 | Richard III |  |
21
ACT the III
[Act III scene I]
Enter Prince Edward, with the Dukes of Gloucester, Buckingham, Lord Stanley, Tressel and Attendants.RICHARD
'Now, my Royal Cousin, welcome to London,
'Welcome to all those honour'd Dignities
'Which by your Father's Will, and by your Birth,
'You stand the undoubted Heir Possess'd of;
And, if my plain simplicity of Heart
May take the liberty to shew it self,
You're farther welcome to your Uncles Care
And Love: Why do you sigh, my Lord?
The weary way has made you melancholy.
PRINCE EDWARD
No, Uncle, but our crosses on the way
Have made it Tedious, Wearisome and Heavy,
I want more Uncles here to welcome me.
TRESSEL
More Uncles! What means his Highness? Aside.
LORD STANLEY
Why, Sir, the careful Duke of Gloucester has Aside.
Secur'd his Kinsmen on the way: Lord Rivers, Gray, Aside.
Sir Thomas Vaughan, and others of his Friends, Aside.
Are Prisoners now in Pomfret Castle; Aside.
On what pretence it boots not: There they are; Aside.
Let the Devil and the Duke alone to accuse 'em. Aside.
RICHARD
My Lord, the Mayor of London comes to greet you.
Enter Lord Mayor, and Citizens.
LORD MAYOR
Vouchsafe, most Gracious Sovereign to accept
The general Homage of your Loyal City;
We farther beg your Royal leave to speak
In deep Condolement of your Father's loss:
And, far as our true sorrow will permit
To gratulate your Accession to the Throne.
PRINCE EDWARD
I thank you, good my Lord, and thank you all.
Alas, my youth is yet unfit to govern,
Therefore the Sword of Justice is in abler hands:
But be assur'd of this, so much already
I perceive I love you, that tho' I know not yet
To do you offices of good, yet this I know,
I'll sooner die, than basely do you wrong.
22
So wise, so young, they say do never live long. [Aside.
PRINCE EDWARD
My Lords,
I thought my Mother and my Brother York
Wou'd long e're this have met us on the way:
Say, Uncle Gloucester, if your Brother come,
Where shall we sojourn till our Coronation?
RICHARD
Where it shall seem best to your Royal self,
May I advise you, Sir, some day or two
Your Highness shall repose you at the Tower,
Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit
For your best Health and Recreation.
PRINCE EDWARD
Why at the Tower? But be it it as you please.
BUCKINGHAM
My Lord, your Brother's Grace of York.
Enter the young Duke of York attended.
PRINCE EDWARD
Richard of York! How fares our dearest Brother?
DUKE OF YORK
O! my dear Lord! So I must call you now. [embracing.
PRINCE EDWARD
I, Brother, to our grief, as it is yours:
'Too soon he dy'd who might have better worn
'That Title, which in me will loose its Majesty.
RICHARD
How fares our Cousin, Noble Lord of York?
DUKE OF YORK
Thank you kindly, dear Uncle. O my Lord,
You said that Idle Weeds were fast in growth,
The King my Brother has out grown me far.
RICHARD
He has my Lord.
DUKE OF YORK
And therefore is he Idle?
RICHARD
O pretty Cousin, I must not say so.
DUKE OF YORK
Nay, Uncle, I don't believe the sayings true,
For if it were, you'd be an Idle Weed.
RICHARD
How so, cousin?
DUKE OF YORK
Because I've heard Folds say you grew so fast
Your Teeth wou'd gnaw a Crust at two hours old,
Now 'twas two years e'er I cou'd get a Tooth.
RICHARD
Indeed — I find the Brat is taught this lesson. (Aside.
Who told thee this, my pretty merry Cousin?
DUKE OF YORK
Why, your Nurse, Uncle.
RICHARD
My Nurse, Child, she was dead before thou wert born.
DUKE OF YORK
If 'twas not she, I can't tell who told me.
RICHARD
So subtle too; 'tis pity thou art short liv'd. [Aside.
PRINCE EDWARD
My Brother, Uncle, will be cross in talk.
RICHARD
O, fear not, my Lord, we shall never Quarrel.
PRINCE EDWARD
I hope your Grace knows how to bear with him?
DUKE OF 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 and Ape,
23
PRINCE EDWARD
Fie, Brother, I have no such meaning.
STANLEY
With what a sharp, provided Wit he reasons, Aside.
To mitigate the scorn he gives his Uncle: Aside.
He prettily and aptly taunts himself. Aside.
TRESSEL
So cunning, and so young, is wonderful. Aside.
RICHARD
My Lord, wilt please you pass along?
My self, and my good Cousin Buckingham
Will to your Mother to entreat of her
To meet and bid you welcome at the Tower.
DUKE OF YORK
What will you go to the Tower, my dear Lord?
PRINCE EDWARD
My Lord Protector will have it so.
DUKE OF YORK
I shan't sleep in quiet at the Tower.
RICHARD
I'll warrant you King Henry lay there,
And he sleeps in quiet. [Aside.
PRINCE EDWARD
What shou'd you fear, Brother?
DUKE OF YORK
My Uncle Clarence Ghost, my Lord.
My Grandmother told me he was kill'd there.
PRINCE EDWARD
I fear no Uncles dead.
RICHARD
'Nor any, Sir, that live, I hope.
PRINCE EDWARD
'I hope so too. But come, my Lords,
'To the Tower, since it must be so. [Ex. all but R. and B.
BUCKINGHAM
Think you, my Lord, this little prating York
Was not instructed by his subtle Mother
To taunt and scorn you thus Opprobriously?
RICHARD
'No doubt, no doubt. O! 'tis a shrewd young Master:
Stubborn, Bold, Quick, Forward, and Capable;
He is all the Mothers from Top to Toe.
But let them rest: now what says Catesby?
BUCKINGHAM
My Lord, 'tis much as I suspected, and
He's here himself to inform you.
Enter Catesby
RICHARD
So, Catesby, hast thou been tampering? What News?
CATESBY
My Lord, according to the instruction given me,
With words at distance dropt I sounded Hastings,
Piercing how far he did affect your purpose,
To which indeed I found him Cold, Unwilling.
The sum is this, he seem'd a while to understand me not.
At length from plainer speaking urg'd to answer,
He said in heart, rather than wrong the Head
To whom the Crown was due, he'd lose his own.
RICHARD
Indeed, his own then answer for that saying,
He shall be taken care of: Mean while Catesby,
Be thou near me: Cousin of Buckingham
24
Are now in buisie meeting in Guild-Hall,
'Thither I'd have you haste immediately,
'And at your meetest 'vantage of the time
'Improve those Hints I gave you late to speak of:
But above all, infer the Bastardy
Of Edward's Children;
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my Person,
Tell'em, when my Mother went with Child of him,
My Princely Father then had Wars in France,
And by true Computation of his time
Found, that the issue was not his begot,
Which in his lineaments too plain appear'd,
Being nothing like the Noble York my Father:
Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere far of,
Because, my Lord, you know my Mother lives.
BUCKINGHAM
'Doubt not, my Lord, I'll play the Orator
'As if my self might wear the Golden Fee,
'For which I Plead.
RICHARD
If you thrive well, bring 'em to see me here,
'Where you shall find me seriously employ'd
'With the most Learned Fathers of the Church.
BUCKINGHAM
I fly, my Lord, to serve you.
RICHARD
To serve thy self, my Cousin;
For look, when I am King, claim thou of me
The Earldom of Hereford, and all those Moveables,
Whereof the King my Brother stood possest.
BUCKINGHAM
I shall remember that your Grace was Bountiful.
RICHARD
Cousin, I have said it.
BUCKINGHAM
I am gone, my Lord. [Exit Buck.
RICHARD
So — I've secur'd my Cousin here: These Moveables
Will never let his Brains have rest till I am King: Catesby,
Go thou with speed to Doctor Shaw, and thence
'To Fryar Beuker: Haste, and bid 'em both
'Attend me here, within an hour at farthest:
[Exit Catesby.
Mean while my private orders shall be given
To lock up all admittance to the Princes.
Now, by St. Paul, the work goes bravely on —
How many frightful stops wou'd Conscience make
In some soft heads to undertake like me:
— Come; this Conscience is a convenient Scarecrow,
It Guards the fruit which Priests and Wisemen tast,
Who never set it up to fright themselves:
They know 'tis rags, and gather in the face on't,
25
Why were Laws made, but that we're Rogues by Nature?
Conscience! 'tis our Coin, we live by parting with it,
And he thrives best that has the most to spare:
The protesting Lover buys hope with it,
And the deluded Virgin short liv'd pleasure.
Old gray beards cram their Avarice with it,
Your Lank-jaw'd hungry Judge will dine upon't,
And hang the Guiltless rather than eat his Mutton cold.
The crown'd Head quits it for Despotick sway,
The stubborn People for unaw'd Rebellion:
There's not a Slave but has his share of Villain;
Why then shall after Ages think my deeds
Inhumane? Since my worst are but Ambition:
Ev'n all Mankind to some lov'd Ills incline,
Great Men chuse Greater Sins — Ambition's mine. [Exit.
Enter Lady Ann, Sola.
ANN
When, when shall I have rest? Was Marriage made
To be the Scourge of our Offences here?
Ah no! 'Twas meant a Blessing to the Vertuous,
It once was so to me, tho' now my Curse:
The fruit of Edward's Love was sweet and pleasing:
But oh! Untimely cropt by cruel Richard,
Who rudely having grafted on his stock
Now makes my Life yield only sorrow.
Let me have Musick to compose my thoughts. [Song here.
It will not be: Nought but the grave can close my Eyes.
— How many labouring Wretches take their rest,
While I, night after night, with cares lie waking,
As if the gentle Nurse of Nature, Sleep,
Had vow'd to rock my peevish sense no more.
'O partial sleep! Canst thou in smoaky Cottages
'Stretch out the Peasants Limbs on Beds of Straw,
'And lay him fast, cram'd with distressful Bread?
Yet in the softest breeze of Peaceful Night
'Under the Canopis of costly State,
'Tho' lull'd with sounds of sweetest melody,
Refuse one moments slumber to a Princess?
O mockery of Greatness! But see,
He comes! The rude disturber of my Pillow.
26
RICHARD
Ha! still in tears; let 'em flow on; they're signs (Aside.
Of a substantial grief — Why don't she die? (Aside.
She must: My Interest will not let her live. (Aside.
The fair Elizabeth hath caught my Eye, (Aside.
My Heart's vacant; and she shall fill her place (Aside.
They say that Women have but tender hearts, (Aside.
'Tis a mistake, I doubt; I've found 'em tough: (Aside.
They'll bend, indeed: But he must strain that cracks 'em.(Aside.
All I can hope's to throw her into sickness: (Aside.
Then I may send her a Physicians help. (Aside.
So, Madam: What, you still take care, I see
To let the World believe I love you not,
This outward Mourning now has malice in't,
So have these sullen disobedient tears:
I'll have you tell the World I doat on you.
ANN
I wish I could, but 'twill not be believ'd:
Have I deserv'd this usage?
RICHARD
You have: You do not please me as at first.
ANN
What have I done? What horrid Crime committed?
RICHARD
To me the worst of Crimes, out-liv'd my liking.
ANN
If that be Criminal, Just Heaven be kind,
And take me while my Penitence is warm:
O Sir, forgive and kill me.
RICHARD
Umh! No, — The medling World will call it murder,
And I wou'd have 'em think me pitifull:
Now wert thou not afraid of self-Destruction,
Thou hast a fair excuse for't.
ANN
How fain wou'd I be Friends with Death? O name it.
RICHARD
Thy Husbands hate: Nor do I hate thee only
From the dull'd edge of sated Appetite
But from the eager Love I bear another:
Some call me Hypocrite: What think'st thou now,
Do I dissemble?
ANN
Thy Vows of Love to me were all dissembled.
RICHARD
Not one: For when I told thee so, I lov'd:
Thou art the only Soul I never yet deceiv'd:
And 'tis my honesty that tells thee now
With all my heart, I hate thee —
If this have no Effect, she is immortal. [Aside.
ANN
Forgive me ;Heave, that I forgave this Man.
O may my story told in after Ages,
Give warning to our easie Sexes ears:
May it Unveil the heartsof Men, and strike
27
CATESBY
My Lord, his Grace of Buckingham attends
Your Highness Pleasure.
RICHARD
Wait on him; I'll expect him here. (Exit Cat.
Your Absence, Madam, will be necessary.
ANN
Wou'd my death were so. (Exit.
RICHARD
It may be shortly.
So my Cousin, What say the Citizens? Enter Buckingham.
BUCKINGHAM
'Now, by our hopes, my Lord, they're senseless stones,
'Their hesitating fear has struck 'em dumb.
RICHARD
Touch'd you the Bastardy of Edward's Children?
BUCKINGHAM
I did, with his Contract to Lady Lucy.
Nay, his own Bastardy and Tyranny for Trifles;
— Laid open all your Victories in Scotland,
Your Discipline in War, Wisdom in Peace:
Your Bounty, Justice, fair Humility.
Indeed left nothing that might gild our Cause
Untouch'd, or slightly handled in my talk,
And when my Oration drew towards an end,
I urg'd of them that lov'd their Countries good
To do you right, and cry, Long live King Richard.
RICHARD
And did they so?
BUCKINGHAM
'Not one, by Heaven: But each like Statues fix'd
'Speechless and Pale, star'd in his fellows Face,
Which when I saw, I reprehended them,
And ask'd the Mayor what meant this wilfull silence?
His answer was, the people were not us'd
To be spoken to but by the Recorder,
'Who then took on him to repeat my words.
Thus saith the Duke, thus hath the Duke inferr'd:
But nothing urg'd in Warrant from himself.
When he had done, some Followers of my own
At lower end of th'Hall, hurl'd up their Caps,
And some ten voices cry'd, God save King Richard,
At which I took the 'vantage of those few,
And cry'd, Thanks gentle Citizens and Friends,
This general applause and chearful shout
Argues your Wisdom, and your Love of Richard,
And even here broke of, and came away.
RICHARD
O Tongueless Blocks! Wou'd they not speak?
Will not the Mayor then and his Brethren come?
BUCKINGHAM
The Mayor is here at hand: Feign you some fear,
And be not spoke with, but by mighty suit:
'A Prayer-Book in your hand, my Lord, were well,
28
For on that ground I'll make an holy descant:
Yet be not easily won to our Repuests,
'Seem, like the Virgin, fearful of our wishes.
RICHARD
'My other self! My Counsel's Consistory!
'My Oracle! my Prophet! My dear Cousin! [Embracing.
'I, as a Child, will go by thy direction.
BUCKINGHAM
Hark! the Lord Mayor's at hand: Away, my Lord;
Nor doubt, but yet we reach our point propos'd.
RICHARD
We cannot fail, my Lord, while you are Pilot.
A little flattery sometimes does well. [Aside.]
[Exit Rich.
Enter Lord Mayor, and Citizens.
BUCKINGHAM
Welcome, my Lord, I dance attendance here;
I'm afraid the Duke will not be spoke withal. [Enter Catesby.
Now, Catesby, what says your Lord to my request?
CATESBY
My Lord, he humbly does intreat your Grace
To visit him to morrow, or next day.
He's now retir'd with two Right Reverend Fathers
Divinely bent to Meditation,
And in no worldly suits wou'd he be mov'd,
To interrupt his Holy Exercise.
BUCKINGHAM
Return, good Catesby, to the gracious Duke;
Tell him, my Self, the Mayor, and Citizens,
In deep designs, in matters of great moment,
No less imooirting than our general good,
Are come to have some Conference with his Grace.
CATESBY
My Lord, I'll instantly inform his Highness.
BUCKINGHAM
Ah! my good Lord! This Prince is not an Edward,
He is not lolling on a lewd Love-bed;
But on his knees at Meditation:
Not dallying with a brace of Curtizans,
But with two deep Divines in secret praying.
Happy were England wou'd this Vertuous Prince
Take on himself the toil of Sovereignty.
LORD MAYOR
Happy indeed, my Lord.
He will not sure refuse our profer'd Love?
BUCKINGHAM
Alas my Lord, you know him not, his mind's
Above this World; he's for a Crown Immortal!
Look there! His door opens: Now where's our hope?
LORD MAYOR
See where his Grace stands 'tween two Clergymen?
BUCKINGHAM
Ay, ay; 'tis there he's caught: There's his Ambition.
LORD MAYOR
How low he bows to thank 'em for their care!
And, see, a Prayer-Book in his hand!
BUCKINGHAM
Wou'd he were King, we'd give him leave to pray.
Methinks I wish it for the love he bears the City.
29
The Mayor should lose his Title with his Office?
Well! who knows? he may be won?
LORD MAYOR
Ah! my Lord!
BUCKINGHAM
See! He comes forth: my Friends be resolute,
I know he's cautious to a fault but do not
Leave him till our honest suit be granted.
Enter Richard with a Book.
RICHARD
Cousin of Buckingham!
I do beseech your Grace to pardon me,
Who, earnest in my Zealous Meditation,
So long deferr'd the service of my Friends:
Now do I fear I've done some strange offence,
That looks disgracious in the City's Eye; If so,
'Tis Just you shou'd reprove my Ignorance.
BUCKINGHAM
You have, my Lord: We wish your Grace
On our entreaties wou'd amend your fault.
RICHARD
Else wherefore breath I in a Christian Land?
BUCKINGHAM
Know then it is your fault, that you resign
The Sceptred Office of your Ancestors,
Fair England's Throne, your own due right of Birth,
To the Corruption of a blemisht stock,
While in the Mildness of your sleeping thoughts,
(Which here we waken to our Country's good)
This wounded Isle does want her proper Limbs,
'Which to secure, joyn'd with these Loyal Men,
'Your very Worshipful and Loving Friends,
And by your vehement Instigation,
In this Just Cause, I come to move your Highness,
That on your gracious self you'd take the Charge
And Kingly Government of this your Land,
Not as protector, Steward, Substitute,
Or lowly Factor for another's Gain:
But as successively from Blood to Blood,
Your own, by right of Birth, and lineal Glory.
RICHARD
I cannot tell, if to depart in silence,
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof,
Fits best with my Degree or your Condition:
'Therefore to speak in just refusal of your suit,
And then in speaking not to check my Friends.
Definitively thus I answer you;
Your Love deserves my thanks, but my desert
Unmeritable shuns your fond Request:
For, Heaven be thanked, there is no need of me;
30
Which mellow'd by the stealing hours of time,
Will well become the seat of Majesty,
And make us (no doubt) happy by his Reign.
On him I lay what you wou'd lay on me,
The Right and Fortune of his happy Stars,
'Which Heaven forbid my thoughts shou'd rob him of.
BUCKINGHAM
My Lord, this argues Conscience in your Grace,
But Circumstances well consider'd:
The weak respects thereof are nice and trivial.
You say that Edward was your Brothers Son
So say we too, but not by Edward's Wife:
'If solemn Contracts are of any force
'That Title Justice gave to Lady Lucy:
'Even of his Birth cou'd I severely speak;
'Save that for reverence to some alive,
I give a spairing limit to my Tongue.
LORD MAYOR
Upon our knees, my Lord, we beg your Grace
To wear this precious Robe of dignity,
Which on a Child must sit too loose and heavy.
'Tis yours; befitting both your Wisdom and your Birth.
CATESBY
My Lord, this coldness is unkind,
Nor suits it with such ardent Loyalty?
BUCKINGHAM
O make 'em happy: Grant their Lawful Suit.
RICHARD
Alas! Why wou'd you heap this care on me?
I am unfit for State and Majesty.
I thank you for your Loves, but must declare
(I do beseech you take it not amiss)
I will not! dare not! must not yield to you.
BUCKINGHAM
If you refuse us through a soft remorse,
Loth to depose the Child, your Brother's Son:
(As well we know your tenderness of Heart)
Yet know, tho' you deny us to the last,
Your Brother's Son shall never Reign our King:
But we will plant some other in the Throne,
To the disgrace and downfall of your House.
'And thus resorlv'd I bid you, Sir, Farewell.
My Lord, and Gentlemen, I crave your pardon
For this vain trouble: M'intent was good,
I wou'd have serv'd my Country and my King;
But 'twill not be: Farewel! When next we meet —
LORD MAYOR
Be not too rash, my Lord, his Grace relents.
BUCKINGHAM
Away, you but decieve your selves — [Exit Buc.
CATESBY
Call him again; sweet Prince accept their suit.
31
If you deny us, all the Land will rue it.
RICHARD
Call him again — You will enforce me to
A World of cares; I am not make of stone,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties:
Tho' Heaven knows against my own Inclining.
Cousin of Buckingham, and sage grave Men. [Re-enter Buc.
Since you will buckle Fortune on my Back
to bear her burthen whether I will or no,
I must have patience to endure the load:
But if black Scandal or foul-fac's Reproach
Attend the sequel of your Imposition,
Your meer Enforcement shall Aquittance me:
For Heaven knows, as you may all partly see,
How far I am from the desire of this.
LORD MAYOR
Heaven guard your Grace: We see it, and will say it.
RICHARD
You will but say the truth, my Lord.
BUCKINGHAM
My heart's so full it scarce has vent for words;
My knee will better speak my duty now. [Kneels.
Long live our Soveraign, Richard King of England.
RICHARD
Indeed your words have touch'd me nearly Cousin:
Pray rise. I wish you cou'd recall 'em.
BUCKINGHAM
It wou'd be Treason now, my Lord: To morrow,
'If it so please your Majesty, from Counsel
'Orders shall be given for your Coronation.
RICHARD
Even when you please: for you will have it so.
BUCKINGHAM
To morrow then we will attend your Majesty:
And now we take our leaves with joy.
RICHARD
Cousin Adieu! my loving Friends farewel:
I must to my Holy Work again. [Exeunt B. and Citizens.
Richard. Solus.
Why now my golden dream is out —
Ambition like an early Friend throws back
My Curtains with an eager Hand, o'rejoy'd
To tell me what I dreamt is true — A Crown!
Thou bright reward of ever daring minds,
O! How thy awful Glory fills my Soul!
Nor can the means that got thee dim thy lustre;
For, not mens Love, Fear pays thee Adoration:
And Fame not more survives from Good than Evil deeds.
Th'aspiring youth that fir'd th'Ephesian Dome
Out-lives in Fame the pious Fool that rais'd it:
Conscience, lie still — More lives must yet be drain'd,
Crowns got with Blood must be with Blood maintain'd. [Exit.
The End of the Third ACT.
| Richard III | |