Look how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, Glo. If! thou protector of this damned strumpet, Lovel, and Catesby, look, that it be done; [Exeunt Council, with GLOSTER and BUCK INGHAM. Hast. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me; Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,3 Cate. Despatch, my lord, the duke would be at Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head. 3 Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble.] To stumble was anciently esteem'd a bad omen. The housings of a horse, and sometimes a horse himself, were anciently denominated a foot-cloth. Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. Hast. O, bloody Richard!-miserable England! I prophecy the fearful'st time to thee, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head; They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead. [Exeunt. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favoured. Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour? Murder thy breath in middle of a word,- As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror? 4 Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian; Speak, and look back, and pry on every side, Tremble and start at wagging of a straw, Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks Are at my service, like enforced smiles; And both are ready in their offices, At any time, to grace my stratagems. But what, is Catesby gone? Glo. He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. 4 Intending deep suspicion:] i. e. pretending. Enter the Lord Mayor and CATESBY. Buck. Let me alone to entertain him.-Lord mayor, Glo. Look to the draw-bridge there. Buck. Hark, hark! a drum. Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent for you, Glo. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies. Buck. God and our innocence defend and guard us! Enter LovEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS's Head. Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratcliff, and Lovel. Lov. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings. Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep. I took him for the plainest harmless't creature, That breath'd upon the earth a Christian; Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded The history of all her secret thoughts: So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue, That, his apparent open guilt omitted, I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife, He liv'd from all attainder of suspect. Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor That ever liv'd.-Look you, my lord mayor, his conversation ] i. e. familiar intercourse. The phrase -criminal conversation, is yet in daily use. To murder me, and my good lord of Gloster? Glo. What! think you we are Turks, or infidels? The peace of England, and our persons' safety, May. Now, fair befal you! he deserv'd his death; I never look'd for better at his hands, Buch. Yet had we not determin'd he should die, May. But, my good lord, your grace's word shall serve, As well as I had seen, and heard him speak: Glo. And to that end we wish'd your lordship here, Glo. Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham. The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post: There, at your meetest vantage of the time, And bestial appetite in change of lust; Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters, wives, Glo. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's castle;" Where you shall find me well accompanied, [Exit BUCKINGHAM. Glo. Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.7 6 to Baynard's castle;] It was originally built by Baynard, a nobleman who (according to Stowe's account) came in with the conqueror. This edifice which stood in Thames-street, has long been pulled down, though parts of its strong foundation are still visible at low water. The site of it is now a timber-yard. |