Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.⚫ And now, instead of mounting barbed + steeds, To strut before a wanton ambling nymph; Of Edward's heirs the murderers shall be. comes. Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKEN BURY. That trudge betwixt the king and mistress Heard you not, what an humble suppliant Are mighty gossips in this monarchy. Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; His majesty hath straitly given in charge, Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Bia- You may partake of any thing we say : A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue; to do. Brak. I beseech your grace to pardon me and, withal, Brother, good day: What means this armed Forbear your conference with the noble duke. guard, That waits upon your grace? Clar. His majesty, Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed, Clar. Because my name is-George. Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of your's; Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. Glo. We are the queen's abjects, and must obey. Brother, farewell: I will unto the king; He should, for that, commit your godfathers :- As yet I do not: but, as I can learn, women: 'Tis not the king, that sends you to the Tower; Was it not she, and that good man of wor. Anthony Woodeville, her brother there, That made him send lord Hastings to the From whence this present day he is deliver'd ? But the queen's kindred, and night walking Clar. I know it pleaseth neither of us well. Glo. Well, your imprisonment shall not be long; will deliver you, or else lie for you: Mean time, have patience. Clar. I must perforce; farewell. [Exeunt CLARENCE, BRAKENBURY, and Guard. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er Simple, plain Clarence!-I do love thee so, Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! Glo. As much unto my good lord chamber. lain ! Well are you welcome to this open air. must: But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks, Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Cla rence too; For they, that were your enemies, are his, The Queen and Shore. Hast. More pity that the eagle should be | Taken from Paul's to be interred there; While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. Glo. What news abroad? Hast. No news so bad abroad, as this at The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy, Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad Oh! he bath kept an evil diet long, I'll in, to urge his hatred more to Clarence, And leave the world for ine to bustle in! וויד daughter: The readiest way to make the wench amends, By marrying her, which I must reach unto. and mourner. Lo, in these windows that let forth thy life, More direful hap betide that hated wretch, May fright the hopeful mother at the view; and holy you, whiles I lament king Henry's corse. To stop devoted charitable deeds? I'll make a corse of him that disobeys. 1 Gent. My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass. Glo. Unmanner'd dog! stand thou when f Advance thy halbert higher than my breast, ness. [The bearers set down the coffin. Anne. What, do you tremble? are you all afraid? Alas, I blame you not for you are mortal, Glo. Sweet saint, for charity be not so curst. For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell, Fill'd it with cursing cries, aud deep claims. ex If thon delight to view thy heinous deeds, afresh! Thy deed, inhuman and unnatural, O God, which this blood madest, revenge his O earth, which this blood drink'st, revenge his death! Either, heaven, with lightning strike the mur derer dead, Or, earth, gape open wide, and eat him quick; Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered! renders good for bad, blessings for Anne. Fouler than heart can think thee, thou | To be reveng'd on him that kill'd my buscanst make No excuse current, but to hang thyself. Glo. By such despair, I should accuse myself. Anne. And, by despairing, shalt thou stand excus'd; For doing worthy vengeance on thyself, Anne. Why then, they are not dead: But dead they are, and, devilish slave, by thee. Glo. I did not kill your husband. Glo. Nay, he is dead; and slain by Edward's hand. Anne. In thy soul's throat thou liest; queen Margaret saw Thy murderous faulchion smoking in his blood; The which thou once didst bend against her breast, But that thy brothers beat aside the point. provoked by her sland'rous Glo. I was tongue, That laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders. Anne. Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind, That never dreamt on aught but butcheries: Glo. I grant ye. Glo. The fitter for the King of heaven that bath him. Anne. He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come. Glo. Let him thank me, that holp to send him thither; For he was fitter for that place, than earth. Anne. And thou unfit for any place but hell. Glo. Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it. Anne. Some dungeon. Glo. Your bedchamber. band. Glo. Here: [She spits at him.] Why dost thou spit at me? Anne. 'Would it were mortal poison, for thy sake! Glo. Never came poison from so sweet a place. Anne. Never hung poison on a fouler toad. Out of my sight! thou dost infect mine eyes. Glo. Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine. Anne. 'Would they were basilisks, to strike thee dead! Glo. I would they were, that I might die at once ; For now they kill me with a living death. Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt tears, Sham'd their aspects with store of childish drops; These eyes, which never shed remorseful. tear, Not, when my father York and Edward wept, Nor when thy warlike father, like a child, That all the standers-by had wet their cheeks, Like trees bedash'd with rain; in that sad time, My manly eyes did scorn an humble tear; Anne. Il rest betide the chamber where thou And what these sorrows could not thence exliest ! Glo. So will it, madam, till I lie with you. Glo. I know so.-But, gentle lady Anne, Anne. Thou wast the cause, and most accurs'd effect. Glo. Your beauty was the cause of that effect; Your beauty, which did haunt me in my sleep, som. Anne. If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide, These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks. Glo. These eyes would not endure that beauty's wreck, You should not blemish it, if I stood by: Anne. Black night o'ershade thy day, and death thy life! Glo. Curse not thyself, fair creature; thou art both. Anne. I would I were, to be reveng'd on thee. Glo. It is a quarrel most unnatural, To be reveng'd on him that loveth thee. Anne. It is a quarrel just and reasonable, bale, Thy beauty hath, and made them blind with weeping. I never su'd to friend nor enemy; My tongue could never learn sweet soothing word But now thy beauty is propos'd my fee, My proud heart sues, and prompts my tongue to speak. [She looks scornfully at him. Teach not thy lip such scora; for it was made For kissing, lady, not for such contempt. If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive, Lo! here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword; Which if thou please to hide in this true breast, And let the soul forth that adoreth thee, [He lays his breast open; she offers at it Nay, do not pause; for I did kill king Henry; [She again offers at his breast. But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on. [She lets fall the sword. Take up the sword again, or take up me. Anne. Arise, dissembler: though I wish thy death, I will not be thy executioner. • Pitiful. Glo. Then bid me kill myself, and I will do On me that halt and am misshapen thus ? it. Anne. I have already. Glo. That was in thy rage: Speak it again, and, even with the word, This hand, which, for thy love, did kill love, Shall for thy love, kill a far truer love : To both their deaths shalt thou be accessary. Anne. Well, well, put up your sword. My dukedom to a beggarly denier,⚫ I do mistake my person all this while : [She puts on the ring. Glo. Look, how this ring encompasseth thy finger, Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart; And if thy poor devoted servant may Glo. That it may please you leave these sad To him that hath more cause to be a mourner, Anne. With all my heart; and much it joys To see you are become so penitent.- Anne. 'Tis more than you deserve: [Exeunt Lady ANNE, TRESSEL, and Glo. Take up the corse, Sirs. [Exeunt the rest, with the corse. To take her in her heart's extremest hate; And entertain a score or two of tailors, That I may see my shadow as I pass. [Exit. To be your comforter when he is gone. But so it must be, if the king miscarry. Enter BUCKINGHAM and STANLEY. Grey. Here come the lords of Buckinghar and Stanley. Buck. Good time of day unto your royal grace! Stan. God make your majesty joyful as you have been! Q. Eliz. The countess Richmond, good my lord of Stanley, To your good prayer will scarcely say-amen. Yet, Stanley, notwithstanding she's your wife, And loves not me, be you, good lord, assur'd, his I hate not you for her proud arrogance. bars And I no friends to back my suit withal, Hath she forgot already that brave prince, since, Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury? Fram'd in the prodigality of nature, Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal, The spacious world cannot again afford : And will she yet abase her eyes on me, Stan. I do beseech you either not believe From wayward sickness, and no grounded ma- Q. Eliz. Saw you the king to-day, my lor! of Stanley? Stan. But now, the duke of Buckingham, and I, Are come from visiting his majesty. Q. Eliz. What likelihood of his amendment, lords ? Buck. Madam, good hope: his grace speaks cheerfully. Q. Eliz. God grant him health! Did you confer with him? Buck. Ay, madam : he desires to make atonement That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet Between the duke of Gloster and your bro. |