Hast. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders, Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd. But canst 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 sends you this good news,- Hast. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news, God knows, I will not do it, to the death. Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind! Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence, That they, who brought me in my master's hate, Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older, Hast, O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out Cate. The princes both make high account of you, For they account his head upon Hast. I know, they do; and I have well deserv'd it. Enter STANLEY. Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, man? Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided? Stan. My lord, good-morrow; and good morrow, Catesby : You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, I do not like these several councils, I. 2 Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours; Was it more precious to me than 'tis now : I would be so triumphant as I am? Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure, And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust; What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent, Hast. Come, come, have with you.-Wot3 you what, my lord? To-day, the lords you talk of are beheaded. Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads, Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their hats. But come, my lord, let's away. Enter a Pursuivant. Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow, [Exeunt STAN. and CATESBY, How now, sirrah ? how goes the world with thee? Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good content! Purs. I thank your honour. [Throwing him his purse. [Exit Pursuivant. Enter a Priest. Pr. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour. Hast. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my heart. I am in your debt for your last exercise ; Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. Enter BUCKINGHAM. Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord chamber lain? Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; 4 Confession.. Hast. 'Good faith, and when I met this holy man, The men you talk of came into my mind. What, go you toward the Tower? Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there : I shall return before your lordship thence. Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there. Buck. And supper too, although thou know'st it Pomfret. Before the Castle. Enter RATCLIFF, with a guard, conducting RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, to Execution. Rat.,Come, bring forth the prisoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff let me tell thee this,— To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die, For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you ! A knot you are of damned blood-suckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter. Rat. Despatch; the limit of your lives is out. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers! Within the guilty closure of thy walls, Richard the second here was hack'd to death: When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son. Riv. Then curs'd she Hastings, then curs'd she Then curs'd she Richard :-O, remember, God, Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. SCENE IV. London, A Room in the Tower. [Exeunt. BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the Bishop of Ely, CATESBY, LOVEL, and Others, sitting at a Table: Officers of the Council attending. Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met Is to determine of the coronation : In God's name, speak, when is the royal day? 5 Expiated, completed. |