Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say; [Exit. 1 Mur. So do not I: go, coward, as thou art. [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. London. A room in the palace. Enter KING EDWARD, led in sick; QUEEN ELIZABETH, DORSET, RIVERS, HASTINGS, BUCKINGHAM, GREY, and others. K. Ed. Why, so :-now have I done a good day's work: You peers, continue this united league. From my Redeemer to redeem me hence; And now in peace my soul shall part to heaven, Ri. By heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate; And with my hand I seal my true heart's love. Has. So thrive I, as I truly swear the like! K. Ed. Take heed, you dally not before your king; Lest he, that is the supreme King of kings, Has. So prosper I, as I swear perfect love! this, Nor your son Dorset,-Buckingham, nor you: You have been factious one against the other. Wife, love lord Hastings; let him kiss your hand; And what you do, do it unfeignedly. Q. Eli. There, Hastings;-I will never more remember Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine! K. Ed. Dorset, embrace him; Hastings, love lord marquis. Dor. This interchange of love, I here protest, Upon my part, shall be inviolable. Has. And so swear I. [embraces Dorset. K. Ed. Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league With thy embracements to my wife's allies, Buck. Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate Upon your grace, [to the Queen.] but with all duteous love Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me And most assured that he is a friend, Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile, [embracing Rivers, &c. K. Ed. A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham, Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart. There wanteth now our brother Gloster here, To make the blessed period of this peace. Buck. And, in good time, here comes the noble duke. Enter GLOSTER. Glos. Good-morrow to my sovereign king and queen; And, princely peers, a happy time of day! K. Ed. Happy, indeed, as we have spent the day. Brother, we have done deeds of charity; Among this princely heap, if any here, By false intelligence, or wrong surmise, If I unwittingly, or in my rage, Have aught committed that is hardly borne By any in this presence, I desire To reconcile me to his friendly peace. "Tis death to me, to be at enmity; I hate it, and desire all good men's love. First, madam, I entreat true peace of you, If ever any grudge were lodged between us; Q. Eli. A holyday shall this be kept hereafter. Glos. Why, madam, have I offer'd love for this, To be so flouted in this royal presence? Who knows not, that the gentle duke is dead? [they all start. You do him injury to scorn his corse. he is? Q. Eli. All-seeing Heaven, what a world is this! Buck. Look I so pale, lord Dorset, as the rest? Dor. Ay, my good lord; and no man in the pre sence, But his red color hath forsook his cheeks. K. Ed. Is Clarence dead? the order was reversed. Glos. But he, poor man, by your first order died, And that a winged Mercury did bear: Some tardy cripple bore the countermand, That came too lag to see him buried. God grant, that some, less noble and less loyal, Enter STANley. Stan. A boon, my sovereign, for my service done! K. Ed. I pr'ythee, peace; my soul is full of sorrow. Stan. I will not rise, unless your highness hear me. K. Ed. Then say at once, what is it thou re questest. Stan. The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant's life; Who slew to-day a riotous gentleman, Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk. K. Ed. Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death, And shall that tongue give pardon to a slave? |