Q. Eliz. O, no, my reasons are too deep and dead;Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their graves. K. Rich. Harp not on that string, madam; that is past. Q. Eliz. Harp on it still shall I, till heart-strings break. K. Rich. Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown, Q. Eliz. Profan'd, dishonour'd, and the third usurp'd. K. Rich. I swear. Q. Eliz. By nothing; for this is no oath. Thy George, profan'd, hath lost his holy honour; Q. Eliz. 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs. K. Rich. My father's death, Q. Eliz. Thy life hath that dishonour'd. Q. Eliz. Thyself is self-misus'd. Q. Eliz. God's wrong is most of all. Thy broken faith hath made a prey K. Rich. By the time to come. for worms. Q. Eliz. That thou hast wronged in the time o'erpast; For I myself have many tears to wash Hereafter time, for time past, wrong'd by thee. The children live, whose parents thou hast slaughter'd, The parents live, whose children thou hast butcher'd, Day, yield me not thy light; nor, night, thy rest! To my proceeding, if, with pure heart's love, I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter! It cannot be avoided, but by this; Plead what I will be, not what I have been; Urge the necessity and state of times, And be not peevish found in great designs. Q. Eliz. Shall I be tempted of the devil thus? self. Q. Eliz. But thou didst kill my children. K. Rich. But in your daughter's womb I bury them: Q. Eliz. Shall I go win my daughter to thy will? And you shall understand from me her mind. K. Rich. Bear her my true love's kiss, and so fare well. [Kissing her. Exit Q. ELIZABETH. Relenting fool, and shallow, changing-woman! Enter RATCLIFF; CATESBY following. Rat. Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends, K. Rich. Some light-foot friend post to the duke of Ratcliff, thyself,-or Catesby; where is he? Cate. Here, my good lord. K. Rich. Catesby, fly to the duke. Cate. I will, my lord, with all convenient haste. Why stay'st thou here, and go'st not to the duke? sure, What from your grace I shall deliver to him. K. Rich. O, true, good Catesby;-Bid him levy straight The greatest strength and power he can make, Cate. I go. [Exit. Rat. What, may it please you, shall I do at Salis bury? K. Rich. Why, what would'st thou do there, before I go? Rat. Your highness told me, I should post before. Enter STANLEY. K. Rich. My mind is chang'd.-Stanley, what news with you? Stan. None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing; Nor none so bad, but well may be reported. K. Rich. Heyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad! What need'st thou run so many miles about, When thou may'st tell thy tale the nearest way? Once more, what news? Stan. Richmond is on the seas. K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas on him! White liver'd runagate, what doth he there? Stan. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess. K. Rich. Well, as you guess? Stan. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Mor ton, He makes for England, here to claim the crown. K. Rich. Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway'd? Is the king dead? the empire unpossess'd? What heir of York is there alive, but we? And who is England's king, but great York's heir? Stan. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess. Stan. No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not. K. Rich. Where is thy power then, to beat him back ? Where be thy tenants, and thy followers? Are they not now upon the western shore, Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships? Stan. No, my good lord, my friends are in the north. K. Rich. Cold friends to me: What do they in the north, When they should serve their sovereign in the west? I'll muster up my friends; and meet your grace, I will not trust you, sir. |