
To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.
Duch. I long with all my heart to see the Prince.

I hope he is much grown since last I saw him. 5
Q. Eliz. But I hear, no; they say my son of York
Has almost overta’en him in his growth.

York. Ay, mother; but I would not have it so.
Duch. Why, my good 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

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More than my brother. "Ay," quoth my uncle
Gloucester,

"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.

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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. 20 [Arch.] And so, no doubt, he is, my gracious madam. Duch. I hope he is; but yet let mothers doubt. York. Now, by my troth, if I had been rememb'red, 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 prithee, let me hear it.

York. Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast

26

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. 30 Duch. I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this? 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. 35
Duch. Good madam, be not angry with the child.
Q. Eliz. Pitchers have ears.

Enter a Messenger.

Arch. Here comes a messenger. What news?
Mess. Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report.

Q. Eliz. How doth the Prince ?

Mess.

Duch. What is thy news?

Well, madam, and in health.

41

Mess. Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret, With them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

Duch. Who hath committed them?

Mess.

Gloucester and Buckingham.

The mighty dukes

For what offence? 45

Arch.
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 lord.
Q. Eliz. Ay me, I see the ruin of my house!
The tiger now hath seiz'd the gentle hind;
Insulting tyranny begins to jut
Upon the innocent and aweless throne.
Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre !
I see, as in a map, the end of all.

50

35

55

60

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 toss'd
For me to joy and weep their gain and loss;
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors,
Make war upon themselves, brother to brother,
Blood to blood, self against self. O, preposterous
And frantic outrage, end thy damned spleen;
Or let me die, to look on earth no more!
Q. Eliz. Come, come, my boy; we will to sanctuary.
Madam, farewell.

F

65

Duch.

Stay, I will go with you.

Q. Eliz. You have no cause.
Arch. [To the Queen.]

My gracious lady, go;

And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I'll resign unto your Grace

The seal I keep; and so betide to me
As well I tender you and all of yours!

Go, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary.

70

Exeunt.

ACT THIRD

SCENE I

[London. A street.]

The trumpets sound. Enter the young Prince, the Dukes of Gloucester and Buckingham, Cardinal [Bourchier, Catesby,] and others.

Buck. Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your

chamber.

Glou. Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' sovereign. The weary way hath made you melancholy. Prince. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way

5

Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy. I want more uncles here to welcome me. Glou. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit. No more can you distinguish of a man

11

Than of his outward show; which, God he knows,
Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart.
Those uncles which you want were dangerous;
Your Grace attended to their sug❜red words,
But look'd not on the poison of their hearts.
God keep you from them, and from such false

friends!

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