These, as I learn, and such-like toys as these, Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by women :— 'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower; My Lady Grey his wife, Clarence, 'tis she That tempers him to this extremity. (1) Was it not she, and that good man of worship, Clar. By heaven, I think there is no man secure Brak. Beseech(3) your graces both to pardon me; That no man shall have private conference, Glo. Even so; an please your worship, Brakenbury, A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue ;(4) And that the queen's kindred are made gentlefolks: How say you, sir? can you deny all this? Brak. With this, my lord, myself have naught to do. Glo. Naught to do with Mistress Shore! I tell thee, fellow, He that doth naught with her, excepting one, Brak. What one, my lord? Glo. Her husband, knave :-wouldst thou betray me? Brak. Beseech(5) your grace to pardon me; and, withal, Forbear your conference with the noble duke. 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; And whatsoe'er you will employ me in,- Meantime, this deep disgrace in brotherhood Clar. I know it pleaseth neither of us well. Glo. Well, your imprisonment shall not be long; I will deliver you, or else lie for you: Meantime, have patience. Clar. I must perforce: farewell. [Exeunt Clarence, Brakenbury, and Guard. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return, Simple, plain Clarence !-I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, If heaven will take the present at our hands. But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings? Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! Well are you welcome to the open air. Hast. With patience, noble lord, as prisoners must: But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks That were the cause of my imprisonment. Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too; For they that were your enemies are his, And have prevail'd as much on him as you. Hast. More pity that the eagle should be mew'd, While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. Glo. What news abroad? Hast. No news so bad abroad as this at home,The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy, And his physicians fear him mightily. Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. O, he hath kept an evil diet long, And overmuch consum'd his royal person: 'Tis very grievous to be thought upon. What, is he in his bed? Hast. He is. Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you. He cannot live, I hope; and must not die [Exit Hastings. Till George be pack'd with post-horse up to heaven.(6) With lies well steel'd with weighty arguments; Which done, God take King Edward to his mercy, For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter : As for another secret close intent, By marrying her which I must reach unto. Clarence still breathes; Edward still lives and reigns: [Exit. SCENE II. The same. Another street. Enter the corpse of King HENRY the Sixth, borne in an open coffin, Gentlemen with halberds to guard it,―among them TRESSEL and BERKELEY; and Lady ANNE as mourner. Anne. Set down, set down your honourable load,— If honour may be shrouded in a hearse,- Th' untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.— [The Bearers set down the coffin. Poor key-cold figure of a holy king! May fright the hopeful mother at the view; If ever he have wife, let her be made Than I am made by my young lord and thee!— And still, as you are weary of the weight, Rest you, whiles I lament King Henry's corse. [The Bearers take up the coffin and move forwards. Enter GLOSTER. Glo. Stay, you that bear the corse, and set it down. Anne. What black magician conjures up this fiend, To stop devoted charitable deeds? Glo. Villains, set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul, First Gent. My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass. Advance thy halberd higher than my breast, [The Bearers set down the coffin. Thou hadst but power over his mortal body,— Glo. Sweet saint, for charity, be not so curst. Anne. Foul devil, for God's sake, hence, and trouble us not; For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell, Fill'd it with cursing cries and deep exclaims. Provokes this deluge most unnatural.— O God, which this blood mad'st, revenge his death! O earth, which this blood drink'st, revenge his death! Glo. Lady, you know no rules of charity, Glo. But I know none, and therefore am no beast. Anne. Vouchsafe, diffus'd infection of a man, |