CRITICAL AND ILLUSTRATIVE. BB LONDON: Printed (by Affignment) for 1794. DRAMATIS PERSONA. King HENRY, P. of WALES, Mr. BENSLEY. Mr. AICKIN. D. of YORK, Mifs STANDEN. Mifs STANDEN. Mr. HOLMAN. BUCKINGHAM, Mr. BARRYMORE.Mr. FARREN. 1 Gentlemen, Ladies, Guards, and Attendants. INTRODUCTION. There is no paffage or perfonage in English History better chofen for the drama, than what we find in the fol lowing piece: whatever doubts may arife as to the real character and figure of our Third Richard, Shakespeare was most undoubtedly right to make him a confirmed, uniform villain: nothing in the medium way would have been half jo striking on the stage, and it was equally prudent to prefent him deformed in figure, as well as in mind; though the unities are grofsly, yet they are almost imperceptibly, broken, in this play; the events appear fo admirably connected with, and confequential to, each other: nature speaks in all the characters with plain, intelligible dignity; no bombajt fwells upon the ear, no improbability intrudes on belief; upon the whole, it must always read well, but a&t. better. Lieut. ACT I. SCENE, a Garden in the 'Tower. AS king Henry walk'd forth this morn Hing? Serv. No, fir, but it is near his hour. Lieut. At any time when you see him here, Let no ftranger into the garden; I would not have him ftar'd at-See, who's that, Now ent'ring at the gate? Serv. Sir, the lord Stanley. Lieut. Leave me― [Knocking within. [Exit Serv. Enter LORD STANLEY. My noble lord, you're welcome to the Tower: Stanley. Yes, fir, and I am proud to be the man That first brought home the laft of civil-broils; A 2 The The houfes now of York and Lancaster, Like bloody brothers fighting for a birth-right, Lieut. Near Tewksbury, my lord, I think they Has the enemy loft any men of note ? [fought; Stanley. Sir, I was pofted home, Ere an account was taken of the slain; From the king was made in fearch of Edward, [his father, Lieut. That brave young prince, I fear, 's unlike Too high of heart to brook fubmiffive life: Stanley. King Henry and ill-fortune are familiar; He ever threw with an indifferent hand, But never yet was known to lofe his patience : Stanley. Were it not poffible to fee this king? Enter KING HENRY. [They retire. K. Henry. By this time the decifive blow is ftruck, Either my queen and fon are blefs'd with victory, Or I'm the cause no more of civil broils. * This defcriptive preparation for Henry's appearance, is very happily expreffed. Would |