Q. Eliz. Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindLast longer telling than thy kindness' date. [ness K. Rich. Then know, that from my soul, I love thy daughter. Q. Eliz. So, from thy soul's love, didst thou love her brothers. K. Rich. Be not so hasty to confound my meaning: I mean, that with my soul I love thy daughter, And do intend to make her queen of England. Q. Eliz. Well then, who dost thou mean shall be her king? K. Rich. Even he, that makes her queen: Who else should be? As one being best acquainted with her humour. K. Rich. [thers, Madam, with all my heart. Q. Eliz. Send to her, by the man that slew her bro-. A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave, Edward, and York; then, haply, will she weep: Therefore present to her,—as sometime Margaret Did to thy father, steep'd in Rutland's blood,A handkerchief; which, say to her, did drain The purple sap from her sweet brothers' body, And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal. If this inducement move her not to love, Send her a letter of thy noble deeds; Tell her, thou mad'st away her uncle Clarence, Her uncle Rivers; ay, and, for her sake, Mad'st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne. Q. Eliz. [way K. Rich. Say, that I did all this for love of her? Q. Eliz. Nay, then indeed, she cannot choose but have thee, Having bought love with such a bloody spoil. K. Rich. Look, what is done cannot be now amended: Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes, Which after-hours give leisure to repent. Again shall you be mother to a king, And all the ruins of distressful times Of ten-times-double gain of happiness. S To whom I will retail' my conquest won, And she shall be sole victress, Cæsar's Cæsar. Q. Eliz. What were I best to say? her father's bro- That God, the law, my honour, and her love, Of hostile arms! myself myself confound! To my proceeding, if, with pure heart's love, I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter! Plead what I will be, not what I have been; Q. Eliz. Shall I be tempted of the devil thus? And you shall understand from me her mind. [well. K. Rich. Bear her my true love's kiss, and so fare[Kissing her. Exit Queen Elizabeth. 1 i. e. recount. Relenting fool, and shallow, changing-woman ! Enter RATCLIFF; CATESBY following. Rat. Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends, K. Rich. Some light-foot friend post to the duke of Ratcliff, thyself,—or Catesby: where is he? Cate. Here, my good lord. K. Rich. Catesby, fly to the duke. Cate. I will, my lord, with all convenient haste. K. Rich. Ratcliffe, come hither: Post to Salisbury; When thou com'st thither,-Dull unmindful villain, [To CATESBY. Why stay'st thou here, and go'st not to the duke? Čate. First, mighty liege, tell me your highness'pleaWhat from your grace I shall deliver to him. [sure, K. Rich. O, true, good Catesby;-Bid him levy straight The greatest strength and power he can make, Cate. I go. [Exit. Rat. What, may it please you, shall I do at Salisbury ? K. Rich. Why, what would'st thou do there, before I go? Rat. Your highness told me, I should post before. Enter STANLEY. K. Rich. My mind is chang'd.-Stanley, what news with you? Stan. None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing; Nor none so bad, but well may be reported. K. Rich. Heyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad! What need'st thou run so many miles about, When thou may'st tell thy tale the nearest way? Once more, what news? Stan. Richmond is on the seas. K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas on him! White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there? Stan. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess. K. Rich. Well, as you guess? Stan. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and He makes for England, here to claim the crown. 1 What heir of York is there alive, but we? And who is England's king, but great York's heir? Then, tell me, what makes he upon the seas? Stan. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess. K. Rich. Unless for that he comes to be your liege, You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes. Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear. Stan. No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not. K. Rich. Where is thy power then, to beat him back? Where be thy tenants, and thy followers? Are they not now upon the western shore, Stan. No, my good lord, my friends are in the north. K. Rich. Cold friends to me: What do they in the north, When they should serve their sovereign in the west? I'll muster up my friends; and meet your grace, Edward, earl of Warwick, only son to the duke of Clarence, the usurper's elder brother, and Elizabeth and other daughters of Edward IV. were living: all these of course had a better title to the crown than Richard. |