Prince. Nay, take away this scolding crook-back ra ther. K. Edw. Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue. Clar. Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert. Prince. I know my duty, you are all undutiful : Lascivious Edward,—and thou perjur'd George,And thou misshapen Dick,-I tell ye all, I am your better, traitors as ye are ;— And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine. K. Edw. Take that, the likeness of this railer here. [Stabs him. Glo. Sprawl'st thou ? take that, to end thy agony. [GLO. stabs him. Clar. And there's for twitting me with perjury. Q. Mar. O, kill me too! Glo. Marry, and shall. [CLAR. stabs him. [Offers to kill her. K. Edw. Hold, Richard, hold, for we have done too much. Glo. Why should she live, to fill the world with words? K. Edw. What! doth she swoon? use means for her recovery. Glo. Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother; I'll hence to London on a serious matter: Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news. Clar. What? what? Glo. The Tower, the Tower! [Exit. Q. Mar. O, Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! Canst thou not speak!-O traitors! murderers!— They, that stabb'd Cæsar, shed no blood at all, Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, He was a man; this, in respect, a child; Look in his youth to have him so cut off, As, deathsmen! you have rid this sweet young prince! Clar. Didst thou not hear me swear, I would not do it? Q. Mar. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself; "Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity. What! wilt thou not? where is that devil's butcher, K. Edw. Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence. Q. Mar. So come to you and yours, as to this prince! [Exit, led out forcibly. K. Edw. Where's Richard gone? Clar. To London, all in post; and, as To make a bloody supper in the Tower. K. Edw. He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head. Now march we hence: discharge the common sort With pay and thanks, and let's away to London, And see our gentle queen how well she fares; By this, I hope, she hath a son for me. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-London. A Room in the Tower. King HENRY is discovered sitting with a Book in his Hand, the Lieutenant attending. Enter GLOSTER. Glo. Good day, my lord! What, at your book so hard? K. Hen. Ay, my good lord: My lord, I should say rather; 'Tis sin to flatter, good was little better: Good Gloster, and good devil, were alike, K. Hen. So flies the reckless shepherd from the wolf: Glo. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer. K. Hen. The bird, that hath been limed in a bush, With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush: And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird, Have now the fatal object in my eye, Where my poor young was lim'd, was caught, and kill'd. And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd. Why, then thou art an executioner. Glo. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption. K. Hen. Hadst thou been kill'd, when first thou didst presume, Thou hadst not liv'd to kill a son of mine. And thus I prophecy,-that many a thousand, And chattering pies in dismal discords sung. Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree. Teeth hadst thou in thy head, when thou wast born, To signify, thou cam'st to bite the world: And, if the rest be true which I have heard, Glo. I'll hear no more;-Die, prophet, in thy speech; [Stabs him. For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. Glo. What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster Down, down to hell; and say-I sent thee thither, I came into the world with my legs forward: 3 |