Clar. His majesty, Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed Glo. Upon what cause? Clar. Because my name is-George. Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours; He should, for that, commit your godfathers: O, belike, his majesty hath some intent, That you shall be new christen'd in the Tower. He hearkens after prophecies, and dreams; And, for my name of George begins with G, These, as I learn, and such like toys+ as these, Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by wo men: 'Tis not the king, that sends you to the Tower; Was it not she, and that good man of worship, That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower; Clar. By heaven, I think, the.e is no man secure, + Fancies But the queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds That trudge betwixt the king and mistress Shore, Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Brakenbury, You may partake of any thing we say : We speak no treason, man ;-We say, the king A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue; Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do. Glo. Naught to do with mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow, 5 The Queen and Shore. He that doth naught with her, excepting one, Brak. What one, my lord? Glo. Her husband, knave:-Would'st thou betray me? Brak. I beseech your grace to pardon me; and, withal, Forbear your conference with the noble duke. Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. 6 Glo. We are the queen's abjects, and must obey. Mean time, have patience. Clar. I must perforce; farewell. [Exeunt CLARENCE, BRAKENBURY, and Guard. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return, Simple, plain Clarence!-I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, If heaven will take the present at our hands. 6 Lowest of subjects. Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! Glo. As much unto my good lord chamberlain ! Well are you welcome to this open air. How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment? Hast. With patience, noble lord, as prisoners must: But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks, That were the cause of my imprisonment. Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too; For they, that were your enemies, are his, And have prevail'd as much on him, as you. Hast. More pity that the eagle should be mew'd,7 While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. Glo. What news abroad? Hast. No news so bad abroad, as this at home;The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy, And his physicians fear him mightily. Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. O, he hath kept an evil diet long, And over-much cónsum'd his royal person; 'Tis very grievous to be thought upon. What, is he in his bed? Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you.' [Exit HASTINGS. He cannot live, I hope; and must not die, Till George be pack'd with posthorse up to heaven. 7 Confined. Clarence hath not another day to live : For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter: By marrying her, which I must reach unto. [Exit. SCENE II. The same. Another Street. Enter the corpse of King HENRY the Sixth, borne in an open coffin, Gentlemen bearing halberds, to guard it; and Lady ANNE as mourner. Anne. Set down, set down your honourable load,If honour may be shrouded in a hearse,— Whilst I a while obsequiously lament The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster Poor key-cold figure of a holy king! Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster! Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood! Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost, To hear the lamentations of poor Anne, Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughter'd son, 8 Funereal. |