Have been beholden to him in his life, Yet none of you would once plead for his life. [Exeunt fome with the King and Queen. Glou. There are the fruits of raihnefs. you not, Mark'd How that the guilty kindred of the Queen God will revenge it. Come, Lords, will you go Enter the Duchess of York, with the two children of Clarence. Son. Good grandam, tell us, is our father dead? Duch. No, boy. Daugh. Why do you weep fo oft, and beat your breaft? And cry-O Clarence! my unhappy fon! Son. Why do you look on us, and fhake your head, And call us orphans, wretches, caft-aways, Duch. My pretty coufins, you mistake me both. As loth to lofe him, not your father's death; It were loft forrow to wail one that's loft. Son. Then you conclude, my grandam, he is dead.. The King mine uncle is to blame for this. God will revenge it, whom I will importune With daily earnest prayers. Daugh. And fo will I. Duch. Peace, children, peace! the King doth . love you well. Incapable and fhallow innocents! You cannot guefs who caus'd your father's death. Son. Grandam, we can; for my good uncle Gloftes A& II. And with a virtuous vizor hide deep vice! Son. Think you my uncle did diffemble, grandam? Son. I cannot think it. Hark, what noise is this? Enter the Queen with her hair about her ears, Rivers and Dorfet after her. Queen. Ah! who shall hinder me to wail and weep, To chide my fortune, and torment myself? I'll join with black defpair against my foul, And to myfelf become an enemy. Duch. What means this fcene of rude impatience? Queen. To make an act of tragic violence. Edward, my Lord, thy fon, our King, is dead. Why grow the branches when the root is gone? Why wither not the leaves that want their fap? If you will live, lament; if die, be brief; That our fwift-winged fouls may catch the King's; Or, like obedient fubjects, follow him To his new kingdom of perpetual rest. Duch. Ah! fo much int'reft have I in thy forrow, As I had title to thy noble husband. I have bewept a worthy husband's death, But now two mirrors of his princely femblance • The children by whom he was represented. Jobase But death hath fnatch'd my husband from mine arms, How can we aid you with our kindred tears? Duch. Alas, for both, both mine, Edward and Queen. What stay had I but Edward? and he's wygone. Chil. What ftay had we but Clarence? and he's gone. Duch. What stays had I but they? and they are gone. Queen. Was never widow had fo dear a lofs. Dor. Comfort, dear mother; God is much dif pleas'd, That with unthankfulness you take his doing. Which, with a bounteous hand, was kindly lent: Much more to be thus oppofite with Heaven; For it requires the royal debt it lent you. Riv. Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother, Of the young Prince your fon; fend ftrait for him; Let him be crown'd; in him your comfort lives. Drown defp'rate forrow in dead Edward's grave, And plant your joys in living Edward's throne. Enter Gloucester, Buckingham, Stanley, Haflings, and Ratcliff. Glow Sifter, have comfort. All of us have caufe To wail the dimming of our fhining star; But none can help.our harms by wailing them. Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy; I did not fee you.. -Humbly on my knee. I crave your bleffing. Duch. God bless thee, and put meekness in thy Love, charity, obedience, and true duty. [breadt, Glou. Amen, and make me die a good old man!That is, the butt-end of a mother's blefling; I marvel that her Grace did leave it out. Buck. You cloudy Princes, and heart-forrowing That bear this mutual heavy load of moan, [Peers, Now chear each other in each other's love; Though we have spent our harvest of this King, We are to reap the harveft of his fon. The broken rancour of your high-fwoln hearts, Riv. Why with fome little train, my Lord of Buck. Marry, my Lord, left by a multitude The new-heal'd wound of malice fhould break out; Which would be fo much the more dangerous, By how much the estate is yet ungovern'd, Where every horfe bears his commanding rein, And may direct his course as please himself. Glou. I hope the King made peace with all of us; And the compact is firm and true in me. Riv. And fo in me; and fo, I think, in all. Which, haply, by much company might be urg'd; That it is meet fo few fhould fetch the Prince. Glou. Then be it fo; and go we to determine As index to the ftory we late talk'd of, To part the Queen's proud kindred from the Prince. Tow'rd Ludlow then, for we'll not stay behind. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Changes to a Street near the Court. Enter one Citizen at one door, and another at the other. 1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbour, whither away fo faft? 2 Cit. I promife you I hardly know myself. Hear you the news abroad? 1 Cit. Yes, the King's dead. 2 Cit. Ill news, by'r Lady; feldom comes a better. I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world. |