The king hath straitly charged the contrary. Brak. I mean the lord protector. Q. Eliz. The Lord protect him from that kingly title! Hath he set bounds between their love and me? them. Anne. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother: Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame And take thy office from thee, on my peril. Brak. No, madam, no,-I may not leave it so : I'm bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. Enter STANLEY. [Exit. Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, There to be crowned Richard's royal queen That my pent heart may have some scope to beat, Anne. Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news! Dor. Be of good cheer-mother, how fares your grace? Q. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee hence! Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; Thy mother's name is ominous to children. And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse,- Take all the swift advantage of the hours; Duch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery!- Stan. Come, madam,come; I in all haste was sent. Anne. No! why?-When he that is my husband now Came to me, as I followed Henry's corse, When scarce the blood was well washed from his hands Which issued from my other angel husband And that dead saint which then I weeping fol lowed; O, when, I say, I looked on Richard's face, cursed, 'Be thou,' quoth I, 'ac For making me, so young, so old a widow ! And, when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed And be thy wife-if any be so mad— As miserable by the life of thee As thou hast made me by my dear lord's death!' Even in so short a space, my woman's heart And proved the subject of mine own soul's curse, Have I enjoyed the golden dew of sleep, ; Q. Eliz. Poor heart, adieu! I pity thy complaining. Anne. No more than from my soul I mourn for yours. Q. Eliz. Farewell, thou woful welcomer of glory! Anne. Adieu, poor soul, that tak'st thy leave of it! Duch. [To Dorset] Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide thee! [To Anne] Go thou to Richard, and good angels guard thee! [To Queen Eliz.] Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess thee! I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me! Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen, And each hour's joy wrecked with a week of teen. Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes [Exeunt. SCENE II.-London. A Room of State in the Palace. Sennet. Enter RICHARD, crowned; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, a Page, and others. K. Rich. Stand all apart.-Cousin of Bucking ham, Buck. My gracious sovereign? K. Rich. Give me thy hand. [Ascendeth the throne. Thus high, by thy advice And thy assistance, is King Richard seated: But shall we wear these honours for a day? Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them? Buck. Still live they and for ever let them last! K. Rich. O Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if thou be current gold indeed :— Young Edward lives :--think now what I would speak. Buck. Say on, my loving lord. K. Rich. Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be Buck. Why, so you are, my thrice renowned liege. K. Rich. Ha! am I king? 't is so :-but Edward lives. Buck. True, noble prince. K. Rich. O bitter consequence, That Edward still should live! 'True, noble prince ! '— Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull: K. Rich. Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezes : Say, have I thy consent that they shall die? Buck. Give me some breath, some little pause, my lord, Before I positively speak herein : I will resolve your grace immediately. [Exit. Cate. [Aside to a stander-by] The king is angry : see, he bites the lip. K. Rich. I will converse with iron-witted fools And unrespective boys: none are for me Page. My lord? K. Rich. Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold Would tempt unto a close exploit of death? Page. My lord, I know a discontented gentleman, Whose humble means match not his haughty mind: Gold were as good as twenty orators, |