Untainted, unexamined, free, at liberty.

Here's a good world the while! Why who's so gross,

That cannot see this palpable device ?

Yet who's so bold, but says he sees it not?
Bad is the world; and all will come to naught,
When such ill dealing must be seen in thought.

[Exit.

SCENE VII.-Court of Baynard's Castle. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, at several

Glo. How now,

doors.

how now! what say the citizens? Buck. Now, by the holy mother of our Lord, The citizens are mum, say not a word.

Glo. Touched you the bastardy of Edward's children?

Buck. I did; with this contract with Lady Lucy, And his contract by deputy in France; The insatiate greediness of his desires, And his enforcement of the city wives; His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,As being got, your father then in France, And his resemblance, being not like the duke: Withal I did infer lineaments, your Being the right idea of your father,

--

Both in your form and nobleness of mind;
Laid open all your victories in Scotland,
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;
Indeed, left nothing fitting for the purpose
Untouched, or slightly handled, in discourse:

And when mine oratory grew toward end,
I bid them that did love their country's good
Cry 'God save Richard, England's royal king!'
Glo. And did they so?

Buck. No, so God help me, they spake not a word;

But, like dumb statuas or breathing stones,
Stared each on other, and looked deadly pale.
Which when I saw, I reprehended them;

And asked the mayor what meant this wilful silence :

His answer was, the people were not wont
To be spoke to but by the récorder.
Then he was urged to tell my tale again,

'Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferred;'
But nothing spake in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At lower end of the hall, hurled up their caps,
And some ten voices cried God save King
Richard!'

And thus I took the vantage of those few,
Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,' quoth I;
This general applause and loving shout

Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard :'
And even here brake off, and came away.

Glo. What tongueless blocks were they! would they not speak?

Buck. No, by my troth, my lord.

Glo. Will not the mayor then and his brethren come?

Buck. The mayoris here at hand: intend some fear; Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit: And look you get a prayer-book in your hand, And stand betwixt two churchmen, good my lord ;

For on that ground I'll build a holy descant:
And be not easily won to our request:

Play the maid's part,--still answer nay, and take it.
Glo. I go; and if you plead as well for them
As I can say nay to thee for myself,

No doubt we'll bring it to a happy issue.

Buck. Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor [Exit GLOSTER

knocks.

Enter the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens.
Welcome, my lord: I dance attendance here ;
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.

Enter from the Castle CATESBY.

Here comes his servant: how now, Catesby,
What says he?

Cate. My lord, he doth entreat your grace
To visit him to-morrow or next day :

He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation;

And in no worldly suit would he be moved
To draw him from his holy exercise.

Buck. Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke;

Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen,
In deep designs and matters of great moment,
No less importing than our general good,
Are come to have some conference with his grace.
Cate. I'll signify so much unto him straight.

[Exit. Buck. Ah, ah, my lord, this prince is not an

Edward!

He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,

But on his knees at meditation;

Not dallying with a brace of courtesans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:
Happy were England, would this gracious prince
Take on himself the sovereignty thereof:
But, sure, I fear, we shall not win him to 't.
May. Marry, God forbid his

nay!

grace should

say us

Buck. I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again.

Re-enter CATESBY.

Now, Catesby, what says his grace?

Cate. He wonders to what end you have assembled

Such troops of citizens to come to him,
His grace not being warned thereof before:
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
Buck. Sorry I am my noble cousin should
Suspect me, that I mean no good to him :
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love;
And so once more return and tell his grace.
[Exit CATESBY.
When holy and devout religious men

Are at their beads, 'tis hard to draw them thence,—
So sweet is zealous contemplation.

Enter GLOSTER aloft, between two Bishops.
CATESBY returns.

May. See, where he stands between two clergy

men !

Buck. Two props of virtue for a Christian prince, To stay him from the fall of vanity :

And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,

True ornament to know a holy man.-

Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favourable ears to our request;
And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.
Glo. My lord, there needs no such apology:
I rather do beseech you pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Neglect the visitation of my friends.

But leaving this, what is your grace's pleasure? Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above,

And all good men of this ungoverned isle.

Glo. I do suspect I have done some offence That seems disgracious in the city's eyes, And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. Buck. You have, my lord: would it might please your grace,

At our entreaties, to amend that fault!

Glo. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land? Buck. Know then, it is your fault that you resign The supreme seat, the throne majestical,

The sceptered office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house,

To the corruption of a blemished stock:

Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts-
Which here we waken to our country's good-
This noble isle doth want her proper limbs;
Her face defaced with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shouldered in the swallowing gulf
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion.
Which to recure, we heartily solicit