That dogs bark at me, as I halt by them ;- Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. Dive, thoughts, down to my soul! here Clarence comes. Brother, good day: What means this armed guard, Clar. His majesty, Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed This conduct to convey me to the Tower. Glo. Upon what cause? Clar. Because my name is-George. Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours; That you As yet I do not: Bat, as I can learn, He hearkens after prophecies, and dreams; And, for my name of George begins with G, [5] Shakspeare very diligently inculcates, that the wickedness of Richard pro ceeded from his deformity, from the envy that rose at the comparison of his own person with others, and which incited him to disturb the pleasures that he could not partake. JOHNSON. [6] Preparations for mischief. The induction is preparatory to the action of the play. JOHNSON. [7] That is, if Edward keeps his word. JOHNSON. It follows in his thought, that I am he : These, as I learn, and such like toys as these, Have mov'd his highness to commit me now. 8 Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by women :'Tis not the king, that sends you to the Tower; My lady Grey, his wife, Clarence, 'tis she, That tempers him to this extremity." Was it not she, and that good man of worship, That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower; Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me ; His majesty hath straitly given in charge, That no man shall have private conference, Of what degree so ever, with his brother. Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Brakenbury, You may partake of any thing we say : We speak no treason, man ;-We say, the king A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue; Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do. [8] Fancies, freaks of imagination. JOHNSON. 9 To temper is to mould to fashion. MALONE. That is, the Queen and Shore. JOHNSON. He that doth naught with her, excepting one, Brak. What one, my lord? Glo. Her husband, knave :-Wouldst thou betray me? Brak. I beseech your grace to pardon me; and, withal, Forbear your conference with the noble duke. Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. Glo. We are the queen's abjects, and must obey. Brother, farewell: I will unto the king; And whatsoe'er you will employ me in,- Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood, Clar. I know it pleaseth neither of us well. Mean time, have patience. Clar. I must perforce; farewell. [Exeunt CLAREnce, BrakenbURY, and Guard. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return, Simple, plain Clarence!-I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, If heaven will take the present at our hands. But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings? Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment? Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too; For they, that were your enemies, are his, And have prevail'd as much on him, as you. Hast. More pity, that the eagle should be mew'd,+ [2] That is, not the Queen's subjects, whom she might protect, but her abjects. JOHNSON. [3] This is a very covert and subtle manner of insinuating treason. The natural expression would have been, were it to call king Edward's wife, sister I will solicit for you, though it should be at the expense of so much degradation and constraint, as to own the low-born wife of King Edward for a sister. But by slipping, as it were casually, widow into the place of wife, he tempts Clarence in an oblique proposal to kill the King. JOHNSON. [4] A mew was the place of confinement where a hawk was kept till he had moulted. JOHNSON. While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. Glo. What news abroad? Hast. No news so bad abroad, as this at home ;The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy, And his physicians fear him mightily. Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. O, he hath kept an evil diet long, And over-much consum'd his royal person; 'Tis very grievous to be thought upon. What, is he in his bed? Hast. He is. Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you. [Exit Has. He cannot live, I hope; and must not die, Till George be pack'd with posthorse up to heaven. Which done, God take king Edward to his mercy, For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter : By marrying her, which I must reach unto. Clarence still breathes; Edward still lives, and reigns; SCENE II. The same. Another street. Enter the corpse of King HENRY [5] Obsequious, in this instance, means funereal. STEEVENS. [6] A key, on account of the coldness of the metal of which it is composed was anciently employed to stop any slight bleeding. The epithet is common to many old writers. STEEVENS. Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost, To hear the lamentations of poor Anne, Stabb'd by the self-same hand that made these wounds! May fright the hopeful mother at the view; Than I am made by my young lord, and thee !— And, still as you are weary of the weight, Rest you, whiles I lament king Henry's corse. [The bearers take up the corpse, Enter GLOSTer. and advance Glo. Stay you, that bear the corse, and set it down. Anne. What black magician conjures up this fiend, To stop devoted charitable deeds? Glo. Villains, set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul, I'll make a corse of him that disobeys. 1 Gent. My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass. Glo, Unmanner'd dog! stand thou when I command : Advance thy halberd higher than my breast, Or, by Saint Paul, I'll strike thee to my foot, [The bearers set down the coffin. Anne. What, do you tremble? are you all afraid? [7] That is, disposition to mischief. STEEVENS. |