He knows no more of mine, than I of yours: Nor I, of his, my lord, than you of mine: Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well; But, for his purpose in the coronation, I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd His gracious pleasure any way therein: But you, my noble lord, may name the time; Enter GLOSTER. Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. Glo. My noble lords and cousins, all, good morrow: I have been long a sleeper; but, I trust, My absence doth neglect no great design, Which by my presence might have been concluded. Buck. Had you not come upon your cue, my lord, William lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,— I mean, your voice,-for crowning of the king. Glo. Than my lord Hastings, no man might be bolder His lordship knows me well, and loves me well †.— My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw good strawberries' in your garden there; I do beseech you, send for some of them. Ely. Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. [Exit ELY. Glo. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Had you not come upon your cue,] This expression is borrowed from the theatre. The cue, queue, or tail of a speech, consists of the last words, which are the token for an entrance or answer. To come on the cue, therefore, is to come at the proper time. † Here Mr. Malone interposes, " Hast. I thank your grace." 1 I saw good strawberries] The reason why the bishop was despatched on this errand, is not clearer in Holinshed, from whom Shakspeare adopted the circumstances, than in this scene, where it is introduced. Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business ; That he will lose his head, ere give consent, Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with you. Stan. We have not yet set down this day of triumph. To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden; For I myself am not so well provided, As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Re-enter Bishop of Ely. Ely. Where is my lord protector? I have sent For these strawberries. Hast. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning; 2 There's some conceit or other likes him well, Hast. Marry, that with no man here he is offended; For, were he, he had shown it in his looks +. Re-enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM. Glo. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve, Hast. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, 2 There's some conceit or other —] i. e. pleasant idea or fancy. † Mr. Malone adds, "Stan. I pray God he be not, I say.” To doom the offenders: Whosoe'er they be, Glo. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil, And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, Hast. If they have done this deed, my noble lord, [Exeunt Council, with GLOSTER and Hast. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me; For I, too fond, might have prevented this: Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head. Cates. Despatch, my lord, the duke would be at dinner; Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head. Το 3 Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,] stumble was anciently esteemed a bad omen. The housings of a horse, and sometimes a horse himself, were anciently denominated a foot-cloth. Hast. O momentary grace of mortal men, Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! Lov. Come, come, despatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. I prophecy the fearful'st time to thee, That ever wretched age hath look'd upon. Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head; SCENE V. The same. The Tower Walls. Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, in rusty Armour, marvellous ill-favoured. Glo. Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour? Murder thy breath in middle of a word,— And then again begin, and stop again, As if thou wert distraught, and mad with terror? At any time, to grace my stratagems. But what, is Catesby gone? Glo. He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. 4 Intending deep suspicion:] i. e. pretending. Enter the Lord Mayor and CATESBY. Buck. Let me alone to entertain him. - Lord mayor, Glo. Look to the draw-bridge there. Buck. Glo. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. Hark! hark! a drum. Buck. Lord mayor, the reason we have sent for you, Glo. Look back, defend thee, here are enemies. Buck. God and our innocence defend and guard us! Enter LovEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS's Head. Glo. Be patient, they are friends; Ratcliff and Lovel. Glo. So dear I lov'd the man, that I must weep. So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue, That, his apparent open guilt omitted,— 5 I mean, his conversation with Shore's wife, He liv'd from all attainder of suspect. Buck. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelter'd traitor That ever liv'd.-Look you, my lord mayor, Would you imagine, or almost believe, 5 "harmless"-MALONE. his conversation —] i. e. familiar intercourse. The phrase -criminal conversation,-is yet in daily use. |