(And much I need to help you, if need were ;) Which, mellow'd by the stealing hours of time, Which, God defend, that I should wring from him! grace; But the respects thereof are nice and trivial, All cirsumstances well considered. You By her, in his unlawful bed, he got This Edward, whom our manners call-the prince. More bitterly could I expostulate, Save that, for reverence to some alive, I give a sparing limit to my tongue. Then, good my lord, take to your royal self This proffer'd benefit of dignity : May. Do, good my lord; your citizens entreat you. Buck. Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer'd love. Cate. O, make them joyful, grant their lawful suit, Glo. Alas, why would you heap those cares on me? I am unfit for state and majesty I do beseech you, take it not amiss; I cannot, nor I will not, yield to you. Buck. If you refuse it,—as in love and zeal, [Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Citizens. Cate. Call them again, sweet prince, accept their suit; If you deny them, all the land will rue it. Glo. Will you enforce me to a world of cares? Well, call them again; I am not made of stone, 1 Pity. But penetrable to your kind entreaties, [Exit CATESBY. Albeit against my conscience and my soul. Re-enter BUCKINGHAM and the Rest. Cousin of Buckingham,-and sage, grave men,- Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me May. God bless your grace! we see it, and will say it. Glo. In saying so, you shall but say the truth. Buck. Then I salute you with this royal title,Long live king Richard, England's worthy king! All. Amen. Buck. To-morrow may it please you to be crown'd? Glo. Even when you please, since you will have it so. Buck. To-morrow then we will attend your grace; And so, most joyfully, we take our leave. Glo. Come, let us to our holy work again :[To the Bishops. Farewell, good cousin ;-farewell, gentle friends. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. Before the Tower. Enter on one side, Queen ELIZABETH, Duchess of 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.- I Brak. Right well, dear madam: By your patience, may not suffer you to visit them; The king hath strictly charg'd the contrary. Q. Eliz. The king! who's that? Brak. I mean, the lord protector. Q. Eliz. The Lord protect him from that kingly title ! Hath he set bounds between their love, and me? ther: Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame, 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. grace? your Q. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee gone, Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; Thy mother's name is ominous to children: If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas, |