Page images
PDF
EPUB

Teach not thy lip such scorn; for it was made
For kissing, Lady, not for such contempt.
If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive,

Lo! here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword;
Which if thou please to hide in this true breast,
And let the soul forth that adoreth thee,

I lay it naked to the deadly stroke,
And humbly beg the death upon my knee.

[He lays his breast open; she offers at
it with his sword.

Nay, do not pause; for I did kill King Henry ; — But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me.

Nay, now despatch; 'twas I that stabb'd young

Edward;

--

[She again offers at his breast.

But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on.

[She lets fall the sword. Take up the sword again, or take up me. Anne. Arise, dissembler; though I wish thy death,

I will not be thy executioner.

Glo. Then bid me kill myself, and I will do it.

Anne. I have already.

Glo. That was in thy rage:

Speak it again, and, even with the word,
This hand, which, for thy love, did kill thy
love,

Shall, for thy love, kill a far truer love;
To both their deaths shalt thou be accessary.
Anne. I would, I knew thy heart.
Glo. 'Tis figur'd in

My tongue.

Anne. I fear me, both are false.

Glo. Then mau

Was never true.

[ocr errors]

Anne. Well, well, put up your sword.

Glo. Say then, my peace is made.

Anne. That shall you know

Hereafter.

Glo. But shall I live in hope?

Anne. All men,

I hope, live so.

Glo. Vouchsafe to wear this ring.
Anne. To take is not to give.

[She puts on the ring. Glo. Look, how this ring encompasseth thy finger,

Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart;
Wear both of them, for both of them are thine.
And if thy poor devoted servant may

But beg one favour at thy gracious hand,
Thou dost confirm his happiness for ever.
Anne. What is it?

Glo. That it may please you leave these sad

[ocr errors]

designs

To him that hath more cause to be a mourner,'
And presently repair to Crosby-place:
Where after I have solemnly interr'd,
At Chertsey monast'ry this noble King,
And wet his grave with my repentant tears,
I will with all expedient duty see you:
For divers unknown reasons,
I beseech you,
Grant me this boon.

Anne. With all my heart; and much it joys

me too,

To see you are become so penitent..

Tressel, and Berkley, go along with me.
Glo. Bid me farewell.

Anne. 'Tis more than you deserve:
But, since you teach me how to flatter you

Imagine I have said farewell already.

[Exeunt Lady ANNE, Tressel, and Berkley. Glo. Take up the corse, Sirs.

Gen. Towards Chertsey, noble Lord?

Glo. No, to White-Fryars; there attend my coming.

[Exeunt the rest, with the corse.

Was ever woman in this humour woo'd?
Was ever woman in this humour wou?
I'll have her, but I will not keep her long.
What! I, that kill'd her husband, and his father,
To take her in her heart's extremest hate;
With curses in her mouth, tears in her eyes,
The bleeding witness of her hatred by;

With God, her conscience, and these bars against

And I no friends to

But the plain devil,

me,

back my suit withal, and dissembling looks, And yet to win her, all the world to nothing!

Ha!

Hath she forgot already that brave Prince,

Edward, her Lord, whom I, some three months since,

Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury?
A sweeter and a lovlier gentleman,

Fram'd in the prodigality of nature,

Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal,

The spacious world cannot again afford:
And will she yet abase her eyes on me,

That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet
Prince,

And made her widow to a woful bed?

On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety?
On me, that halt, and am mishapen thus ?
My dukedom to a beggarly denier,

I do mistake my person all this while:
Upon my life, she finds, although I cammot,
Myself to be a marvellous proper man.
I'll be at charges for a looking-glass;
And entertain a score or two of tailors,
To study fashious to adorn my body:
Since I am crept in favour with myself,
I will maintain it with some little cost.
But, first, I'll turn yon' fellow in his grave;
And then return lamenting to my love.
Shine out, fair sun, 'till I have bought a glass,
That I may see my shadow as I pass.

SCENE III.

The same. A Room in the Palace.

[Exit.

Enter Queen ELIZABETH, Lord RIVERS, and Lord GREY.

Riv. Have patience, Madam; there's no doubt,

Will soon recover his
Grey. In that you

his Majesty accustom'd health. brook it ill, it makes him

worse:

Therefore, for God's sake, entertain good com

fort,

And cheer his Grace with quick and merry words. Q. Eliz. If he were dead, what would betide of me?

Grey. No other harm, but loss of such a lord.
Q. Eliz. The loss of such a lord includes all

harms.

Grey. The heavens have bless'd you with a goodly sou,

To be your comforter, when he is gone.

Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young; and his minority Is put unto the trust of Richard Gloster, A man that loves not me, nor none of you. Riv. Is it concluded, he shall be Protector? Q. Eliz. It is determin'd, not concluded yet: But so it must be, if the King miscarry.

"

Enter BUCKINGHAM and STANLEY.

Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and
Stanley.

Buck. Good time of day unto your royal Grace!
Stan. God make your Majesty joyful as you

have been!

Q. Eliz. The Countess Richmond,

Lord of Stanley,

To your good prayer will scarcely say

good my

amén.

Yet, Stanley, notwithstanding she's your wife, And loves not me, be you, good Lord, assur'd, It hate not you for her proud arrogance.

Stan. I do beseech you, either not believe The envious slanders of her false accusers; Or, if she be accus'd on true report,

Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds

From wayward sickness, and no grounded malice. Q. Eliz. Saw you the King to-day, my Lord

of Stanley?

Stan. But now, the Duke of Buckingham, and I,

Are come from visiting his Majesty.

Q. Eliz. What likelihood of his amendment, Lords?

Buck. Madam, good hope; his Grace speaks cheerfully.

« PreviousContinue »