I do not like these several councils, I. Has. My lord, I hold my life as dear as you do yours; And never, in my life, I do protest, Was it more precious to me than 'tis now. I would be so triumphant as I am? Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from Were jocund, and supposed their states were sure, Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward! What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent. Has. Come, come, have with you. what, my lord? To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded. Wot you Stan. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads, Than some, that have accused them, wear their hats. But come, my lord, let 's away. fellow. Enter PURSUIVANT. Has. Go on before; I'll talk with this good [Exeunt Stanley and Catesby. How now, sirrah? how goes the world with thee? Pur. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Has. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Than when thou met'st me last where now we meet : Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, By the suggestion of the queen's allies; But now, I tell thee, (keep it to thyself) Pur. God hold it, to your honor's good content! Has. Gramercy,1 fellow: there, drink that for [throwing him his purse. me. Pur. I thank your honor. Enter PRIEST. [Exit Pursuivant. Priest. Well met, my lord: I am glad to see your honor. Has. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my heart. I am in your debt for your last exercise : Come the next sabbath, and I will content you. Enter BUCKINGHAM. Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain? Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest : Your honor hath no shriving work 3 in hand. Has. Good faith; and when I met this holy man, 1 Contraction for grand merci, i. e. I thank you. 2 It was the custom formerly to give the title of Sir to the inferior orders of the clergy. 3 Confession. The men you talk of came into my mind. Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there. I shall return before your lordship thence. Has. Nay, like enough; for I stay dinner there. Buck. And supper too, although thou know'st it Pomfret. Before the castle. Enter RATCLIFF, with a guard, conducting RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN to execution. Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners. Ri. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this ;To-day shalt thou behold a subject die, For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you! A knot you are of damned bloodsuckers. Vaughan. You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter. Rat. Despatch: the limit of your lives is out. Ri. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers! Within the guilty closure of thy walls Richard the second here was hack'd to death; And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink. Grey. Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon our heads, When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, Ri. Then cursed she Hastings, then cursed she Then cursed she Richard. O, remember, God, Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. London. A room in the Tower. BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, BISHOP OF ELY, CATESBY, LOVEL, and others sitting at a table; officers of the council attending. Has. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met Is to determine of the coronation. In God's name, speak, when is this royal day? 1 Ended. Buck. Are all things ready for that royal time? Who is most inward 1 with the noble duke? Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind. Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts, He knows no more of mine, than I of yours; Nor I of his, my lord, than you of mine. Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love. Has. 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 Enter GLOSter. Ely. In happy time, here comes the duke himself. Glos. 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. 1 Intimate. |