William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (107 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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3.4
Enter the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Stanley Earl of Derby, Lord Hastings, Bishop of Ely, the Duke of Norfolk,
⌈
Sir William Catesby
⌉
, with others at a table
Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Buckingham in rotten armour, marvellous ill-favoured
Enter the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Stanley Earl of Derby, Lord Hastings, Bishop of Ely, the Duke of Norfolk,
⌈
Sir William Catesby
⌉
, with others at a table
LORD HASTINGS
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?
Is to determine of the coronation.
In God’s name, speak: when is the royal day?
BUCKINGHAM
Is all things ready for that solemn time?
STANLEY
It is, and wants but nomination.
BISHOP OF ELY
Tomorrow, then, I judge a happy day.
BUCKINGHAM
Who knows the Lord Protector’s mind herein?
Who is most inward with the noble Duke?
Who is most inward with the noble Duke?
BISHOP OF ELY
Your grace, methinks, should soonest know his mind.
BUCKINGHAM
We know each other’s faces. For our hearts,
He knows no more of mine than I of yours,
Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.—
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
He knows no more of mine than I of yours,
Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.—
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
LORD HASTINGS
I thank his grace; I know he loves me well.
But for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him, nor he delivered
His gracious pleasure any way therein.
But you, my honourable lords, may name the time,
And in the Duke’s behalf I’ll give my voice,
Which I presume he’ll take in gentle part.
But for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him, nor he delivered
His gracious pleasure any way therein.
But you, my honourable lords, 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 Richard Duke of Gloucester
BISHOP OF ELY
In happy time, here comes the Duke himself.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
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.
I have been long a sleeper, but I trust
My absence doth neglect no great design
Which by my presence might have been concluded.
BUCKINGHAM
Had not you come upon your cue, my lord,
William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part—
I mean, your voice, for crowning of the King.
William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part—
I mean, your voice, for crowning of the King.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
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.
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.
BISHOP OF ELY
Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. Exit
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.
(
Aside
) Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,
And finds the testy gentleman so hot
That he will lose his head ere give consent
His ‘master’s child’—as worshipful he terms it—
Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.
(
Aside
) Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,
And finds the testy gentleman so hot
That he will lose his head ere give consent
His ‘master’s child’—as worshipful he terms it—
Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.
BUCKINGHAM
Withdraw yourself a while; I’ll go with you.
Exeunt Richard
⌈
and Buckingham
⌉
⌈
and Buckingham
⌉
STANLEY
We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
Tomorrow, in my judgement, is too sudden,
For I myself am not so well provided
As else I would be, were the day prolonged.
Tomorrow, in my judgement, is too sudden,
For I myself am not so well provided
As else I would be, were the day prolonged.
Enter Bishop of Ely
BISHOP OF ELY
Where is my lord, the Duke of Gloucester?
I have sent for these strawberries.
I have sent for these strawberries.
LORD HASTINGS
His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning.
There’s some conceit or other likes him well,
When that he bids good morrow with such spirit.
I think there’s never a man in Christendom
Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
There’s some conceit or other likes him well,
When that he bids good morrow with such spirit.
I think there’s never a man in Christendom
Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
STANLEY
What of his heart perceive you in his face
By any likelihood he showed today?
By any likelihood he showed today?
LORD HASTINGS
Marry, that with no man here he is offended—
For were he, he had shown it in his looks.
For were he, he had shown it in his looks.
STANLEY I pray God he be not.
Enter Richard
⌈
and Buckingham
⌉
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
I pray you all, tell me what they deserve
That do conspire my death with devilish plots
Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed
Upon my body with their hellish charms?
That do conspire my death with devilish plots
Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed
Upon my body with their hellish charms?
LORD HASTINGS
The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,
Makes me most forward in this princely presence
To doom th’offenders, whatsoe’er they be.
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.
Makes me most forward in this princely presence
To doom th’offenders, whatsoe’er they be.
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Then be your eyes the witness of their evil:
See how I am bewitched. Behold, mine arm
Is like a blasted sapling withered up.
And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.
See how I am bewitched. Behold, mine arm
Is like a blasted sapling withered up.
And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.
LORD HASTINGS
If they have done this deed, my noble lord—
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
‛If’? Thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Talk’st thou to me of ‛ifs’ ? Thou art a traitor.—
Off with his head. Now, by Saint Paul I swear,
I will not dine until I see the same.
Some see it done.
The rest that love me, rise and follow me.
Talk’st thou to me of ‛ifs’ ? Thou art a traitor.—
Off with his head. Now, by Saint Paul I swear,
I will not dine until I see the same.
Some see it done.
The rest that love me, rise and follow me.
Exeunt all but
⌈
Catesby
⌉ and Hastings
⌈
Catesby
⌉ and Hastings
LORD HASTINGS
Woe, woe for England! Not a whit for me,
For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
Stanley did dream the boar did raze our helms,
But I did scorn it and disdain to fly.
Three times today my footcloth horse did stumble,
And started when he looked upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse.
O now I need the priest that spake to me.
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triumphing, how mine enemies
Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O Margaret, Margaret! Now thy heavy curse
Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head.
For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
Stanley did dream the boar did raze our helms,
But I did scorn it and disdain to fly.
Three times today my footcloth horse did stumble,
And started when he looked upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse.
O now I need the priest that spake to me.
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triumphing, how mine enemies
Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O Margaret, Margaret! Now thy heavy curse
Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head.
⌈CATESBY⌉
Come, come, dispatch: the Duke would be at dinner.
Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head.
Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head.
LORD HASTINGS
O momentary grace of mortal men,
Which we more hunt for than the grace of God.
Who builds his hope in th’air of your good looks
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
Ready with every nod to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.
Which we more hunt for than the grace of God.
Who builds his hope in th’air of your good looks
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
Ready with every nod to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.
⌈CATESBY⌉
Come, come, dispatch. ‘Tis bootless to exclaim.
LORD HASTINGS
O bloody Richard! Miserable England!
I prophesy the fearful’st time to thee
That ever wretched age hath looked upon.—
Come lead me to the block; bear him my head.
They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead. Exeunt
3.5I prophesy the fearful’st time to thee
That ever wretched age hath looked upon.—
Come lead me to the block; bear him my head.
They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead. Exeunt
Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Buckingham in rotten armour, marvellous ill-favoured
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
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 thou wert distraught and mad with terror?
Murder thy breath in middle of a word?
And then again begin, and stop again,
As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?
BUCKINGHAM
Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Intending deep suspicion; ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforced smiles,
And both are ready in their offices
At any time to grace my stratagems.
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Intending deep suspicion; ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforced smiles,
And both are ready in their offices
At any time to grace my stratagems.
Enter the Lord Mayor
RICHARD GLOUCESTER (
aside to Buckingham
)
aside to Buckingham
)
Here comes the Mayor.
BUCKINGHAM (
aside to Richard
)
aside to Richard
)
Let me alone to entertain him.—Lord Mayor—
RICHARD GLOUCESTER ⌈
calling as to one within
⌉
calling as to one within
⌉
Look to the drawbridge there!
BUCKINGHAM Hark, a drum!
RICHARD GLOUCESTER ⌈
calling as to one within
⌉
calling as to one within
⌉
Catesby, o’erlook the walls!
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Look back, defend thee! Here are enemies.
BUCKINGHAM
God and our innocence defend and guard us.
Enter ⌈
Sir William Catesby
⌉ with Hastings’ head
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
O, O, be quiet! It is Catesby.
CATESBY
Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
So dear I loved the man that I must weep.
I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breathed upon the earth, a Christian,
Made him my book wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue
That, his apparent open guilt omitted—
I mean, his conversation with Shore’s wife—
He lived from all attainture of suspect.
I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breathed upon the earth, a Christian,
Made him my book wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue
That, his apparent open guilt omitted—
I mean, his conversation with Shore’s wife—
He lived from all attainture of suspect.
BUCKINGHAM
The covert’st sheltered traitor that ever lived.
(To the Mayor) Would you imagine, or almost believe—
Were’t not that, by great preservation,
We live to tell it—that the subtle traitor
This day had plotted in the Council house
To murder me and my good lord of Gloucester?
(To the Mayor) Would you imagine, or almost believe—
Were’t not that, by great preservation,
We live to tell it—that the subtle traitor
This day had plotted in the Council house
To murder me and my good lord of Gloucester?
MAYOR Had he done so?
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
What, think you we are Turks or infidels,
Or that we would against the form of law
Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England, and our persons’ safety,
Enforced us to this execution?
Or that we would against the form of law
Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England, and our persons’ safety,
Enforced us to this execution?
MAYOR
Now fair befall you, he deserved his death,
And your good graces both have well proceeded,
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
I never looked for better at his hands
After he once fell in with Mrs Shore.
And your good graces both have well proceeded,
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
I never looked for better at his hands
After he once fell in with Mrs Shore.
⌈RICHARD GLOUCESTER⌉
Yet had not we determined he should die,
Until your lordship came to see his end,
Which now the loving haste of these our friends—
Something against our meanings—have prevented;
Because, my lord, we would have had you hear
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treason,
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply may
Misconster us in him, and wail his death.
Until your lordship came to see his end,
Which now the loving haste of these our friends—
Something against our meanings—have prevented;
Because, my lord, we would have had you hear
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treason,
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply may
Misconster us in him, and wail his death.
MAYOR
But, my good lord, your graces’ word shall serve
As well as I had seen and heard him speak.
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this cause.
As well as I had seen and heard him speak.
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this cause.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
And to that end we wished your lordship here,
T’avoid the censures of the carping world.
T’avoid the censures of the carping world.
BUCKINGHAM
Which, since you come too late of our intent,
Yet witness what you hear we did intend,
And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
Yet witness what you hear we did intend,
And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
Exit Mayor
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Go after; after, cousin Buckingham!
The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post;
There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children.
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen
Only for saying he would make his son
‘Heir to the Crown’—meaning indeed, his house,
Which by the sign thereof was termed so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury
And bestial appetite in change of lust,
Which stretched unto their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye, or savage heart,
Without control, listed to make a prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:
Tell them, when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York,
My princely father, then had wars in France,
And by true computation of the time
Found that the issue was not his begot—
Which well appeared in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble Duke my father.
Yet touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off,
Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post;
There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children.
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen
Only for saying he would make his son
‘Heir to the Crown’—meaning indeed, his house,
Which by the sign thereof was termed so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury
And bestial appetite in change of lust,
Which stretched unto their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye, or savage heart,
Without control, listed to make a prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:
Tell them, when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York,
My princely father, then had wars in France,
And by true computation of the time
Found that the issue was not his begot—
Which well appeared in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble Duke my father.
Yet touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off,
Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
BUCKINGHAM
Doubt not, my lord, I’ll play the orator
As if the golden fee for which I plead
Were for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
As if the golden fee for which I plead
Were for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
He starts to go
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle,
Where you shall find me well accompanied
With reverend fathers and well-learnèd bishops.
Where you shall find me well accompanied
With reverend fathers and well-learnèd bishops.
BUCKINGHAM
I go, and towards three or four o’clock
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
Exit
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Now will I in, to take some privy order
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
And to give notice that no manner person
Have any time recourse unto the Princes.
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
And to give notice that no manner person
Have any time recourse unto the Princes.
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