Q. Eliz. Thy life hath that dishonour'd. Thyself is self-mis-us'd. K. Rich. Then, by myself,— Q. Eliz. K. Rich. Why then, by God,- God's wrong is most of all. If thou had'st fear'd to break an oath by him, Had not been broken, nor my brother slain. K. Rich. By the time to come. Q. Eliz. That thou hast wronged in the time o'er past; For I myself have many tears to wash Hereafter time, for time past, wrong'd by thee. The parents live, whose children thou hast butcher'd, K. Rich. As I intend to prosper, and repent! Day, yield me not thy light; nor, night, thy rest! To my proceeding, if, with pure heart's love, I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter! It cannot be avoided, but by this; Plead what I will be, not what I have been; Q. Eliz. Shall I be tempted of the devil thus? Q. Eliz. But thou didst kill my children. K. Rich. But in your daughter's womb I bury them: Where, in that nest of spicery, they shall breed Selves of themselves, to your recomforture. Q. Eliz. Shall I go win my daughter to thy will? K. Rich. And be a happy mother by the deed. Q. Eliz. I go.-Write to me very shortly, And you shall understand from me her mind. K. Rich. Bear her my true love's kiss, and so farewell. [Kissing her. Exit Q. Elizabeth. Relenting fool, and shallow, changing-woman! Enter RATCLIFF; CATESBY following. Rat. Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends, K. Rich. 25 Some light-foot friend post to the duke of Norfolk: Ratcliff, thyself,-or Catesby; where is he? Cate. Here, my good lord. K. Rich. Catesby, fly to the duke. Cate. I will, my lord, with all convenient haste. K. Rich. Ratcliff, come hither: Post to Salisbury; When thou com'st thither,-Dull unmindful villain, [To Catesby. Why stay'st thou here, and go'st not to the duke? Cate. First, mighty liege, tell me your highness' pleasure, What from your grace I shall deliver to him. K. Rich. O, true, good Catesby;-Bid him levy straight The greatest strength and power he can make, Cate. I go. [Exit. Rat. What, may it please you, shall I do at Salis bury? K. Rich. Why, what would'st thou do there, before I go? Rat. Your highness told me, I should post before. Enter STANLEY. K. Rich. My mind is chang'd.-Stanley, what news with you? Stan. None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing; Nor none so bad, but well may be reported. K. Rich. Heyday, a riddle! neither good, nor bad! What need'st thou run so many miles about, When thou may'st tell thy tale the nearest way? Stan. Richmond is on the seas. K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas on him! White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there? Stan. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess. K. Rich. Well, as you guess? Stan. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton, He makes for England, here to claim the crown. K. Rich. Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway'd? Is the king dead? the empire unpossess'd? What heir of York is there alive, but we ? And who is England's king, but great York's heir? Then, tell me, what makes he upon the seas? Stan. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess. K. Rich. Unless for that he comes to be your liege, You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes. Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear. Stan. No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not. K. Rich. Where is thy power then, to beat him back? Where be thy tenants, and thy followers? Stan. No, my good lord, my friends are in the north. K. Rich. Cold friends to me: What do they in the north, When they should serve their sovereign in the west? Stan. They have not been commanded, mighty king: Pleaseth your majesty to give me leave, I'll muster up my friends; and meet your grace, K. Rich. Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with I will not trust you, sir. Stan. Most mighty sovereign, You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful; I never was, nor never will be false. K. Rich. Well, go, muster men. But, hear you, leave behind |