Who can remember this, and not, like me,
Here vow to sheath a dagger in his heart
Whose damn'd ambition would renew those horrors,
And set once more that scene of blood before us:
Glo. How now! so hot!
Hast. So brave, and so resolv'd.
Glo. Is then our friendship of so little moment, That you could arm your hand against my life? Hast. I hope you highness does not think I mean it; No, Heav'n forbid, that e'er your princely person Should come within the scope of my resentment. Glo. Oh, noble Hastings! Nay, I must embrace [Embraces him. By holy Paul, y're a right honest man! The time is full of danger and distrust, And warns us to be wary. Hold me not Too apt for jealousy and light surmise, If, when I meant to lodge you next my heart, I put your truth to trial. Keep your loyalty, And live, your king and country's best support: For me, I ask no more than honour gives, To think me yours, and rank me with your friends. [Exit GLOSTER.
Hast. I am not read, Nor skill'd and practis'd in the arts of greatness, To kindle thus, and give a scope to passion. The Duke is surely noble; but he touch'd me Ev'n on the tend'rest point; the master-string That makes most harmony or discord to me. I own the glorious subject fires my breast, And my soul's darling passion stands confess'd; Beyond or love's or friendship's sacred band, Beyond myself, I prize my native land: On this foundation would I build my fame, And emulate the Greek and Roman name; Think England's peace bought cheaply with my blood,
And die with pleasure for my country's good. [Exit.
Enter DUKE OF GLOSTER, RATCLIFF, and
CATESBY.
Glo. This was the sum of all: that he would brook
No alteration in the present state.
Marry, at last, the testy gentleman
Was almost mov'd to bid us bold defiance;
But there I dropt the argument, and changing
The first design and purport of my speech,
I prais'd his good affection to young Edward,
And left him to believe my thoughts like his.
Proceed we then in the foremention'd matter,
As nothing bound or trusting to his friendship.
Rat. Il does it thus befall. I could have wish'd
This lord had stood with us.
His name had been of vantage to your highness,
And stood our present purpose much in stead.
Glo. This wayward and perverse declining from us
Has warranted at full the friendly notice,
Which we this morn receiv'd. I hold it certain,
This puling whining harlot rules his reason,
And prompts his zeal for Edward's bastard brood.
Cat. If she have such dominion o'er his heart,
And turn it at her will, you rule her fate;
And should, by inference and apt deduction,
Be arbiter of his. Is not her bread,
The very means immediate to her being.
The bounty of your hand? Why does she live,
If not to yield obedience to your pleasure,
To speak, to act, to think as you command?
Rat. Let her instruct her tongue to bear your mes
Teach ev'ry grace to smile in your behalf.
And her deluded eyes to gloat for you;
His ductile reason will be wound about,
Be led and turn'd again, say and unsay,
Receive the yoke, and yield exact obedience.
Glo. Your council likes me well, it shall follow'd. She waits without, attending on her suit.
Go call her in, and leave us here alone.
[Exeunt RATCLIFF and CATESBY, How poor a thing is he, how worthy scorn, Who leaves the guidance of imperial manhood To such a paltry piece of stuff as this is! A moppet made of prettiness and pride; That oftener does her giddy fancies change, Than glittering dew-drops in the sun do colourNow, shame upon it! was our reason given
Sure there is something more than witchcraft in them, That masters ev'n the wisest of us all.
Oh! you are come most fitly. We have ponder'd
On this your grievance: and tho' some there are,
Nay, and those great ones too, who wou'd enforce
The rigour of our power to afflict
And bear a heavy hand, yet fear not you :
We've ta'en you to our favour: our protection
Shall stand between, and shield you from mishap.
J. Shore. The blessings of a heart with anguish
broken,
And rescu'd from despair, attend your highness.
Alas! my gracious lord, what have I done,
To kindle such relentless wrath against me?
Glo. Marry there are, tho' I believe them not,
Who
say you meddle in affairs of state :
That you presume to prattle, like a busy-body,
Give your advice, and teach the lords o'th' council
What fits the order of the commonweal.
J. Shore. Oh, that the busy world, at least in this, Would take example from a wretch like me! None then would waste their hours in foreign thoughts,
Forget themselves, and what concerns their
To tread the mazes of fantastic falsehood,
To haunt their idle sounds and flying tales,
Thro' all the giddy noisy courts of rumour;
Malicious slander never would have leisure
To search, with prying eyes, for faults abroad,
If all, like me, consider'd their own hearts,
And wept the sorrows which they found at home.
Glo. Go to! I know your pow'r; and tho' I trust
To ev'ry breath of fame, I'm not to learn
That Hastings is profess'd your loving vassal.
But fair befal your beauty: use it wisely,
And it may stand your fortunes much in stead,
Give back your forfeit land with large increase,
And place you high in safety and in honour.
Nay, I could point a way, the which pursuing,
You shall not only bring yourself advantage,
But give the realm much worthy cause to thank you.
J. Shore. Oh! where or how-Can my unworthy
hand
Become an instrument of good to any?
Instruct your lowly slave, and let me fly
To yield obedience to your dread command.
Glo. Why, that's well said-Thus then-Observe
me well,
The state, for many high and potent reasons,
Deeming my brother Edward's sons unfit
For the imperial weight of England's crown-
J. Shore. Alas! for pity.
Glo. Therefore have resolv'd
To set aside their unavailing infancy,
And vest the sov'reign rule in abler hands.
This, tho' of great importance to the public,
Hastings, for very peevishness and spleen,
Does stubbornly oppose.
J. Shore. Does he? Does Hastings?
Glo. Ay, Hastings.
J. Shore. Reward him for the noble deed, just
Heav'ns:
For this one action, guard him and distinguish him
With signal mercies, and with great deliverance,
Save him from wrong, adversity, and shame.
Let never-fading honours flourish round him,
And consecrate his name, ev'n to time's end:
Glo. How now!
J. Shore. The poor, forsaken, royal little ones!
Shall they be left a prey to savage power?
Can they lift up their harmless hands in vain,
Or cry to Heaven for help, and not be heard?
Impossible! Oh, gallant generous Hastings,
Go on, pursue! assert the sacred cause:
Stand forth, thou proxy of all-ruling Providence,
And save the friendless infants from oppression.
Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers,
And warring angels combat on thy side.
Glo. You're passing rich in this same heav'nly
speech,
And spend it at your pleasure. Nay, but mark me!
My favour is not bought with words like these.
Go to-you'll teach your tongue another tale.
J. Shore. No, tho' the royal Edward has undone
He was my king, my gracious master still;
He lov'd me too; tho' 'twas a guilty flame,
And fatal to my peace, yet still he lov'd me;
With fondness, and with tenderness he doated,
Dwelt in my eyes, and liv'd but in my smiles:
And can I-O my heart abhors the thought!
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