York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier. Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little lord?

York. I would, that I might thank you as you call me.

Glo. How?

York. Little.

Prince. My lord of York will still be cross in talk;

Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him. York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with

.me:

Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me;
Because that I am little, like an ape,

He thinks that you should bear me

shoulders.

on your

Buck. With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons!

To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himself:
So cunning, and so young, is wonderful.

Glo. My lord, will't please you pass along?
Myself, and my good cousin Buckingham,
Will to your mother, to entreat of her

To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you. York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord?

Prince. My lord protector needs will have it

So.

York. I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower. Glo. Why, what should you fear?

York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost; My grandam told me he was murder'd there. Prince. I fear no uncles dead.

Glo. Nor none that live, I hope.

Prince. An if they live, I hope I need not fear.

But come, my lord, and, with a heavy heart,
Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.

[Exeunt PRINCE, YORK, HASTINGS, CARD NAL
and Attendants. Enter CATESBY.

Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating
York

Was not insensèd by his subtle mother

To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?

Glo. No doubt, no doubt: O, 'tis a parlous
boy;

Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable;
He is all the mother's, from the top to toe.
Buck. Well, let them rest.—

Come hither, Catesby; thou art sworn
As deeply to effect what we intend,
As closely to conceal what we impart :
Thou know'st our reasons urged upon the way;
What think'st thou ? is it not an easy matter
To make William lord Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke

In the seat royal of this famous isle?

Cate. He for his father's sake, so loves the
prince,

That he will not be won to aught against him.
Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley?

will not he?

Cate. He will do all in all as Hastings doth. Buck. Well then, no more but this : go,

gentle Catesby,

And, as it were far off, sound thou lord Hastings
How he doth stand affected to our purpose;

And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,
To sit about the coronation.

If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons:
If he be leaden, icy-cold, unwilling,

VOL. VIII.

12

Be thou so too; and so break off the talk,
And give us notice of this inclination :
For we to-morrow hold divided councils,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd.

Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him,
Catesby,

His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle;
And bid my lord, for joy of this good news,
Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.
Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business
soundly.

Cate. My good lords both, with all the heed I

can.

Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?

Cate. You shall, my lord.

both.

Glo. At Crosby-house, there shall you find us [Exit CATESBY. Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we

perceive

Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?
Glo. Chop off his head, man; somewhat we

will do:

And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables Whereof the king my brother stood possess'd.

Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's hand.

Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness.

Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards

We may digest our complots in some form.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Before Lord Hasting's House.
Enter a Messenger.

Mess. [kneeling.] My lord, my lord!
Hast. [within.] Who knocks?
Mess. One from the lord Stanley.
Hast. [within.] What is't o'clock ?
Mess. Upon the stroke of four.

Enter HASTINGS.

Hast. Cannot my lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights?

Mess. So it appears by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble self.

Hast. What then?

Mess. Then certifies your lordship, that this
night

He dreamt the boar had razèd off his helm:
Besides, he says there are two councils kept;
And that may be determined at the one,
Which may make you and him to rue at the cther.
Therefore he sends to know your lordship's plea-

sure,

If you will presently take horse with him, And with all speed post with him towards the north,

To shun the danger that his soul divines.

Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord:

Bid him not fear the separated councils :
His honour and myself are at the one,
And at the other is my good friend Catesby;
Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us
Whereof I shall not have intelligence.

Tell him, his fears are shallow, without instance:

And, for his dreams, I wonder he's so simple
To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers :
To fly the boar, before the boar pursues,
Were to incense the boar to follow us,
And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.
Go, bid thy master rise and come to me;
And we will both together to the Tower,
Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.
Mess. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you
[Exit.

say.

Enter CATESBY.

Cate. Many good morrows to my noble lord! Hast. Good morrow, Catesby; you are carly stirring:

What news, what news, in this our tottering

state?

Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord; And I believe 'twill never stand upright Till Richard wear the garland of the realm. Hast. How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown?

Cate. Ay, my good lord.

Hast. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders

Before I'll see the crown so foul misplaced.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?
Cate. 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,