The Family Shakspeare

Which would be so much the more dangerous,
By how much the estate is green, and yet ungovern'd:
Where every horse bears his commanding rein,
And may direct his course as please himself,
As well the fear of harm, as harm apparent,
In my opinion, ought to be prevented.

Glo. I hope, the king made peace with all of us;
And the compáct is firm, and true, in me.

Riv. And so in me; and so, I think, in all:
Yet, since it is but green, it should be put
To no apparent likelihood of breach,
Which, haply, by much company might be urg'd:
Therefore I say, with noble Buckingham,
That it is meet so few should fetch the prince.
Hast. And so say I.

Glo. Then be it so; and go we to determine
Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow.
Madam,
will you go
and you my mother,
To give your censures 8 in this weighty business?
[Exeunt all but BUCKINGHAM and GLOSTER.
Buck. My lord, whoever journeys to the prince,
For heaven's sake, let not us two stay at home:
For, by the way, I'll sort occasion,

As index 9 to the story we late talk'd of,
To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince.
Glo. My other self, my counsel's consistory,
My oracle, my prophet! - My dear cousin,

I, as a child, will go by thy direction.
Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not stay behind.

SCENE III. - A Street.

Enter two Citizens, meeting.

[Exeunt.

1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbour: Whither away so fast?

2 Cit. I promise you, I scarcely know myself: Hear you the news abroad?

1 Cit. Yes; the king's dead. 2 Cit. Ill news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better: I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world.

Enter another Citizen.

1 Cit.
Give you good morrow, sir.
3 Cit. Doth the news hold of good king Edward's
death?

2 Cit. Ay, sir, it is too true.

3 Cit. Then, masters, look to see a troublous world. 1 Cit. No, no; by God's good grace, his son shall reign.

3 Cit. Woe to that land, that's govern'd by a child! 2 Cit. In him there is a hope of government; That in this nonage, council under him, And, in his full and ripen'd years, himself, No doubt, shall then, and till then, govern well. 1 Cit. So stood the state, when Henry the Sixth Was crown'd in Paris but at nine months old. 3 Cit. Stood the state so? no, no, good friends,

not so;

For then this land was famously enrich'd
With politick grave counsel; then the king
Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace.

And the queen's sons, and brothers, haught and
proud:

And were they to be rul'd, and not to rule,
This sickly land might solace as before.

1 Cit. Come, come, we fear the worst; all will be
well.

3 Cit. When clouds are seen, wise men put on
their cloaks;

When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand;
When the sun sets, who doth not look for night?
Untimely storms make men expect a dearth:
All may be well; but, if heaven sort it so,
'Tis more than we deserve, or I expect.

2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear: You cannot reason 2 almost with a man

That looks not heavily, and full of dread.

3 Cit. Before the days of change, still is it so: By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing danger; as, by proof, we see The water swell before a boist'rous storm. But leave it all to heaven. Whither away? 2 Cit. Marry, we were sent for to the justices. 3 Cit. And so was I; I'll bear you company. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. -A Room in the Palace.

Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, the young Duke of
YORK, QUEEN ELIZABETH, and the DUCHESS OF
YORK.

Arch. Last night, I heard, they lay at Stony-
Stratford;

And at Northampton they do rest to-night:
To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.
Duch. I long with all my heart to see the prince;
I hope, he is much grown since last I saw him.
Q. Eliz. But I hear no; they say my son of York
Hath almost overta'en him in his growth.

York. Ay, mother, but I would not have it so.
Duch. Why, my young cousin? it is good to grow.
York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper,
My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow
More than my brother; Ay, quoth my uncle Gloster,
Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:
And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast,
Because sweet flowers are slow, and weeds make
haste.

Duch. 'Good faith, 'good faith, the saying did not
hold

In him that did object the same to thee:
He was the wretched'st thing, when he was young,
So long a growing, and so leisurely,
That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious.
Arch. And so, no doubt, he is, my gracious madam.
Duch. I hope, he is; but yet let mothers doubt.
York. Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd,
I could have given my uncle's grace a flout,
To touch his growth, nearer than he touch'd mine.
Duch. How, my young York? I pr'ythee, let me
hear it.

York. Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast,
That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old;

1 Cit. Why, so hath this, both by his father and 'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.

mother.

Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.
Duch. I pr'ythee, pretty York, who told you this?
York. Grandam, his nurse.

Duch. His nurse? why, she was dead ere thou

wast born.

York. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me 2 Converse.

Q. Eliz. A parlous boy: Go to, you are too shrewd. | Welcome destruction, blood, and massacre! Arch. Good madam, be not angry with the child.

Q. Eliz. Pitchers have ears.

I see, as in a map, the end of all.

Duch. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days! How many of you have mine eyes beheld? My husband lost his life to get the crown; And often up and down my sons were tost, For me to joy and weep, their gain and loss: And being seated, and domestic broils Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors, Make war upon themselves; brother to brother, Blood to blood, self 'gainst self: O, preposterous And frantick courage, end thy wicked spleen! Or let me die, to look on death no more!

Q. Eliz. Come, come, my boy, we will to sanctuary. Madam, farewell.

Duch.

Stay, I will go with you.

Q. Eliz. You have no cause. Arch.

My gracious lady, go,

[To the QUEEN.

And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I'll resign unto your grace
The seal I keep; And so betide me,

As well I tender you, and all of yours!

Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary. [Exeunt.

years

Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit :
No more can you distinguish of a man,
Than of his outward show; which, heaven knows,
Seldom, or never, jumpeth with the heart.
Those uncles, which you want, were dangerous;
Your grace attended to their sugar'd words,
But look'd not on the poison of their hearts:
Heaven keep you from them, and from such false
friends!

Prince. Heaven keep me from false friends! but they were none.

Glo. My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you.

Enter the Lord Mayor, and his Train. May. God bless your grace with health and happy days!

Prince. I thank you, good my lord, — and thank you all. [Exeunt Mayor, &c. I thought my mother, and my brother York, Would long ere this have met us on the way: Fye! what a slug is Hastings, that he comes not To tell us, whether they will come, or no.

Enter HASTINGS.

Buck. And in good time, here comes the sweating lord.

Prince. Welcome, my lord; What, will our mo

ther come?

Hast. On what occasion, heaven knows, not I, The queen your mother, and your brother York, Have taken sanctuary: The tender prince Would fain have come with me to meet your

grace,

But by his mother was perforce withheld.

Buck. Fye! what an indirect and peevish course
Is this of hers?- Lord cardinal, will your grace
Persuade the queen to send the duke of York,
Unto his princely brother presently?

If she deny, lord Hastings, go with him,
And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce.
Card. My lord of Buckingham, if my weak

oratory

Can from his mother win the duke of York,
Anon expect him here; But if she be obdurate
To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid
We should infringe the holy privilege
Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land,
Would I be guilty of so deep a sin.

Buck. You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord,
Too ceremonious, and traditional :
Weigh it but with the grossness of this age,
You break not sanctuary in seizing him.
The benefit thereof is always granted
To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place,
And those who have the wit to claim the place:
This prince hath neither claim'd it, nor deserv'd it,
And therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it:
Then, taking him from thence, that is not there,
You break no privilege nor charter there.
Oft have I heard of sanctuary men;
But sanctuary children, ne'er till now.

Card. My lord, you shall o'er-rule my mind for

once.

Come on, lord Hastings, will you go with me?
Hast. I go, my lord.

Prince. Good lords, make all the speedy haste you
may. [Exeunt Cardinal and HASTINGS.
Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come,
Where shall we sojourn till our coronation?

Glo. Where it seems best unto your royal self. If I may counsel you, some day or two, Your highness shall repose you at the Tower: Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit For your best health and recreation.

Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place:· Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord?

Glo. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place: Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified. Prince. Is it upon record? or else reported Successively from age to age he built it?

Buck. Upon record, my gracious lord. Prince. But say, my lord, it were not register'd; Methinks, the truth should live from age to age, As 'twere retail'd to all posterity, Even to the general all-ending day.

Glo. So wise so young, they say, do ne'er live long.

Prince. What say you, uncle?

[Aside.

Glo. I say, without charácters, fame lives long.

Glo. A greater gift than that Ill give my cousin. York. A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it? Glo. Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough. York. O then, I see, you'll part but with light gifts; In weightier things you'll say a beggar nay. Glo. It is too weighty for your grace to wear. 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 on your shoulders
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 gracious lord, will't please you pass along?

Myself, and my good cousin Buckingham,
Will to your mother; to entreat of her,

Thus like the formal vice, Iniquity;} [Aside. To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you.

I moralize two meanings in one word.

Prince. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man; With what his valour did enrich his wit, His wit set down to make his valour live: Death makes no conquest of this conqueror; For now he lives in fame, though not in life. I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham. Buck. What, my gracious lord? Prince. An if I live until I be a man, I'll win our ancient right in France again, Or die a soldier, as I liv'd a king.

Prince. Ay, brother; to our grief, as it is yours; Too late 6 he died, that might have kept that title, Which by his death hath lost much majesty.

Glo. How fares our cousin, noble lord of York?
York. I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord,
You said, that idle weeds are fast in growth:
The prince, my brother, hath outgrown me far.
Glo. He hath, my lord.
York.
And therefore is he idle?
Glo. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so.
York. Then is he more beholden to you, than I.
Glo. He may command me, as my sovereign;
But you have power in me as in a kinsman.
York. I pray you, uncle, then, give me this dagger.
Glo. My dagger, little cousin? with all
my heart.
Prince. A beggar, brother?
York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give;
And being but a toy, which is no grief to give.

4 Sensible Vice, the buffoon in the old plays.
• Commonly.
6 Lately.

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, sir, 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, Cardinal, and Attendants.

Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incensed 7 by his subtle mother, To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?

Glo. No doubt, do doubt; O, 'tis a parlous boy; Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable; He's all the mother's, from the top to toe.

Buck. Well, let them rest.—

Come hither, gentle Catesby; thou art sworn
As deeply to effect what we intend,
As closely to conceal what we impart:
Thou know'st our reasons urg'd 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

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,
Be thou so too; and so break off the talk,
And give us notice of his inclination :
For we to-morrow hold divided 9 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 friend 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.

Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us both. [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 movables
Whereof the king my brother was possess'd.

Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's hand.
Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kind-

sure,

If presently, you will take horse with him,

And with all speed post with him toward 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, wanting instance':
And for his dreams — I wonder, he's so fond

⚫ Separate.

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 3 will use us kindly.
Mess. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you say.
[Exit.

Enter CATESBY.

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

What news, what news, in this our tottering state?
Cate. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
And, I believe, will 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 misplac'd.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?

forward

Cate. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you
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,
To bar my master's heirs in true descent,
God knows, I will not do it, to the death.

Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence,

That they, who brought me in my master's hate,
I live to look upon their tragedy.
Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,
I'll send some packing, that yet think not on't.

Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, When men are unprepar'd, and look not for it.

Hast. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do As thou, and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear With some men else, who think themselves as safe To princely Richard, and to Buckingham.

Cate. The princes both make high account of you,— For they account his head upon the bridge. [Aside. Hast. I know, they do; and I have well deserv'd it!

Enter STANLEY.

Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, man? Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?

Stan. My lord, good morrow; and good morrow, Catesby:

You may jest on, but, by the holy rood +,

I do not like these several councils, I.

Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours; And never, in my life, I do protest, Was it more precious to me than 'tis now: Think you, but that I know our state secure,

I would be so triumphant as I am?

Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from

London,

Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure, 3 i. c. Gloster, who had a boar for his arms,

4 Cross,

Within the guilty closure of thy walls,
Richard the Second here was hack'd to death:
And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,
We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink.
Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fall'n upon our
heads,

When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I,
For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son.
Riv. Then curs'd she Hastings, curs'd she Buck-
ingham,

Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their hats. Then curs'd she Richard: — O, remember, God, But come, my lord, let's away.

Enter a Pursuivant.

Hast. Go on before, I'll talk with this good fellow.
[Exeunt STANLEY and CATESBY.
How now, sirrah, how goes the world with thee?
Purs. The better that your lordship please to ask.
Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now,
Than when thou met'st me last where now we meet :
Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
By the suggestion of the queen's allies;
But now I tell thee, (keep it to thyself,)
This day those enemies are put to death,
And I in better state than e'er I was.

Purs. Heaven hold it, to your honour's good
content!

Hast. Gramercy, fellow: There, drink that for [Throwing him his Purse. Purs. I thank your honour. [Erit Pursuivant.

me.

Enter a Priest.

To hear her prayers for them, as now for us!
And for my sister, and her princely sons,—
Be satisfied, great God, with our true bloods,
Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt!
Rat. Make haste, the hour of death is expiate. 7
Riv. Come, Grey,-come, Vaughan, let us here

embrace:

Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Ereunt.

SCENE IV. — London. A Room in the Tower.
BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the BISHOP OF
ELY, CATESBY, LOVEL, and others, sitting at a
Table: Officers of the Council attending.

Hast. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met
Is. -to determine of the coronation :
In God's name speak, when is the royal day?
Buck. Are all things ready for that royal time?
Stan. They are; and wants but nomination.
Ely. To-morrow, then, I judge a happy day.
Buck. Who knows the lord protector's mind herein?

Pr. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your Who is most inward 8 with the noble duke?

honour.

Hast. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my

heart.

1 am in your debt for your last exercise ;
Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.

Enter BUCKINGHAM.

Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know

his mind.

Buck. We know each other's faces; for our hearts,-
He knows no more of mine, than I of yours;
Nor 1, of his, my lord, than you of mine:
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;

Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord chamber- But, for his purpose in the coronation,

lain?

Enter RATCLIFF, with a Guard, conducting RIVERS,
GREY, and VAUGHAN, to Execution.

Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners.
Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff let me tell thee this,
To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die,
For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.

Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you!
Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this here-
after.

Rat. Despatch; the limit of your lives is out. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers!

I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious pleasure any way therein :
But you, my noble lord, may name the time;
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part.

Enter GLOSter.

Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself.
Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all, good morrow:
I have been long a sleeper; but, I trust,
My absence doth neglect no great design,
Which by my presence might have been concluded.

Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my lord,
William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,-
I mean, your voice, - for crowning of the king.
Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be
bolder;

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.
My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn,
I saw good strawberries in your garden there;
I do beseech you, send for some of them.
Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.
[Exit ELY.

Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.
[Takes him aside

Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business;
And finds the testy gentleman so hot,
That he will lose his head, ere give consent,

« Anterior Continuar »

Libros

The Family Shakspeare: In One Volume : in which Nothing is Added to the ...