King Edward the fourth. Edward, prince of Wales, afterwards king Edward V, Richard, duke of York, George, duke of Clarence, } sons to the king. Richard, duke of Gloster, after- brothers to the king. wards king Richard III, A young son of Clarence. Henry, earl of Richmond, afterwards king Henry VII. Duke of Buckingham. Duke of Norfolk: earl of Surrey, his son. Earl of Oxford. Lord Hastings. Lord Stanley. Lord Sir Thomas Vaughan. Sir Richard Ratcliff. Sir Robert Brakenbury, lieutenant of the Tower. Duchess of York, mother to king Edward IV. Clarence, and Gloster. Lady Anne, widow of Edward prince of Wales, son to king Henry VI; afterwards married to the duke of Gloster. A young daughter of Clarence. Lords, and other attendants; two gentlemen, a pursuivant, scrivener, citizens, murderers, messengers, ghosts, soldiers, &c. SCENE, England. LIFE AND DEATH OF KING RICHARD III. ACT I.....SCENE I. London. A Street. Enter GLOSter. Glo. Now is the winter of our discontent Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; But I,—that am not shap❜d for sportive tricks, And descant on mine own deformity: And hate the idle pleasures of these days. Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. Dive, thoughts, down to my soul! here Clarence comes. Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKENBURY. Brother, good day: What means this armed guard, That waits upon your grace? Clar. His majesty, Because my name is-George He hearkens after prophecies, and dreams; And, for my name of George begins with G, 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, Was it not she, and that good man of worship, That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower; Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Brakenbury, A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue; And the queen's kindred are made gentle folks: How say you, sir? can you deny all this? Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do. Glo. Naught to do with mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow, He that doth naught with her, excepting one, Were best to do it secretly, alone. Brak. What one, my lord? Glo. Her husband, knave:-Would'st thou betray me? Brak. I beseech 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, farewel: I will unto the king; And whatsoe'er you will employ me in,- Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood, Clar. I know, it pleaseth neither of us well. Mean time, have patience. Clar. I must perforce; farewel. [Exeunt CLAR. BRAK. 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! • Glo. As much unto my good lord chamberlain ! Well are you welcome to this open air. How hath your lordship brook'd 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. |