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Then, where you please, and fhall be thought most fit
For your best health and recreation.

PRINCE I do not like the Tower of any place.
Did Julius Cæfar build that place, my lord?
BUCK. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place,
Which fince, fucceeding ages have re-edify'd.
PRINCE. Is it upon record, or else eported
Succeffively from age to age, he built it?

Buck. Upon record, my gracious lord.

PRINCE. But fay, my lord, it were not register'd,
Methinks the truth fhould live from age to age,
As 'twere retail'd to all posterity;

Even to the general all-ending day.

GLO. So wife, fo young, they fay, do ne'er live long.

[Afide.

PRINCE. What fay you, uncle?

GLO. I fay, without characters fame lives long.

Thus, like the formal vice, iniquity,

[Afide,

I moralize: Two meanings in one word.

[Afide.

PRINCE. That Julius Cæfar was a famous man;

With what his valour did enrich his wit,

His wit fet down to make his va our live.
Death makes no conqueft of this conqueror;
For now he lives in fame, though not in life.
-I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham.
BUCK. What, my gracious lord?

PRINCE. An if I live until I be a man,
I'll win our ancient right in France again,

Or die a foldier, as I liv'd a king.

GLO. Short fummer lightly has a forward fpring. [Afide,

Enter York, Hastings, and Archbishop.

BUCK. Now in good time here comes the duke of York.
PRINCE. Richard of York, how fares our noble brother?
YORK. Well, my dread lord, so must I call you now.
PRINCE. Ay, brother to our grief, as it is yours;
Too late he died that might have kept that title,
Which by his death hath loft much majefty.

GLO. How fares our coufin, noble lord of York?
YORK. I thank you, gentle uncle. O my lord,
You faid, that idle weeds are faft in growth,
The prince, my brother, hath outgrown me far.
GLO. He hath, my lord.

YORK. And therefore is he idle?

GLO. Oh, my fair cousin, I must not say so.
YORK. Then is he more beholden to you than I.
GLO. He may command me as my fovereign,
But you have power in me, as in a kinsman.

YORK. I pray you, uncle, give me this your dagger.
GLO. My dagger, little coufin? with all my heart.
PRINCE. A beggar, brother?

YORK. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give;
And being but a toy, which is no gift to give.

GLO. A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin.
YORK. A greater gift? O, that's the fword to it.
GLO. Ay, gentle coufin, were it light enough.
YORK. O, then I fee you'll part but with light gifts;

In weightier things you'll fay a beggar nay.

GLO. It is too weighty for your grace to wear.

YORK. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.

GLO. What would you have my weapon, little lord? YORK. I would, that I might thank you, as you call me, GLO. How?

YORK. Little.

PRINCE. My lord of York will still be cross in talk ;
Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him.

YORK. You mean to bear me, not to bear with me;
Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me.
Because that I am little like an ape,

He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders.
BUCK. With what a fharp provided wit he reafons!
To mitigate the fcorn he gives his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himself;

So cunning, and fo young, is wonderful.

GLO. My lord, will't please you pass along. Myself, and my good coufin Buckingham Will to your mother, to entreat of her

To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you.

YORK. What will you go unto the Tower, my lord? PRINCE. My lord Protector, needs will have it so.

YORK. I fhall not fleep in quiet at the Tower.

CLO. Why, what should you fear?

YORK. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghoft; My grandam told me, he was murther'd there. PRINCE. I fear no uncles dead.

GLO. Nor none that live, I hope.

PRINCE. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. -But come, my lord, and with a heavy heart,

Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.

[Exeunt Prince, York, Haftings and Dorfet.

SCENE II. Manent Gloucester, Buckingham, and Catesby.

BUCK. Think you, my lord, this little prating York

Was not incensed by his fubtle mother

To taunt and fcorn you thus opprobriously?

GLO. No doubt, no doubt. Oh, 'tis a per'lous bay, Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable;

He's all the mother's, from the top to toe.

BUCK. Well, let them reft. Come, Catesby, thou art

As deeply to effect what we intend,

As closely to conceal what we impart.

Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way;
What think'ft thou? Is it not an easy matter

To make lord William Haftings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke

In the feat royal of this famous ifle

CAT. He, for his father's fake, fo loves the prince, That he will not be won to aught against him.

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BUCK. What think'st thou then of Stanley? Will not he? CAT. He will do all in all as Hastings doth.

BUCK. Well then, no more than this. Go, gentle Catesby,

And, as it were far off, found thou lord Hastings

How he doth stand affected to our purpose ;

And fummon him to-morrow to the Tower,
To fit about the coronation.

If thou doft find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons;
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou fo too, and so break off the talk,
And give us notice of his inclination;
For we to-morrow hold divided councils,
Wherein thyself fhalt highly be employ'd.

GLO. Commend me to lord William; tell him, Catesby, His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries

To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle;

And bid my friend, for joy of this good news,

Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.

BUCK. Good Catesby, go, effect this business foundly. CAT. My good lords both, with all the heed I can. GLO. Shall we hear from you, Catefby, ere we fleep? CAT. You fhall, my lord.

GLO. At Crosby-place, there you shall find us both.

(Exit Catesby. Buck. My lord, what shall we do, if we perceive, Lord Haftings will not, yield to our complots?

GLO. Chop off his head, man; somewhat we will do 3 And look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Here ord, and the moveables Whereof, the king, my brother, stood poffeft.

BUCK. I'll claim that promife at your grace's hand. GLO. And look to have it yielded with all kindness. Come, let us fup betimes; that, afterwards,

We may digeft our complots in fome form.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Before Lord Haftings's house.

3

Enter a Meffenger to the door of Haftings.

MES. My lord, my lord.

HAST. [within.] Who knocks?

MES. One from lord Stanley.

HAST. What is't o'clock?

MES. Upon the stroke of four.

Enter Lord Haftings.

HAST. Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights?

Mrs. So it appears, by what I have to say.

First he commends him to your noble self.

HAST. What then?

MES. Then certifies your lordship, that this night

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