University of Virginia Library

SCEN. VIII.

[The Scene is changed to the Kings Lodging.]
[The Curtain is let down.]
Enter Catesby, and Ratclife at one of the Doors before the Curtain.
Catesby.
You waited the first Watch; did the King rest?

Ratclife.
His Bosom lodgeth an unquiet Guest.

Catesby.
During the second watch, I tended him;
He often walk'd in Sleep, guided by Dream.
Enter Lovel at the other Door before the Curtain.
Who are you? Stand: this is forbidden Ground.

Lovel.
A friend, Lovel.

Ratclife.
O! he has walk'd the Round.

Lovel.
Ratclife, I left the King much discompos'd,
His Mind still waking, though his Eyes were clos'd.
How is he now?

Ratclife.
He starts; then calls on those,
Who with more quiet in their Graves repose:
This, when I watcht, I did with Horrour see.

Lovel.
This does with what I saw too well agree.
When he sleeps best his Cares seem all awake:
Ill-boding Fate does these disquiets make!

Catseby.
He dreams; is that so strange? you seem to me
By your Concern to dream as much, as he.
Can his crude Fumes of ill concocted meat
Such Womens Fears in men of Arms beget?
These apprehensions misbecome that Night,
Whose following Day must be employ'd in Fight.

Lovel.
Your Admonitions, Sir, you may forbear;
Our care is more, then yours, but not our Fear.
He cry'd, Prince Edward's kill'd; then he did grone
For the like Murther on the Father done.
Then mention'd Clarence, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,
And call'd them his Ambitions bloody Prey.
Next his late Queen, Hastings, and Buckingham,
And last of all he did his Nephews name.
Then he awak'd, and starting from his Couch,
Bade me depart, and not till call'd, approch.

Catesby.
My Lord, this only shews his Active Mind,
Which with his outward Parts Sleep cannot bind.
His Restlessness does all our Quiet bring:
Happy are Subjects of a watchful King!

Lovel.
Perhaps such Dreams may not deserve our Fears;
Yet Dreams sometimes are Fates ill Messengers.
But Midnight is now past; and Nature may
Need rest to bear the Labour of the Day.