Q. Mar. Oh, kill me too! recovery. Glo. Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother; I'll hence to London on a serious matter: Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news Clar. What? what? Glo. The Tower, the Tower! [Exit. Q. Mar. O, Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! Canst thou not speak!-O traitors! murderers !- He was a man; this, in respect, a child; What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse : Look in his youth to have him so cut off, As, deathsmen! you have rid this sweet young prince !7 Clar. Didst thou not hear me swear, I would not do it? Q. Mar. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself; 'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity. What! wilt thou not? where is that devil's butcher, [7] The condition of this warlike queen would move compassion, could it be forgotten that she gave York, to wipe his eyes in his captivity, a handkerchief stained with his young child's blood: JOHNSON.--But surely it does move our compas sion, though that be not forgotten. When we see any of our fellow-creatures involved in deep distress, from a just and tender cause, we attend only to their present sufferings, and not to their former crimes. M. MASON. Thou art not here: Murder is thy alms-deed; K. Edw. Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence. Cla. To London, all in post; and, as I guess, K. Edw. He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head. SCENE VI. [Exeunt. London. A Room in the Tower. King HENRY is discovered sitting with a book in his Hand, the Lieutenant attending. Enter Gloster. Glo. Good day, my lord! What, at your book so hard? K. Hen. Ay, my good lord: my lord, I should say rather; 'Tis sin to flatter, good was little better: Good Gloster, and good devil, were alike, And both preposterous; therefore, not good lord. Glo. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer. K. Hen. The bird, that hath been limed in a bush, With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush : And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird, Have now the fatal object in my eye, Where my poor young was lim'd, was caught, and kill'd. Glo. Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete, That taught his son the office of a fowl? And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd. 23 My breast can better brook thy dagger's point, But wherefore dost thou come? is't for my life? K. Hen. A persecutor, I am sure, thou art; Glo. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption. K. Hen. Hadst thou been kill'd, when first thou didst presume, Thou hadst not liv'd to kill a son of mine. And thus I prophecy, that many a thousand, Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree. Teeth hadst thou in thy head, when thou wast born, And, if the rest be true which I have heard, Thou cam'st Glo. I'll hear no more ;-Die, prophet, in thy speech; For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. [Stabs him. K. Hen. Ay, and for much more slaughter after this. O God! forgive my sins, and pardon thee! [Dies. Glo. What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted See, how my sword weeps for the poor king's death' O, may such purple tears be always shed From those that wish the downfall of our house !- [9] Who suspect no part of what my fears presage. JOHNSON. Down, down to hell; and say-I sent thee thither, I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear.- And this word-love, which greybeards call divine, And not in me; I am myself alone.- SCENE VII. [Exit. The same. A Room in the Palace. King EDWARD is discovered sitting on his Throne; Queen ELIZABETH with the infant Prince, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and others, near him. K. Edw. Once more we sit in England's royal throne, Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies. What valiant foe-men, like to autumn's corn, For hardy and undoubted champions: Two Cliffords, as the father and the son, Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound : [1] But I will choose out an hour whose gioom shall be as fatal to you. To sort in to select. STEEVENS. With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Montagu Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy :- That thou might'st repossess the crown in peace ; Glo. I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid ; This shoulder was ordain'd so thick, to heave; [Aside K. Edw. Clarence, and Gloster, love my lovely queen. And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. Clar. The duty that I owe unto your majesty, I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe. K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks. Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st, Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit :- } Asi. Having my country's peace, and brothers' loves. Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem, And hither have they sent it for her ransome. K. Edw. Away with her, and waft her hence to France. Sound, drums and trumpets !-farewell, sour annoy! [Exeunt.. [2] I believe we should read, and this shall execute. Richard laying his hang on his forehead says: Work thou the way then bringing down his hand and beholding it: and this shall execute. Though that may stand, the arm being included in the shoulder JOHNSON. |