The night-crow cried, aboding luckless time;
Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempests shook down
The raven rook'd her on the chimney's top,
And chattering pies in dismal discords sung.
Thy mother felt more than a mother's pain,
And yet brought forth less than a mother's hope;
To wit,-an indigest deformed lump,
Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree.
SCENE VII -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-purchased with the blood of enemies.
Teeth hadst thou in thy head, when thou wast What valiant foe-men, like to autumn's corn, born,
To signify,-thou camest to bite the world:
And, if the rest be true which I have heard,
Thou camest-
Gio. I'll hear no more;-Die, prophet, in thy speech; [Stabs him. For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. 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!
If any spark of life be yet remaining,
Down, down to hell; and say-I sent thee thither,
[Stabs him again.
I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear.-
Indeed, 'tis true, that Henry told me of;
For I have often heard my mother say,
I came into the world with my legs forward:
Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste,
And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right?
The midwife wonder'd; and the women cried,
0, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!
And so I was; which plainly signified-
That I should snarl, and bite, and play the dog.
Then, since the heavens have shaped my body so,
Let hell make crook'd my mind, to answer it.
I have no brother, I am like no brother:
And this word-love, which greybeards call divine,
Be resident in men like one another,
And not in me; I am myself alone.-
Have we mow'd down, in tops of all their pride?
Three dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd
For hardy and undoubted champions :
Two Cliffords, as the father and the son,
And two Northumberlands; two braver men
Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound:
With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and
Montague,
That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion,
And made the forest tremble when they roar'd.
Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat,
And made our footstool of security.-
Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy :-
Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles, and myself,
Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night;
Went all a foot in summer's scalding heat,
That thou might'st repossess the crown in peace;
And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain.
Glo. I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid;
For yet I am not look'd on in the world.
This shoulder was ordain'd so thick, to heave;
And heave it shall some weight, or break my back:-
Work thou the way,-and thou shalt execute.
[Aside.
K. Edw. Clarence, and Gloster, love my lovely
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. [sprang'st, Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence thou Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit:To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master; And cried-All hail! when as he meant-Aside. all harm.
K. Edw. Now am I seated as my soul delights,
Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the Having my country's peace, and brothers' loves.
But I will sort a pitchy day for thee:
For I will buz abroad such prophecies,
That Edward shall be fearful of his life;
And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death.
King Henry, and the prince his son, are gone:
Clarence, thy turn is next; and then the rest;
Counting myself but bad, till I be best.-
I'll throw thy body in another room,
And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom.
Clar. What will your grace have done with Mar
KING EDWARD THE FOURTH. EDWARD, Prince of Wales, af
SIR JAMES BLOUNT.-SIR WALTER HERBERT.
SIR ROBERT BRAKENBURY, Lieutenant of the Tower.
Sons to the King. CHRISTOPHER URSWICK, a Priest.-Another Priest.
LORD MAYOR OF LONDON-SHERIFF OF WILT-
terwards King Edward V. RICHARD, Duke of York. GEORGE, Duke of Clarence, RICHARD, Duke of Gloster, after-Brothers to the wards King Richard III.
A young Son of Clarence.
HENRY, Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry
VIL
CARDINAL BOURCHIER, Archbishop of Canterbury.
THOMAS ROTHERAM, Archbishop of York.
JOHN MORTON, Bishop of Ely.
DUKE OF NORFOLK: EARL OF SURREY, his Son. EARL RIVERS, Brother to King Edward's Queen: MARQUIS OF DORSET, and LORD GREY, her Sons. EARL OF OXFORD.-LORD HASTINGS.-LORD STANLEY, LORD LOVEL.
SIR THOMAS VAUGHAN SIR RICHARD RATCLIFF. SIR WILLIAM CATESBY.-SIR JAMES TYRREL.
ELIZABETH, Queen of King Edward IV.
MARGARET, Queen of King Henry VI.
DUCHESS OF YORK, Mother to King Edward IV.,
CLARENCE and GLOSTER.
LADY ANNE, Widow to Edward Prince of Wales, Son to King Henry VI.; afterwards married to the Duke of Gloster.
A young DAUGHTER of Clarence.
Lords, and other Attendants; two Gentlemen, a Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Murderers, Messengers, Ghosts, Soldiers, &c.
: SCENE 1.-London.-A Street.
Enter GLOSTER.
Glo. Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lower'd upon our house,
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths;
Qur bruised arms hung up for monuments;
Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful n.easures.
Grim-visaged 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 shaped for sportive tricks,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass;
I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty,
To strut before a wanton ambling nymph;
I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature;
Deform'd, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half nade up,
And that so lamely and unfashionable,
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them ;-
Why I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time;
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun,
And descant on mine own deformity;
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams,
To set my brother Clarence, and the king,
In deadly hate, the one against the other:
And, if king Edward be as true, and just,
As I am subtle, false, and treacherous,
This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up;
About a prophecy, which says-that G
Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be.
+ Armed.
t Preparations for mischief,
Dive, thoughts, down to my soul! Here Clarence
Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKENBURY, Brother, good day: what means this armed guard, That waits upon your grace?
Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed
This conduct to convey me to the Tower.
Glo. Upon what cause?
Clar. Because my name is-George.
Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours;
He should, for that, commit your godfathers:-
O, belike, his majesty hath some intent,
That you should be new christen'd in the Tower.
But what's the matter, Clarence? May I know!
Clar. Yea, Richard, when I know; for I protest,
As yet I do not: but, as I can learn,
He hearkens after prophecies and dreams;
And from the cross-row plucks the letter G,
And says-a wizard told him, that by G
His issue disinherited should be;
And, for my name of George begins with G,
It follows in his thought, that I am he:
These, as I learn, and such like toys as these,
Have moved his highness to commit me now.
Glo. Why, this it is, when men are ruled by
'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,
Anthony Woodeville, her brother there,
That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower;
From whence this present day he is deliver'd?
We are not safe, Clarence, we are not safe.
Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure,
But the queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds
That trudge betwixt the king and mistress Shore.
Heard
you not, what an humble suppliant
Lord Hastings was to her for his delivery?
Glo. Humbly complaining to her deity
Got my lord chamberlain his liberty.
I'll tell you what-I think, it is our way,
If we will keep in favour with the king,
To be her men, and wear her livery:
The jealous o'er-worn widow, and herself,
Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen,
Are mighty gossips in this monarchy.
Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me;
His majesty hath straitly given in charge,
That no man shall have private conference,
Of what degree soever with his brother.
Glo. Even so? An please your worship, Brakenbury,
You may partake of any thing we say:
We speak no treason, man;-We say, the king
Is wise and virtuous; and his noble queen
Well struck in years'; fair, and not jealous :-
We say, that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot,
A cherry lip,
A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue;
And the queen's kindred are made gentléfolks:
How say you, Sir? Can you deny all this?
Brak. With this, my lord, myself have naught
Glo. Naught to do with mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow,
He that doth naught with her, excepting one,
Were best to do it secretly, alone.
Brak. What one, my lord?
If honour may be shrouded in a hearse,-
Whilst I a while obsequiously lament
The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.-
Poor key-cold figure of a holy king!
Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster!
Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood
Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost,
Glo. Her husband, knave?-Wouldst thou be-To hear the lamentations of poor Anne,
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 f, and must obey. Brother, farewell: I will unto the king; And whatsoever 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. Glo. Well, your imprisonment shall not be long; I will deliver you, or else lie for you: Mean time, have patience.
Clar. I must perforce; farewell.
[Exeunt Clarence, Brakenbury, and Guard. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er re
But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks,
That were the cause of my imprisonment.
Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too,
For they, that were your enemies, are his,
And have prevail'd as much on him, as you.
Hast. More pity, that the eagle should be mew'dt,
While kites and buzzards prey at liberty.
Glo. What news abroad?
Hast. No news so bad abroad, as this at home;-
The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy,
And his physicians fear him mightily.
Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. O, he hath kept an evil diet long,
And over-much consumed his royal person;
'Tis very grievous to be thought upon.
What, is he in his bed?
Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you.
He cannot live, I hope; and must not die,
Till George be pack'd with post-horse up to heaven.
I'll in, to urge his hatred more to Clarence,
With lies well steel'd with weighty arguments;
And, if I fail not in my deep intent,
Clarence hath not another day to live:
Which done, God take king Edward to his mercy,
And leave the world for me to bustle in!
For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter:
What though I kill'd her husband, and her father?
Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughter'd son, Stabb'd by the self-same hand that made these
I pour the helpless balm of my poor eyes:-
Lo, in these windows, that let forth thy life,
O, cursed be the hand that made these holes!
Cursed the heart, that had the heart to do it!
Cursed the blood, that let this blood from hence!
More direful hap betide that hated wretch,
That makes us wretched by the death of thee,
Than I can wish to adders, spiders, toads,
Or any creeping venom'd thing that lives!
If ever he have a child, abortive be it,
'Prodigions, and untimely brought to light,
Whose ugly and unnatural aspect
May fright the hopeful mother at the view;
And that be heir to his unhappiness!
If ever he have wife, let her be made
More miserable by the death of him,
Than I am made by my young lord and thee!-
Come, now, toward Chertsey with your holy load,
Taken from Paul's to be interred there;
And, still as you are weary of the weight,
Rest you, whiles I lament king Henry's corse.
[The Bearers take up the Corpse, and advance
Enter GLOSTER.
Glo. Stay, you that bear the corse, and set i 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
Advance thy halberd higher than my breast,
Or, by Saint Paul, I'll strike thee to my foot,
And spurn upon thee, beggar, for thy boldness.
[The Bearers set down the Coffin.
Anne. What, do you tremble? Are you all afraid?
Alas, I blame you not; for you are mortal,
And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil.-
Avaunt, thou dreadful minister of hell!
Thou hadst but power over his mortal body,
His soul thou canst not have; therefore, be gone.
Glo. Sweet Saint, for charity be not so curst.
Anne. Foul devil, for God's sake, hence, and
For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell,
If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
Fill'd it with cursing cries, and deep exclaims.
Behold this pattern of thy butcheries+:-
O, gentlemen, see, see! Dead Henry's wounds
Open their congeal'd mouths, and bleed afresh !—
For 'tis thy presence that exhales this blood
Blush, blush, thou lump of foul deformity;
Thy deed, inhuman, and unnatural,
From cold and empty veins, where no blood dwells;
Provokes this deluge most unnatural.-
O God, which this blood madest, revenge his death! + Example.
No beast so fierce, but knows some touch of pity.
Glo. But I know none, and therefore am no beast.
Anne. O wonderful, when devils tell the truth!
Glo. More wonderful,when angels are so angry.-
Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman,
Of these supposed evils, to give me leave,
By circumstance, but to acquit myself.
Anne. Vouchsafe, diffused infection of a man,
For these known evils, but to give me leave,
By circumstance, to curse thy cursed self.
Glo. Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have
Some patient leisure to excuse myself,
Anne. Fouler than heart can think thee, thou
No excuse current, but to hang thyself.
Glo. By such despair, I should accuse myself. Anne. And, by despairing, shalt thou stand excused;
For doing worthy vengeance on thyself,
That didst unworthy slaughter upon others.
Glo. Say, that I slew them not?
Anne. Why then, they are not dead:
But dead they are, and, devilish slave, by thee.
Glo. I did not kill your husband.
Anne. Why, then he is alive.
Glo. Nay, he is dead; and slain by Edward's
Anne. Il rest betide the chamber where thou liest !
Glo. So will it, madam, 'till I lie with you.
Anne. I hope so.
Glo. I know so.-But, gentle lady Anne,-
To leave this keen encounter of our wits,
And fall somewhat into a slower method;-
Is not the causer of the timeless deaths
Of these Plantagenets, Henry, and Edward,
As blameful as the executioner ?
Anne. Thou wast the cause, and most accursed effect.
Glo. Your beauty was the cause of that effect; Your beauty, which did haunt me in my sleep, To undertake the death of all the world, So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom. 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
You should not blemish it, if I stood by :
As all the world is cheered by the sun,
So I by that; it is my day, my life.
Anne. Black night o'ershade thy day, and death
Glo. Curse not thyself, fair ereature; thou art both.
Anne. I would I were, to be revenged on thee
Glo. It is a quarrel most unnatural,
To be revenged on him that loveth thee.
Anne. It is a quarrel just and reasonable,
To be revenged 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.
Anne. His better doth not breathe upon the earth. Glo. He lives, that loves you better than he could.
Anne. Name him.
Glo. Plantagenet.
Anne. Why, that was he.
Glo. The self-same name, but one of better na
Glo. I would they were, that I might die at once!
For now they kill me with a living death.
Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt
tears,
Shamed their aspects with store of childish drops:
These eyes, which never shed remorseful • tear,-
Not, when my father York and Edward wept,
To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made,
When black-faced Clifford shook his sword at him:
Nor when thy warlike father, like a child,
Told the sad story of my father's death;
And twenty times made pause, to sob, and weep;
That all the standers-by had wet their cheeks;
Like trees bedash'd with rain in that sad time,
My manly eyes did scorn an humble tear;
And what these sorrows could not thence exhale,
Thy beauty hath, and made them blind with
I never sued to friend, nor enemy;
My tongue could never learn sweet soothing word;
But now thy beauty is proposed my fee,
My proud heart sues, and prompts my tongue to
speak.
[She looks scornfully at kis.
Teach not thy lip such scorn; for it was made
For kissing, lady, not for such contempt.
If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive,
Lo! here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword;
Which if thou please to hide in this true breast,
And let the soul forth that adoreth thee,
I lay it naked to the deadly stroke,
And humbly beg the death upon my knee.
[He lays his Breast open; she offers at it with his Sword. Nay, do not pause; for I did kill king Henry,But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me. Nay, now despatch; 'twas I that stabb'd young Edward;- [She again offers at his Breast. But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on. [She lets fall the Sword. Take up the sword again, or take up me. Anne. Arise, dissembler; though I wish thy death, I will not be thy executioner.
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. 'Tis figured in
My tongue.
Anne. I fear me, both are false. Glo. Then man
Was never true.
Anne. Well, well, put up your sword. Glo. Say then, my peace is made. Anne. That shall you know
Glo. Look, how this ring encompasseth thy finger,
Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart;
Wear both of them, for both of them are thine.
And if thy poor devoted servant may
But beg one favour at thy gracious hand,
Thou dost confirm his happiness for ever.
Anne. What is it?
Glo. That it may please you leave these sad de-
signs
To him that bath more cause to be a mourner,
And presently repair to Crosby-place *:
Where-after I have solemnly interr'd,
At Chertsey monast'ry this noble king,
And wet his grave with my repentant tears,-
I will with all expedient duty see you:
For divers unknown reasons, I beseech you,
Grant me this boon.
Grey. The heavens have bless'd you with a goodly
To be your comforter, when he is gone.
Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young; and his minority
Is put unto the trust of Richard Gloster,
A man that loves not me, nor none of you.
Riv. Is it concluded, he shall be protector?
Q. Eliz. It is determined, 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
Q. Eliz. The countess Richmond, good my lord of Stanley,
To your good prayer will scarcely say-anien.
Anne. With all my heart; and much it joys me Yet, Stanley, notwithstanding she's your wife,
To see you are become so penitent.
Tressel, and Berkley, go along with ine.
Glo. Bid me farewell.
Anne. 'Tis more than you deserve:
Bat, 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 com-
[Exeunt the rest, with the Corse.
Was ever woman in this humour woo'd?
Was ever woman in this humour won?
Pil have her, but I will not keep her long.
What! I, that kill'd her husband, and his father,
To take her in her heart's extremest hate;
With curses in her mouth, tears in her eyes.
The bleeding witness of her hatred by;
With God, her conscience, and these bars against
And I no friends to back my suit withal,
But the plain devil, and dissembling looks,
And yet to win her,—all the world to nothing!
Ha!
Hath she forgot already that brave prince,
Edward, her lord, whom I, some three months
Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury?
A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman,-
Framed in the prodigality of nature,
And loves not me, be you, good lord, assured,
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 accused on true report,
Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds
From wayward sickness, aud no grounded malice.
Q. Eliz. Saw you the king to-day, 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 cheer. fully.
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,
That I, forsooth, am stern, and love them not?
By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly,
That fill his ears with such dissentious rumours.
Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal,- Because I cannot flatter, and speak fair,
The spacious world cannot again afford:
And will she yet abase her eyes on me,
That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince,
And made her widow to a woful bed?
On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety?
On me, that halt, and am misshapen thus ?
My dukedom to a beggarly denier +,
I do mistake my person all this while:
Upon my life, she finds, although I cannot,
Myself to be a marvellous proper man,
I'll be at charges for a looking-glass;
And entertain a score or two of tailors,
To study fashions to adorn my body:
Since I'am crept in favour with myself,
I will maintain it with some little cost.
But, first, I'll turn yon' feilow in his grave;
And then return lamenting to my love.-
Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass,
That I may see my shadow as I pass.
Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive, and cog,
Duck with French nods and apish courtesy,
I must be held a rancorous enemy.
Cannot a plain man live, and think no harm,
But thus his simple truth must be abused
By silken, sly, insinuating Jacks?
Grey. To whom in all this presence speaks your
grace?
Glo. To thee, that hast nor honesty, nor grace. When have I injured thee? When done thee wrong?
Or thee for thee?-Or any of your faction!
A plague upon you all! His royal grace,
Whom God preserve better than you would wish!-
Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing-while,
But you must trouble him with lewd + complaints.
Q. Eliz. Brother of Gloster, you mistake the
The king, of his own royal disposition,
And not provoked by any suitor else;
Aiming, belike, at your interior hatred,
That in your outward action shews itself,
Against my children, brothers, and myself,
Makes him to send ; and thereby he may gather
The ground of your ill-will, and so remove it.
Glo. I cannot tell ;-The world is grown so bad,
That wrens may prey where eagles dare not perch:
Since every Jack became a gentleman,
There's many a gentle person made a Jack.
Q. Eliz. Come, come, we know your meaning,
brother Gloster;'
You envy my advancement, and my friends;
God grant, we never may have need of you!
Glo. Meantime, God grants that we have need of
Our brother is imprison'd by your means,
Myself disgraced, and the nobility
Held in contempt; while great promotions
• Summon. + Rude, ignorant.
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