Shall lose the royalty of England's throne. Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with you. For I myself am not so well provided, Re-enter Bishop of Ely. Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent For these strawberries. Hast. His grace looks chearfully 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, Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil; Look how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up: And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, 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; Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks, Ready, with every nod, to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep. Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. Hast. O, bloody Richard !-miserable England! I prophecy the fearful'st time to thee, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.- SCENE V.-The same. The Tower Walls. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favoured. Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour? Murder thy breath in middle of a word,— As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror? Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian; Speak, and look back, and pry on every side, Tremble and start at wagging of a straw, Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks Are at my service, like enforced smiles; And both are ready in their offices, At any time, to grace my stratagems. But what, is Catesby gone? Glo. He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. Enter the Lord Mayor and CATESBY. Buck. Let me alone to entertain him.-Lord mayor,Glo. Look to the draw-bridge there. Buck. Hark, hark! a drum. Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent for you, Glo. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies. Buck. God and our innocence defend and guard us! Enter LovEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS's head. Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep. So smooth he daub'd his vice, with show of virtue, That, his apparent open guilt omitted,― I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife, He liv'd from all attainder of suspect. Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor That ever liv'd.-Look you, my lord mayor, Would you imagine, or almost believe, Glo. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels ? 1 Or that we would, against the form of law, The peace of England, and our persons' safety, May. Now, fair befal you! he deserv'd his death; And your good graces both have well proceeded, To warn false traitors from the like attempts. I never look'd for better at his hands, After he once fell in with mistress Shore. Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he should die, Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death. May. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall serve, As well as I had seen, and heard him speak; Glo. And to that end we wish'd your lordship here, [Exit Lord Mayor. |