Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure,— And with all speed post with him toward the north, To shun the danger that his soul divines. Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance : And we will both together to the Tower, Where he shall see the boar will use us kindly. Mess. Cates. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you say. [Exit. Enter CATESBY. Many good morrows to my noble lord! Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring : What news, what news, in this our tottering state? Cates. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord; And I believe will never stand upright Till Richard wear the garland of the realm. Hast. How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown? I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd. But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it? Cates. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you forward Upon his party for the gain thereof: And thereupon he sends you this good news, That this same very day your enemies, The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret. Hast. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news, Because they have been still my adversaries : But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side, Cates. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind! Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older, : Hast. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out Cates. The princes both make high account of you,[Aside.] For they account his head upon the bridge. Hast. I know they do; and I have well deserv'd it. Enter STANLEY. Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man? Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided? Stan. My lord, good morrow ;—good morrow, Catesby :— You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, I do not like these several councils, I. Hast. I hold my life as dear as you do yours; And never in my days, I do protest, Was it more precious to me than 'tis now: Think you, but that I know our state secure, I would be so triumphant as I am? Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure,— And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust; But yet, you see, how soon the day o'ercast. This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt: Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward! What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent. Hast. Come, come, have with you.-Wot you what, my lord? To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded. Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads Than some that have accus'd them wear their hats,— But come, my lord, let us away. [Exeunt. ACT III SCENE I. London. A Room in the Tower. BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the BISHOP OF ELY, RATCLIFF, LOVEL, and others, sitting at a table; Officers of the Council attending. Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met Is, to determine of the coronation. In God's name, speak,—when is the royal day? Buck. Stan. Buck. Are all things ready for that royal time? To-morrow, then, I judge a happy day. Who knows the lord protector's mind herein? Who is most inward with the noble duke? Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind. He knows no more of mine than I of yours; Nor I of his, my lord, than you of mine.— Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well; I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd His gracious pleasure any way therein : But you, my noble lords, may name the time; Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part. Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. Enter GLOSTER. Glo. My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow. I have been long a sleeper: but, I trust, My absence doth neglect no great design, Which by my presence might have been concluded. Glo. Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder; His lordship knows me well, and loves me well. My Lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn ; I saw good strawberries in your garden there : Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. [Exit. [Takes him aside. Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business, Buck. Withdraw you hence, my lord; I'll follow you. For I myself am not so well provided As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth to-day; When he doth bid good-morrow with such spirit. Can lesser hide his love or hate than he ; For by his face straight shall you know his heart. Stan. What of his heart perceive you in his face By any likelihood he show'd to-day? Hast. Marry, that with no man here he's offended; For, were he, he had shown it in his looks. Re-enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, I say, my lord, they have deserved death. Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil : And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, That by their witchcraft thus have markéd me. Hast. If they have done this thing, my gracious lord,— Glo. If! thou protector of this damnéd strumpet, Talk'st thou to me of "ifs"? Thou art a traitor :Off with his head !-now, by Saint Paul, I swear I will not dine until I see the same. : Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done : The rest, that love me, rise and follow me. [Exeunt all, except HASTINGS, LOVEL, and RATCLIFF. Hast. Woe, woe for England! not a whit for me; For I, too fond, might have prevented this. Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, Rat. Dispatch, my lord; the duke would be at dinner : Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head. Hast. O momentary grace of mortal men, Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! Ready, with every nod, to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep. Lov. Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee |