That he will lose his head, ere give consent, you. [Exeunt GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph. To-morrow, in my judgement, is too sudden; Re-enter Bishop of Ely. Ely. Where is my Lord Protector? I have sent For these strawberries. Hast. His Grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning; There's some conceit or other likes him well, By any likelihood he show'd to-day? Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is offended; For, were he, he had shown it in his looks. Re-enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve, That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevail'd Upon my body with their hellish charms? L Hast. The tender love I bear your Grace, my Makes me most forward in this noble presence Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil,' 3 Glo. If thou protector of this damned strumpet, Lovel, and Catesby, look, that it be done'; Exeunt Council, with GLOSTER and Hast. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit For I, too fond, might have prevented this: -Stanley did dream, the boar did rase his helm; But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly. Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, And startled, when he look'd upon the Tower, Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head. Cate, Despatch, my Lord, the Duke would be at dinner; Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head. Hast, O momentary grace of mortal inen, Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks, Lives like a drunken sailor on a 'mast; Ready, with b every nod, to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep. Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. Hast, O, bloody Richard! land! miserable Eng I prophecy the fearful'st time to thee, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon. Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head; They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead. 3 SCENE V. The same. The Tower-walls. [Exeunt. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, in rusty armour, marvellous ill-favour'd. Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour? Murder thy breath in middle of a word, And then again begin, and stop again, As if thon wert distraught, and mad with terror Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian; i Speak, and look back, and pry on every side, Tremble and start at wagging of a straw, In Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks Glo. He is; and, see, he brings the Mayor along. ༣ སྙམྦྷ} UT Buck. Let me alone to entertain him, Lord Mayor, Glo. Look to the draw bridge there. Buck. Hark, hark! a drum, Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. Buck. Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent for you, Glo. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies. Buck. God and our innocence defend and guard us! Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratcliff, and Lovel. Lov. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings. Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep. I took him for the plainest harmless't creature, 4 So smooth be daub'd his vice with show of *** The K, 10 v/Mirtue, 16 17 VOL. XII. 6 Thaty his apparent open guilt omitted, I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife, Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd That ever liv'd. Look you, my Lord Mayor, Would you imagine, or almost believe, To murder me, and my good Lord of Gloster? Glo. What! think you we are Turks or ins fidels? Or that we would, against the form of law, The peace of England, and our persons' safety,, May. Now, fair befal you! he deserv'd his death; And your good Graces both have well proceeded, After he once fell in with mistress Shore. Buck. Yet had we not determin'd he should die, Until your Lordship came to see his end; Which now the loving haste of these our friends, Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death. |