ACT III. | |
SCENE V. London. The Tower Walls. | |
| [Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM in rusty armour, marvellous |
| ill-favoured.] |
GLOSTER. | |
| Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy colour, |
| Murder thy breath in middle of a word, |
| And then again begin, and stop again, |
| As if thou were distraught and mad with terror? |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| 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? |
GLOSTER. | |
| He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. |
| [Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY.] |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| Lord mayor,-- |
GLOSTER. | |
| Look to the drawbridge there! |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| Hark! a drum. |
GLOSTER. | |
| Catesby, o'erlook the walls. |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent,-- |
GLOSTER. | |
| Look back, defend thee,--here are enemies. |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| God and our innocency defend and guard us! |
GLOSTER. | |
| Be patient; they are friends,--Ratcliff and Lovel. |
| [Enter LOVEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS' head.] |
LOVEL. | |
| Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, |
| The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings. |
GLOSTER. | |
| So dear I lov'd the man that I must weep. |
| I took him for the plainest harmless 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 suspects. |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor |
| That ever liv'd.-- |
| Would you imagine, or almost believe,-- |
| Were't not that by great preservation |
| We live to tell it you,--that the subtle traitor |
| This day had plotted, in the council-house, |
| To murder me and my good Lord of Gloster! |
MAYOR. | |
| Had he done so? |
GLOSTER. | |
| What! think you we are Turks or Infidels? |
| Or that we would, against the form of law, |
| Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death, |
| But that the extreme peril of the case, |
| The peace of England and our persons' safety, |
| Enforc'd us to this execution? |
MAYOR. | |
| Now, fair befall you! he deserv'd his death; |
| And your good graces both have well proceeded, |
| To warn false traitors from the like attempts. |
| I never look'd for better at his hands |
| After he once fell in with Mistress Shore. |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| Yet had we not determin'd he should die |
| Until your lordship came to see his end; |
| Which now the loving haste of these our friends, |
| Something against our meanings, have prevented: |
| Because, my lord, we would have had you heard |
| The traitor speak, and timorously confess |
| The manner and the purpose of his treasons; |
| That you might well have signified the same |
| Unto the citizens, who haply may |
| Misconster us in him, and wail his death. |
MAYOR. | |
| But, my good lord, your grace's word shall serve |
| As well as I had seen and heard him speak: |
| And do not doubt, right noble princes both, |
| But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens |
| With all your just proceedings in this case. |
GLOSTER. | |
| And to that end we wish'd your lordship here, |
| o' avoid the the the censures of the carping world. |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| But since you come too late of our intent, |
| Yet witness what you hear we did intend: |
| And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell. |
| [Exit LORD MAYOR.] |
GLOSTER. | |
| Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham. |
| The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:-- |
| There, at your meet'st advantage of the time, |
| Infer the bastardy of Edward's children: |
| Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen, |
| Only for saying he would make his son |
| Heir to the crown;--meaning, indeed, his house, |
| Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so. |
| Moreover, urge his hateful luxury, |
| And bestial appetite in change of lust; |
| Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters, wives, |
| Even where his raging eye or savage heart, |
| Without control, listed to make a prey. |
| Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:-- |
| Tell them, when that my mother went with child |
| Of that insatiate Edward, noble York, |
| My princely father, then had wars in France |
| And, by true computation of the time, |
| Found that the issue was not his begot; |
| Which well appeared in his lineaments, |
| Being nothing like the noble duke my father. |
| Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere far off; |
| Because, my lord, you know my mother lives. |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| Doubt not, my lord, I'll play the orator |
| As if the golden plea for which I plead |
| Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu. |
GLOSTER. | |
| If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's Castle; |
| Where you shall find me well accompanied |
| With reverend fathers and well learned bishops. |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| I go; and towards three or four o'clock |
| Look for the news that the Guildhall affords. |
| [Exit.] |
GLOSTER. | |
| Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.-- |
| Go thou [to CATESBY] to Friar Penker;--bid them both |
| Meet me within this hour at Baynard's Castle. |
| [Exeunt LOVEL and CATESBY.] |
| Now will I in, to take some privy order |
| To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight; |
| And to give order that no manner person |
| Have any time recourse unto the princes. |
| [Exit.] |