ACT II. SCENE I.-A Street. Enter two Gentlemen, meeting. 1 Gent. Whither away so fast? 2 Gent. O,-God save you! Even to the hall, to hear what shall become Of the great duke of Buckingham. 1 Gent. I'll save you That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony Of bringing back the prisoner. 2 Gent. Were you there? 1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I. 2 Gent. Pray, speak, what has happen'd? 1 Gent. You may guess quickly what. 2 Gent. Is he found guilty? 1 Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gent. I am sorry for❜t. 1 Gent. So are a number more. 2 Gent. But, pray, how pass'd it? 1 Gent. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Came to the bar; where, to his accusations, He pleaded still, not guilty, and alleg'd To him brought, vivâ voce, to his face: At which appear'd against him, his surveyor; Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Court, Hopkins, that made this mischief. 2 Gent. That was he, That fed him with his prophecies? 1 Gent. The same. All these accus'd him strongly; which he fain Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not: And so his peers, upon this evidence, Have found him guilty of high treason. Much Was either pitied in him, or forgotten. 2 Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gent. When he was brought again to the bar, to hear His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd 1 Gent. Sure, he does not, He never was so womanish; the cause 2 Gent. Certainly, The cardinal is the end of this. 1 Gent. 'Tis likely, By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder, Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too, 2 Gent. That trick of state Was a deep envious one. 1 Gent. At his return, No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted, 2 Gent. All the commons Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, The mirror of all courtesy ; 1 Gent. Stay there, sir, And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of. Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the Axe with the Edge towards him; Halberds on each side: with him, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Sir NICHOLAS VAUX, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common people. 2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people, You, that thus far have come to pity me, Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me. I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment, And by that name must die; Yet, heaven bear witness, And, if I have a conscience, let it sink me, Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful! The law I bear no malice for my death; It has done, upon the premises, but justice: But those, that sought it, I could wish more christians: Be what they will, I heartily forgive them: Yet let them look they glory not in mischief, Nor build their evils on the graves of great men ; For then my guiltless blood must cry against them. Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham, His noble friends, and fellows, whom to leave Is only bitter to him, only dying, Go with me, like good angels, to my end; And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me, Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice, And lift my soul to heaven.-Lead on, o'God's name. Lov. I do beseech your grace, for charity, If ever any malice in your heart Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly. There cannot be those numberless offences Lov. To the water side I must conduct your grace; Then give my charge up to sir Nicholas Vaux, Vaux. Prepare there, The duke is coming: see, the barge be ready; Buck. Nay, sir Nicholas, Let it alone; my state now will but mock me. And duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun: That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it: And with that blood will make them one day groan for't. My noble father, Henry of Buckingham, Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard, And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me A little happier than my wretched father: Yet thus far we are one in fortunes,-Both Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd most |