ACT 1. Glo. Now is the winter of our discontent, Made glorious summer by this sun of York; And all the clouds, that lowr'd upon our house, In the deep bosom of the ocean bury'd. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; Our stern alarums chang'd to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Grim-visag'd war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front; And now instead of mounting barbed steeds, To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber, To the lascivious pleasing of a lute, But I, that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, I am determined to prove a villain, comes. Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKENBURY. Brother, good day: What means this armed guard, That waits upon your grace? Clar. His majesty, Because my name is - George. And, for my name of George begins with G, We say, that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot, A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue : Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do Glo. Naught to do with mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow, He that doth naught with her, excepting one, Brak. What one, my lord? Glo. Her husband, knave: - Would'st thou be tray 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,Were it, to call king Edward's widow — sister, I will perform it, to enfranchise you. Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood, Touches me deeper than you can imagine. Clar. I know, it pleaseth neither of us well. Clar. return, I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, If heaven will take the present at our hands. Simple, plain Clarence! Gle. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings? 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, my fil tell you what, — I think, it is our way, Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me ; Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Braken- u may partake of any thing we say : We the king say, We speak no treason, man; Is wise, and virtuous; and his noble queen Well struck in years; fair, and not jealous: : Enter HASTINGS. And, if I fail not in my deep intent, By marrying her, which I must reach unto. When they are gone, then must I count my gains. [Exit. Lo, in these windows, that let forth thy life, Enter GLOSTER. Go. 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 com mand: Advance thy halberd higher than my breast, Anne. What, do you tremble? are you all afraid? For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell, Either, heaven, with lightning strike the murderer dead, Or, earth, gape open wide, and eat him quick; As thou dost swallow up this good king's blood, Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered! Glo. Lady, you know no rules of charity, Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses Anne. Villain, thou know'st no law of God no Glo. I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue, That laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders. Anne. Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind, That never dreamt on aught but butcheries: Didst thou not kill this king? Glo. I grant ye. Anne. Dost grant me, hedge-hog? then, God grant me too, Thou may'st be damned for that wicked deed! 0, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous. Anne. Never hung poison on a fouler toad. Out of my sight! thou dost infect mine eyes. Glo. Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine. Glo. I would they were, that I might die at once; Glo. The fitter for the King of heaven that hath Not, when my father York and Edward wept, him. Anne. He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come. To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made, Glo. Let him thank me, that holp to send him Told the sad story of my father's death; Anne. Thou wast the cause, and most accurs'd Glo. Your beauty was the cause of that effect; Anne. If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide, These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks. Glo. These eyes could not endure that beauty's wreck, You should not blemish it, if I stood by: Anne. Black night o'ershade thy day, and death Glo. Curse not thyself, fair creature; thou art Anne. I would I were, to be reveng'd on thee. To be reveng'd on him that loveth thee. Anne. It is a quarrel just and reasonable, To be reveng'd on him that kill'd my husband. Glo. He that bereft thee, lady, of thy husband, Did it to help thee to a better husband. Aune. His better doth not breathe upon the earth. And twenty times made pause, to sob, and weep, My tongue could never learn sweet soothing word; [He lays his breast open; she offers at it with his sword. Nay, do not pause; for I did kill king Henry; → [She lets fall the sword. Glo. Then bid me kill myself, and I will do it. Anne. I have already. Glo. That was in thy rage: Speak it again, and even with the word, This hand, which, for thy love, did kill thy love, Shall, for thy love, kill a far truer love; To both their deaths shalt thou be accessary. Anne. I would, I knew thy heart. Glo. My tongue. Anne. Glo. 'Tis figur'd in I fear me, both are false. Was never true. Then man Well, well, put up your sword, Glo. Say then, my peace is made. Anne. Hereafter. Glo. Anne. That shall you know But shall I live in hope? All men, Glo. He lives, that loves you better than he could. Anne. Name him. Glo Anne. Gla. The self-same name, but one of better Anne. And if thy poor devoted servant may Glo. That it may please you leave these sad designs Where after I have solemnly interr'd, Anne. With all my heart; and much it joys me too, Glo. Bid me farewell. Anne. 'Tis more than you deserve: But, since you teach me how to flatter you, Imagine I have said farewell already. [Exeunt Lady ANNE, TRESSEL, and BERKLEY. Glo. Take up the corse, sirs. Gent. Towards Chertsey, noble lord? Glo. No, to White-Friars; there attend my coming. [Exeunt the rest, with the corse. Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won? I'll have her, but I will not keep her long. Hath she forgot already that brave prince, Edward, her lord, whom I some three months since, Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal, - That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince, On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety? My dukedom to a beggarly denier, I do mistake my person all this while : [Exit. GREY. Grey. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse: Therefore, for God's sake, entertain good comfort, And cheer his grace with quick and merry words. Q. Eliz. If he were dead, what would betide of me? Grey. No other harm, but loss of such a lord. Q. Eliz. The loss of such a lord includes all harns, Grey. The heavens have bless'd you with a goodly son, To be your comforter, when he is gone. Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young; and his minority Riv. Is it concluded, he shall be protector? Q. Eliz. It is determin'd, not concluded yet: But so it must be, if the king miscarry. Enter BUCKINGHAM and STANLEY. Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and Stanley. Buck. Good time of day unto your royal grace! Stan. God make your majesty joyful as you have been! Q. Eliz. The countess Richmond, good my lord of Stanley, To your good prayer will scarcely say — amen. Yet, Stanley, notwithstanding she's your wife, And loves not me, be you, good lord, assur'd, I hate not you for her proud arrogance. Stan. I do beseech you, either not believe The envious slanders of her false accusers; Or, if she be accus'd on true report, Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds From wayward sickness, and no grounded malice. Q. Eliz. Saw you the king to-dav, my lord of Stanley? Stan. But now, the duke of Buckingham, and I, Are come from visiting his majesty. Q. Eliz. What likelihood of his amendment, lords? Buck. Madam, good hope; his grace speaks cheerfully. Q. Eliz. God grant him health! did you confer with him? Buck. Ay, madam: he desires to make atonement Between the duke of Gloster and your brothers, And between them and my lord chamberlain; And sent to warn them to his royal presence. Q. Eliz. 'Would all were well!—but that will never be ; I fear our happiness is at the height. Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and DORSET. Glo. They do me wrong, and I will not endure it: Who are they, that complain unto the king, Grey. To whom in all this presence speaks y grace? Glo. To thee, that hast nor honesty, nor grace Riv. Have patience, madam; there's no doubt, When have I injured thee? when done thee wrong his majesty Will soon recover his accustom'd health. Or thee? —or thee?—or any of your faction? A plague upon you all! His royal grace, |