And, in this resolution, here we leave you ;- From all the impure blots and stains thereof;
Come, citizens, we will entreat no more. (Exeunt. For God doth know, and you may partly sce,
Catés. Call them again, sweet prince, accept How far I am from the desire of this.
their suit;

Mayor. God bless your grace! we see it, and
If you deny them, all the land will rue it. 5

will say it. Glo. Will you enforce me to a world of cares? Glo. In saying so, you shall but say the truth. Well, call them again; I am not made of stone, Buck. Then I salute you with this royal title,

[Erit Catesby. Long live king Richard, England's worthy king! But penetrable to your kind entreaties,

All. Amen.

[crown'd? Albeit against my conscience and my soul.

Buck. To-morrow may it please you to be
Re-enter Buckingham, and the rest.

Glo. Even when you please, for you will haveitso.
Cousin of Buckingham,—and sage, grave men,

Buck.To-morrow then we will attend your grace;
Since you will buckle fortune on my back, And so, most joyfully, we take our leave.
To bear her burden, whe'r I will or no,

Glo. [To the Clergymen.] Come, let us to our
I must have patience to endure the load: 15

holy work again :But if black scandal, or foul-fac'd reproach, Farewell

, good cousin ;- farewell, gentle friends, Attend the sequel of your imposition,

(Exeunt. Your meer enforcement shall acquittance me

10

SCENE I.

am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. Before the Toreer.

[Erit Brakenbury.

Enter Stanley. [hence, Enter the Queen, Dutchess of York, and Marquis 30 Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour of Dorset, at one door; Anne Dutchess of Gloster,

And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, leading Lady Margaret Plantagenet, Clarence's

And reverend looker-on, of two fair queens

.. young daughter, at the other.

Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster, Dutch. WHO meets us here ?-my niece

[To the Dutchess of Gloster.
Plantagenet,

35 There to be crowned Richard's royal queen.
Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloster? Queen. Ah, cut ny lace asunder!
Now, for my life, she's wand'ring to the Tower, That my pent heart may have some scope to beat,
On pure heart's love, to greet the tender prince.-- Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news.
Daughter, well met.

Anne. Despightful tidings! O unpleasing news!
Anne. God give your graces both

401 Dor. Be of good chear:-Mother, how fares A happy and a joyful time of day! away

your grace?

gone,
Queen. As much to you, good sister! Whither Queen. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee
Anne. No further than the Tower; and, as I Death and destruction dog thee at the heels;
Upon the like devotion as yourselves, (guess, Thy mother's name is ominous to children:
To gratulate the gentle princes there. (ther: 45 If thou wilt out-strip death, go cross the seas,
Queen. Kind sister, thanks; we'll enter all toge- And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell.
Enter Brakenbury.

Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house,
And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes. Lest thou increase the number of the dead;
Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave, And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse,
How doth the prince, and my young son of York:50 Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen.

Brak. Rightwell, dear madam: By your patience, Stanl. Full of wise care is this your counsel,
I may not suffer you to visit them;

madam:-
The king hath strictly charg'd the contrary. Take all the swift advantage of the hours :
Queen. The king! who's that?

You shall have letters from me to my son
Brąk. I mean, the lord protector. [title !55 In your behalf, to meet you on the way:
Queen. The lord protect him from that kingly Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay:
Hath he set bounds between their love and me? Dutch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery!-
I am their mother, Who shall bar me from them: lo

my accursed womb, the bed of death;
Dutch, I am their father's mother, I will see them. A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world,
Anne. Their aunt am I in law, in love their 60 Whose unavoided eye is murderous ! [sent.
mother:

Stan. Come, madám, come; I in all haste was Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame, Anne. And I with all unwillingness will go. And take thy office from thee, on my peril. O, would to God, that the inclusive verge

Brak. No, madam, no, I may not leave it so; Of golden metal, that must round my brow,

Werc

band now,

Were red-liot steel, to sear me to the brain'! And thy assistance, is king Richard seated:
Anointed let me be with deadly venom ; But shall we wear these glories for a day?
And die, ere men can say—God save the queen! Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?

Queen. Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory; Buck. Still live they, and for ever let them last! To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm. 5 K. Rich. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the Anne. No! why? —When he, that is my hus

touch,

To try if thou be current gold indeed:- (speak. Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse; [hands, Young Edward lives; – Think now what I would When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his Buck. Say on, my loving lord. Which issued from my other angel husband, 101 K. Rich. Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd;

king.

[liege 0, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face, Buck. Why, so you are, my

thrice-renowned This was my wish -Be thou, quoth I, accurs’d, K. Henry. Ha! am I king? 'tis so: but Edward For making me, so young, so old a widow !

Buck. True, noble prince.

[lives. And, when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed; 15 K. Rich. O bitter consequence,

[prince! And be thy wife (if any be so mad)

That Edward still should live-True! noble More miserable by the life of thee,

Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull:Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death! Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead; Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again,

And I would have it suddenly perform'd. E'en in so short à space, my woman's heart 120 What say'st thou now? speak suddenly, be brief. Grossly grew captive to his honey words,

Buck.'Your grace may

do your pleasure. And prov'd the subject of mine own soul's curse: K.Rich. Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness Which ever since hath held mine eyes from rest;

freezes : For never yet one hour in his bed

Say, have Ithy consent, that they shall die? Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep,

251

Buck. Give me some breath, some little pause, But with his timorous dreams was still awak'd. Before I positively speak in this : [dear lord, Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick; I will resolve your grace immediately. And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me.

[Exit Buckingham. Queen. Poor heart,adieu; I pity thy complaining. Cates. The king is angry; see, he gnaws his lip. Anne. No more than with my soul I mourn for 30. K. Rich. I will converse with iron-witted fools, yours.

And unrespective 4 boys; none are for me, Dor. Farewell, thou woeful welcomer of glory! That look into me with considerate eyes :Anne.Adieu, poorsoul, thou tak’stthy leave ofit! High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect.-Dutch. Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune Boy! guide thee![To Dorset. 35 Page. My lord.

[gold Go thou to Richard, and good angelstend thee!- K.Rich. Know'st thou not any, whom corrupting

[To Anne. Would tempt unto a close exploits of death? Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess Page. I know a discontented gentleman, thee!

[To the Queen. Whose humble means match not his haughty I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me: 40 Gold were as good as twenty orators, (mind : Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen, And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing. And each hour’sjoy wreck'd with a week of teen?. K. Rich. What is his name? Queen. Stay yet; look back, with me, unto the Page. His name, my lord, is—Tyrrel. Tower.

K. Rich. I partly know the man: Go, call him Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes, 43 "hither, boy.

[Erit boy. Whom envy hath immur'd within your walls ! The deep-revolving witty Buckingham Rough cradle for such little pretty ones ! No more shall be the neighbour to my counsels: Rude ragged nurse! old sullen play-fellow Hath he so long held out with me untir'd, For tender princes, use my babies well! And stops he now for breath?

Well, be it so.-. So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell. 50

Enter Stanley.
[Ereunt. How now, lord Stanley? what's the news?
SCENE II.

Stan. Know, my loving lord,
The Court.

The marquis Dorset, as I hear, is filed Flourish of trumpets. Enter Richard, as King, To Richmond, in the parts where he abides.

Buckingham, Catesby, a Page, and others. 155) K. Rich. Come hither, Catesby: rumour is K. Rich. Stand all apart.-Cousin of Bucking

abroad, Buck. My gracious sovereign. [ham, That Anne my wife is very grievous sick; K. Rich. Give me thy hand. Thus high, by thy I will take order for her keeping close. advice,

Enquire me out some mean-born gentleman, "This seems to allude to the ancient mode of punishing a regicide, viz. by placing a crown of iron heated red-hot, upon his head.

2 j.e. sorrow. * To play the touch, means, to represent the touchstone. * i.e. inattentive, inconsiderate. s i.e. secret act. Witty implies in this place judicious, or cunning. A wit was not in our author's time employed to signify a man of fancy, but was used for wisdom or judgement.

U u

Whome

6

me.

[Erit.

Whom I will marįy straight to Clarence daugh- Because a bard of Ireland told me once,
The boy is foolish, and I fear not him. [ter:- I should not live long after I saw Richmond.
Look, how thou dream'st! I say again, give out, Buck. My lord, ---
That Anne my queen is sick, and like to die: K. Rich. Ăy, what's o'clock?
About it; for it stands me much upon,

5 Buck. I ani thus bold to put your grace in mind To stop all hopes, whose growth may damage Of what you promis'd me.

[Exit Catesby. K. Rich. Well, but what's o'clock?
I must be marry'd to my brother's daughter, Buck. Upon the stroke of ten.
Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass :- K. Rich. Well, let it strike.
Murder her brothers, and then marry her! 10

Buck. Why let it strike?
Uncertain way of gain! But I am in

K. Rich. Because that, like a Jack', thou So far in blood, that sin will pluck on sin.

keep'st the stroke Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye. Betwixt thy hegging and my meditation. Enter Tyrrel.

I am not in the giving vein to-day. for no. Is 'thy name--Tyrrel?

[subject. 15 Buck. Why, then resolve me whe'r you will Tyr. James Tyrrel, and your most obedient K. Rich. Thou troublest me; I aụn not in the K. Rich. Art thou, indeed

vein. Tyr. Prove me, my gracious lord. [mine! Buck. Is it even so? repays he my deep service K. Rich, Dar'st thou resolve to kill a friend of With such contempt? made I him king for this. Tyr. Please you, but I had rather kill two ene-200, let me think on Hastings, and be gone mies.

(mies, To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on. [Exit. K. Rich. Why, then thou hast it; two deep eneFoes to my rest, and my sweet sleep's disturbers,

SCENE III. Are they that I would have thee deal upon :

Enter Tyrrel.
Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower. 25 Tyr. The tyrannous and bloody act is done ;

Tyr. Let me have open means to come to them, The most arch deed of piteous massacre,
And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them. That ever yet this land was guilty of!
K. Rich. Thou sing'st sweet music. Ilark, Dighton, and Forrest, whom I did suborn
conie hither, Tyrrel;

To do this piece of ruthless butchery,
Go, by this token :-Rise, and lend thine ear: 30 Albeit they were flesh'd villains, bloody dogs,

[Whispers.

Melting with tenderness and mild compassion, There is no more but so :-Say, it is done, Wept like two children, in their deaths' sad story And I will love thee, and prefer thee for it. O thus, quoth Dighton, lay the gentle babes ;Tyr. I will dispatch it straight. [Erit. Thus, thus, quoth Forrest, girdling one another Re-enter Buckingham.

35 l'ithin their alabaster innocent arms: Buck. My lord, I have consider'd in my mind Their lips were four red roses on a stalk, The late demand that you did sound me in. Which, in their summer beauty, kiss'd each other.

K. Rich. Well, let that rest. Dorset is fed to A book of prayers on their pillow lay;
Buck. I hear the news, my lord. [Richmond. Which once,quothForrest,almost chang’dmy mind:
K. Rich. Stanley, he is your wife's son:- Well, 40 But, 0, the deril—there the villain stoppid;
look to it.

[mise, When Dighton thus told on,—we smothered
Buck. My lord, I claim the gift, my due by pro- The most replenished sweet work of nature,
For which your honour and your faith is pawn'd; That, from the prime creation, ere she fram'd.-
The earldom of Hereford, and the moveables, Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse,
Which you have promised I shall possess. 45 They could not speak; and so I left them both,
K. Rich. Stanley, look to your wife,ifshe convey

To bear these tidings to the bloody king. Letters to Riclinond, you shall answer it

.

Enter King Richard. Buck. Whatsaysyour highness tomyjust request:

And here he comes:--- -All health, my sovereign K. Rich. I do remember me, Henry the sixth

lord! Did prophesy, that Richmond should be king, 50 K. Rich. Kind Tyrrel! am I happy in thy news? When Richmond was a little peevish boy.

Tyr.If to have done the thing you gave in charge A king !---perhaps--

Beget your happiness, be happy then, Buck. My lord,--

[that time For it is done. K. Rich. How chance, the prophet could not at K.Rich. But didst thou see them dead? Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him ? 55 Tyr. I did, my lord.

Buck. My lord, your promise for the earldom - K. Rich. And buried, gentle Tyrrel?

K. Rich. Richmond!--When last I was at Exeter, Tyr. The chaplain ofthe Tower hathburiedthem; The mayor in court'sy shew'd me the castle, But where, to say the truth, I do not know. And call'd it---Rouge-mont: at which name, I K.Rich.Come to me, Tyrrel, soon after supper, started;

60 When thou shalt tell the process of their death. An image like those at St. Dunstan's church in Fleet-street, and at the market-houses at several towns in this kingdom, was usually called a Jack of the clock-house.—Perhaps these figures were called Jacks, because the engines of that name which turn the spit were anciently ornamented with such a puppet.

Mean

10

Mean time, but think how I may do thee good, 2. Mar. When holy Henry dy'd, and my sweet And be inheritor of thy desire.

son !

[ghost, Farewell, 'till then.

Dutch. Deadlife, blind sight, pocrmortal living Tyr. I humbly take my leave. [Exit. Woe's scene, world's shame, grave's due by life K. Rich. The son of Clarence have I penn'd up 5

usurp'd, close;

Brief abstract and record of tedious days, His daughter meanly have I match'd in marriage; Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth, The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom,

[Sitting down. And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night. Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood ! Now, for I know the Bretagne Richmond aims Queen. Ah, that thou wouldst as soon afford a At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter, As thou canst yield a melancholy seat; [grave, And, by that knot, looks proudly on the crown, Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here! To her go I, a jolly thriving wooer.

Ah, who hath any cause to mourn, but we? Enter Catesby.

[Sitting down by her. Cates. My lord,..

15 2. Mar. If ancient sorrow be most reverent, K. Rich. Good news or bad, that thou com'st Give mine the benefit of * signiory, in so bluntly?

[Richmond ;) And let my griefs frown on the upper hand. Cates. Bad news, iny lord: Morton is fled to

[Sitting down with them. And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welsh- If sorrow can admit society, Is in the field, and still his power increaseth. [men, 20 Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine :K.Rich. Ely with Richmond troubles me more I had an Edward, 'till a Richard kills him; near,

I had a husband, 'till a Richard kill'd himn : Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength. Thou hadst an Edward, 'till a Richard kill'd him; Come,–I have learn’d, that fearful cominenting Thou hadst a Richard, 'till a Richard kill'd him. Is leaden servitor to dull delay;

125 Dutch. I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill Delay leads inipotent and snail-pac'd beggary:

him ; Then fiery expedition be my wing,

I had a Rutland too, thou holp'st to kill him. Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king!

2. Mar. Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Ri. Go, muster men; My counsel is

niy
shield;

chard kill'd him. We must be brief, when traitors brave the field. 30 From forth the kennel of thy womh hath crept

[Erit.

u hell-hound, that doth hunt us all to death: SCENE IV.

That dog that had his teeth before his eyes,

To worry lambs, and lap their gentle blood; Enter Queen Margaret.

That foul defacer of God's handy-work; 2. Mar. So, now prosperity begins to mellow, 33 That excellent grand tyrant of the earth, And drop into the rotten mouth of death. That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls, Here in these confines slily have I lurk'd, Thy womb let loose, to chase us to our graves.To watch the waining of mine enemies.

O upright, just, and true-disposing God, A dire induction' am I witness to,

How do I thank thee, that this carnal cur And will to France; hoping, the consequence 40 Preys on the issue of his mother's body, Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.-- [here? And makes her pue-fellow with others' inoan! Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret! who comes Dutch. O, Harry's wife, triumph not in my Enter the Queen and the Dutchess of York.

woes ; Queen. Ah,my poor princes! ah,my tender babes! God witness with me, I have wept for thine! My unblown fiowers, new-appearing sweets ! 45 2. Mar. Bear with me; I am hungry for rez If yet your gentle souls Ay in the air,

venge, And be not fix'd in doom perpetual,

And now I cloy me with beholding it. Hover about me with your airy wings,

Thy Edward he is dead, that kill'd my Edward; And hear your mother's lamentation ! [right. Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;

2. Mur. Hover about her; say, that right for 50 Young York he is but boot", because both they Hath dinim'd your infant morn to aged night. Match not the high perfection of my loss.

Dutch. So many miseries have craz'diy voice, Thy Clarence he is dead, that stabb'diny Edward; *That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.- And the beholders of this tragic play, Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead? The adulterate' Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,

2. Mar. Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet, 55 Untimely smother'd in their dusky graves. Edward for Edward pays a dying debt. [lanıbs,

Richard yet lives, hell's black intelligencer; Queen. Wilt thou, O God! fly from such gentle Only reserv'd their factor, to buy souls, And throw them in the entrails of the wolf? And send them thither: But at hand, at hand, Why didst thou sleep, when such a deed was done ? Ensues his piteous and unpitied end :

Meaning that timorous thought and cautious disquisition are the dull attendants on delay. Induction means preface, introduction, first part. Right for right is justice answering to the claims of justice. * Signiory is here used for seniority. Pue-fellow seems to be companion. We still say of persons in the same difficulties, that they are in the same bor. 6 Boot is that which is thrown in to mend a purchase.' ? i.e. Faithless; or adulterate may be put for adult:rer, 1 Uu2

Earth

Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray, Queen. Windy attorneys tr their client-woes,
To have hin suddenly convey'd from hence:-- Airy succeeders of intestate joys,
Cancel his bond of life, dear God, I pray, Poor breathing orators of miseries! (part
That I may live to say, The dog is dead! (come, Let them have scope: though what they do im-

Queen. O, thou didst prophesy, the time would 5 Help nothing else, yet they do case the heart. [me,
That I should wish for thee to help me curse Dutch: If so, then be not tongue-ty'd: go with
That bottled spider, that foul hunch-back'd toad. And in the breath of bitter words let's smiother
2. Mar. I call'd thee then vain flourish of my My damned son, that thy. two sweet sons smo-
fortune;

ther'd.

[Drum, within
I calld thee then poor shadow, painted queen; 10 1 lvear his drum,-be copious in exclaims.
The presentation of but what I was,
The flatt'ring index of a direfnl pageant',

Enter King Richard, and his train, marching.
One heav'd a-high, to be hurl'd down below; K.Rich. Who intercepts me in my expedition?
A mother only inock'd with two fair babes;

Dutch.0, she, that might have intercepted thee,
A dream of what thou wast; a garish flag, 15 By strangling thee in her accursed wonib,
To be the aim of every dangerous shot?; From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast
A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble;

done.

[crown, Aqueen in jest, only to fill the scene.

Queen. Hid'st thou that forehead with a golden Where isthyhusband now? where bethy brothers Where should be branded, if that right were right, Where be thy two sons? wherein dost thou joy: 20 The slaughter of the prince that ow'd that crown, Who sues, and kneels, and says God save the And the dire death of my poor sons, and brothers ? queen?

Tell me, thou villain-slave,whereare my children? Where be the bending peers that flatter'd thee? Dutch. Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy broWhere be the thronging troops that follow'd thee:

ther Clarence? Decline all this, and see what now thou art. 123 And little Ned Plantagenet his son? [Grey? For happy wife, a most distressed widow;

Queen. H'here is the gentle Rivers, Vaughan,
For joyful inother, one that wails the name;

Dutch. Where is kind Hastings? [drums!
For one being su'd to, one that hunbly sues; K. Rich. A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum,
For queen, a very caitiff crown'd with care; Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women
For one that scorn'd at me, now scorn’d of me; 30 Rail on the Lord's anointed : Strike, I say.-
For one being fear'd of all, now fearing one;

[Flourish. Alarums.
For one commanding all, obey'd of none. Either be patient, and entreat me fair,
Thus hath the course of justice wheeld about,

Or with the clamorous report of war,
And left thee but a very prey to time;

Thus will I drown your exclamations.
Having no more but thought of what thou wert, 35 Dutch. Art thou my son?
To torture thee the more, being what thou art. K. Rich. Ay, I thank God, my father and your-
Thou didst usurp my place: And dost thou not Dutch. Then patiently hear my impatience,
Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?

K. Mich. Madam, I have a touch of your con-
Nowthy proudpeck bearshalfmy burden'd yoke;

dition,
From which even here I slip my wearied head, 40 That cannot brook the accent of reproof.
And leave the burden of it all on thec.

Dulch. O, let me speak.
Farewell, York's wife, andqueen ofsad mischance, K. Rich. Do, then; but I'll not hear.
These Englisbwoes shall makemesinile in France. Duteh. I will be mild and gentle in my words.

Queen.Othou wellskill'din curses !stay a while, K'. Rich. And bricf, good mother; for I am in
And teach me how to curse mine enemies. 451

haste, 2. Mur. Forbear to sleep the night, and fast

Didch. Art thou so basty? I have stay'd for thee, the day;

God knows, iu torment and in agony. Compare dead happiness with living woe;

K. Rich. And came I notat last to comfort you? Think that thy babes were fairer than they were, Dutch. No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it And he that slew them, fouler than he is:

501

well, Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse ; Thou caru'st on earth to make the carth my helky Revolving this will teach thee how to curse. A grievous burden was thy birth to me; Queen. My words are dull; 0, quicken them Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy; with thine !

Thy school-days, frightful, desperate, wild, and 2. Mar. Thy woes will make them sharp, and 55 furious;

(turous ; pierce like mine.

[Erit Margaret. Thy prime of manhood, daring, bold, and venDutch. Why should calamity be full of words? Thy age confirm’d,proudsubtle,sly,and bloody,

· The pageants displayed on public occasions in those days, were generally preceded by a short account of the order in which the characters were to walk. These indexes were distributed among the spectators, that they might understand the meaning of the allegory exhibited. The index of every book was anciently placed before the beginning of it. ? This alludes to the dangerous situation of those persons to whose care the standards of armies were entrusted.

; i.e. words, tun'd to complaints, succeed joys that are dead; and unbequeath'd to them, to whom they should properly descend. : i.e. a spice or particle of your disposition.

Mare

[self.