Glo. He may command me, as my sovereign ;

But you have power in me, as in a kinfman.

York. I pray you, uncle, then, give me this dagger. Glo. My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart. Prince. A beggar, brother?

York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give ;
And, being but a toy, which is no grief to give.
Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin.
York. A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it?
Glo. Ay, gentle coufin, were it light enough.
York. O then, I see, you'll part but with light gifts;
In weightier things you'll fay a beggar, nay.

Glo. It is too weighty for your grace to wear.
York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.

Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little lord?
York. I would, that I might thank you as you call me.
Glo. How?

York. Little.

Prince. My lord of York will still be cross in talk ;— Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him.

York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me :— Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me;

Because that I am little, like an ape,

He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders.
Buck. With what a fharp-provided wit he reasons !
To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,

He prettily and aptly taunts himself :
So cunning, and so young, is wonderful.

Glo. My gracious lord, will't please you pass along?
Myfelf, and my good coufin Buckingham,
Will to your mother; to entreat of her,

To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you.

York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord? Prince. My lord protector needs will have it fo.

York.

York. I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower.
Glo. Why, fir, what should you fear?

York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost ;
My grandam told me, he was murder'd there.
Prince. I fear no uncles dead.

Glo. Nor none that live, I hope.

Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. But come, my lord, and, with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.

[Exeunt Prince, YORK, HASTINGS, Cardinal, and Attendants.

Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incenfed by his fubtle mother,

To taunt and fcorn you thus opprobriously ?

Glo. No doubt, no doubt: O, 'tis a parlous boy;
Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable;
He's all the mother's, from the top to toe.
Buck. Well, let them reft.-

Come hither, gentle Catesby; thou art fworn
As deeply to effect what we intend,

As closely to conceal what we impart :

Thou know'ft our reasons urg'd upon the way ;—
What think'ft thou? is it not an easy matter
To make William lord Hastings of our mind,
For the inftalment of this noble duke

In the feat royal of this famous ifle?

Cate. He for his father's fake fo loves the prince, That he will not be won to aught against him.

Buck. What think'ft thou then of Stanley? will not he? Cate. He will do all in all as Haftings doth.

Buck. Well then, no more but this: Go, gentle Catesby, And, as it were far off, found thou lord Haftings, How he doth ftand affected to our purpose;

And fummon him to-morrow to the Tow

Το

To fit about the coronation.

If thou doft find him tractable to us,

Encourage him, and tell him all our reafons:
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou fo too; and fo break off the talk,
And give us notice of his inclination:
For we to-morrow hold divided councils,
Wherein thyself fhalt highly be employ'd.

Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him, Catesby, His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries

To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle;
And bid my friend, for joy of this good news,
Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.

Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business foundly.
Cate. My good lords both, with all the heed I can.
Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we fleep?
Cate. You firall, my lord.

Glo. At Crosby-place, there fhall you find us both.

[Exit CATESBY. Buck. Now, my lord, what fhall we do, if we perceive Lord Haftings will not yield to our complots?

Glo. Chop off his head, man ;-fomewhat 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 poffefs'd.

Buck. I'll claim that promife at your grace's hand. Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness. Come, let us fup betimes; that afterwards

We may digeft our complots in fome form.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

Haft. Cannot thy master sleep the tedious nights?
Mef. So it fhould feem by that I have to fay.
First, he commends him to your noble lordship.
Haft. And then,-

Mef.

And then he fends you word, he dreamt
To-night the boar had rafed off his helm:
Befides, he fays, there are two councils held;
And that may be determin'd at the one,

Which may make you and him to rue at the other.
'Therefore he fends to know your lordship's pleasure,-
If presently you will take horfe with him,

And with all speed post with him toward the north,
To fhun the danger that his foul divines.

Haft. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;
Bid him not fear the separated councils :
His honour, and myself, are at the one;
And, at the other, is my good friend Catesby;
Where nothing can proceed, that toucheth us,
Whereof I fhall not have intelligence.

Tell him, his fears are fhallow, wanting inftance:

And

And for his dreams-I wonder, he's fo fond
To trust the mockery of unquiet flumbers:
To fly the boar, before the boar pursues,
Were to incenfe the boar to follow us,

And make pursuit, where he did mean no chase.
Go, bid thy master rise and come to me;
And we will both together to the Tower,

Where, he shall fee, the boar will ufe us kindly,
Mef. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you say.

[Exit.

Enter CATESBY.

Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord! Haft. 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 ftand upright,

Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.

Haft. How! wear the garland? doft thou mean the

crown?

Cate. Ay, my good lord.

Heft. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my fhoulders, Before I'll fee the crown fo foul misplac'd.

Eut canft thou guess that he doth aim at it?

Cate. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you forward Upon his party, for the gain thereof:

And, thereupon, he fends you this good news,-
That, this fame very day, your enemies,

The kindred of the queen, muft die at Pomfret.
Haft. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news,
Because they have been ftill my adverfaries :
But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's fide,

Το