ACT IV. SCENE I. Before the Tower. Enter on one side, QUEEN ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF YORK, and MARQUIS OF DORSET; on the other, ANNE, DUCHESS OF GLOSTER, leading LADY MARGARET PLANTAGENET, Clarence's young Daugh ter. Duch. Who meets us here ?-my niece Plantagenet Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloster? Now, for my life, she's wand'ring to the Tower, On pure heart's love, to greet the tender prince.Daughter, well met. Anne. God give your graces both A happy and a joyful time of day! Q. Eliz. As much to you, good sister! Whither away? Anne. No further than the Tower; and, as I guess, Upon the like devotion as yourselves, To gratulate the gentle princes there. Q. Eliz. Kind sister, thanks; we'll enter all together: Enter BRAKENBURY. And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes.Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave, How doth the prince, and my young son of York? Brak. Right well, dear madam; By your patience, I may not suffer you to visit them; The king hath strictly charg'd the contrary. Brak, title! Hath he set bounds between their love and me? I am their mother, who shall bar me from them? Duch. I am their father's mother, I will see them. Anne. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother: [blame, Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy And take thy office from thee, on my peril. Brak. No, madam, no, I may not leave it so; I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. [Exit BRAKENBURY. Enter STANLEY. Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, And reverend looker on of two fair queens.→ Come,madam, you must straight to Westminster, [To the DUCHESS OF GLOSTER. There to be crowned Richard's royal queen. Q. Eliz. Ah, cut my lace asunder! That my pent heart may have some scope to beat, Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news. Anne. Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news! Dor. Be of good cheer:-Mother, how fares your grace? Q. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee gone, Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; Take all the swift advantage of the hours; Duch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery!- Stan. Come, madam, come; I in all haste was sent. Anne. And I with all unwillingness will go.O, would to God, that the inclusive verge Of golden metal, that must round my brow, Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain! Anointed let me be with deadly venom; And die, ere men can say-God save the queen! Q. Eliz. Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory! To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm. Anne. No! why?-When he, that is my husband now, Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse; When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his hands, Which issu'd from my other angel husband, And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd; O, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face, And, when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed; Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death! Even in so short a space, my woman's heart Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep, But with his timorous dreams was still awak'd. Besides, be hates me for my father Warwick; And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me. Q. Eliz. Poor heart, adieu; I pity thy complaining. Anne. No more than with my soul I mourn for yours. Dor. Farewell, thou woful welcomer of glory! Anne. Adieu, poor soul, that tak'st thy leave of it! Duch. Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide thee! [To DORSET. Go thou to Richard, and good angels tend thee!→ [To ANNE. Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess thee! [To Q. ELIZABETH. I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me! Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen, And each hour's joy wreck'd with a week of teen. Q. Eliz. Stay yet; look back, with me, unto the Tower. Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes, Whom envy hath immur'd within your walls! SCENE II. A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets. RICHARD, as King upon his throne; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, a Page, and Others. K. Rich. Stand all apart.-Cousin of Buckingham, Buck. My gracious sovereign. K. Rich. Give me thy hand. Thus high by And thy assistance, is King Richard seated:- To try if thou be current gold, indeed :Young Edward lives;-Think now what I would speak. Buck. Say on, my loving lord. K. Rich. Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king. [liege, Buck. Why, so you are, my thrice-renowned K. Rich. Ha! am I king? "Tis so: but Edward lives. Buck. True, noble prince. K. Rich. O bitter consequence, That Edward still should live,-true, noble prince! Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull: Say, have I thy consent, that they shall die? Buck. Give me some breath, some little pause, dear lord, Before I positively speak in this: I will resolve your grace immediately. [Exit BUCKINGHAM. Cate. The king is angry; see, he gnaws his lip. [Aside. K. Rich. I will converse with iron-witted fools, [Descends from his Throne. And unrespective boys: none are for me, That look into me with considerate eyes;High-reaching Buckingham grows circum Boy, spect. Page. My lord. K. Rich. Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold Would tempt unto a close exploit of death? Page. I know a discontented gentleman, Whose humble means match not his haughty mind: Gold were as good as twenty orators, And will no doubt tempt him to any thing. Page. His name, my lord, is―Tyrrel. K. Rich. I partly know the man; Go, call him hither, boy.[Exit Page. The deep-revolving witty Buckingham No more shall be the neighbour to my counsels: How now, Lord Stanley? what's the news? ; That Anue, my wife, is very grievous sick. ter: The boy is foolish, and I fear not him.- |