And I no friends to back my suit withal, But the plain devil, and dissembling looks, Hath she forgot already that brave prince, Edward, her lord, whom I, some three months since, Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal,— And will she yet abase her eyes on me, That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince, On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety? I do mistake my person all this while: [Exit. 1 -SCENE III. THE SAME. A ROOM IN THE PALACE. Enter Queen Elizabeth, Lord Rivers, and Lord Grey. Riv. Have patience, madam; there's no doubt, Will soon recover his accustom'd health. Grey. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse: Therefore, for God's sake, entertain good comfort, Grey. No other harm, but loss of such a lord. Q. Eliz. The loss of such a lord includes all Grey. The heavens have bless'd you with a To be your comforter, when he is gone. Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young; and his minority Enter Buckingham and Stanley. Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and Buck. Good time of day unto your royal grace! Stan. God make your majesty joyful as you have been! Q. Eliz. The countess Richmond, good my lord of Stanley, To your good prayer will scarcely say—amen. Stan. I do beseech you, either not believe 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. Q. Eliz. God grant him health! Did you confer with him? Buck. Ay, madam: he desires to make atone ment Between the duke of Glo'ster and your brothers, And between them and my lord chamberlain; And sent to warn them to his royal presence. Q. Eliz. 'Would all were well!-But that will never be; I fear, our happiness is at the height. Enter Glo'ster, Hastings, and Dorset. Glo. They do me wrong, and I will not endure it: Who are they, that complain unto the king, I must be held a rancorous enemy. Cannot a plain man live, and think no harm, Grey. To whom in all this presence speaks your grace? Glo. To thee, that hast nor honesty, nor grace. When have I injur'd thee? when done thee wrong? Or thee?—or thee?-or any of your faction? But you must trouble him with lewd complaints. matter: The king, of his own royal disposition, Makes him to send; that thereby he may gather The ground of your ill-will, and so remove it. Glo. I cannot tell;-The world is grown so bad, That wrens may prey where eagles dare not perch: Since every Jack became a gentleman, There's many a gentle person made a Jack. Q. Eliz. Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Glo'ster; You envy my advancement, and my friends; God grant, we never may have need of you! Glo. Meantime, God grants that we have need of you: Our brother is imprison'd by your means, Held in contempt; while great promotions Are daily given, to enoble those That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble. Q. Eliz. By Him, that rais'd me to this careful height From that contented hap which I enjoy'd, I never did incense his majesty Against the duke of Clarence, but have been An earnest advocate to plead for him. My lord, you do me shameful injury, Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects. Of Glo. You may deny that you were not the cause my lord Hastings' late imprisonment. Riv. She may, my lord; for-— Glo. She may, lord Rivers?-why, who knows not so? She may do more, sir, than denying that: |