King Richard III Part 12

GLOUCESTER. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of d.a.m.ned witchcraft, and that have prevail'd Upon my body with their h.e.l.lish charms?

HASTINGS. The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord, Makes me most forward in this princely presence To doom th' offenders, whosoe'er they be.

I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

GLOUCESTER. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil.

Look how I am bewitch'd; behold, mine arm Is like a blasted sapling wither'd up.

And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, Consorted with that harlot strumpet Sh.o.r.e, That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.

HASTINGS. If they have done this deed, my n.o.ble lord- GLOUCESTER. If?-thou protector of this d.a.m.ned strumpet, Talk'st thou to me of ifs? Thou art a traitor.

Off with his head! Now by Saint Paul I swear I will not dine until I see the same.

Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done.

The rest that love me, rise and follow me.

Exeunt all but HASTINGS, LOVEL, and RATCLIFF HASTINGS. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me; For I, too fond, might have prevented this.

STANLEY did dream the boar did raze our helms, And I did scorn it and disdain to fly.

Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, And started when he look'd upon the Tower, As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.

O, now I need the priest that spake to me!

I now repent I told the pursuivant, As too triumphing, how mine enemies To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd, And I myself secure in grace and favour.

O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head!

RATCLIFF. Come, come, dispatch; the Duke would be at dinner.

Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head.

HASTINGS. O momentary grace of mortal men, Which we more hunt for than the grace of G.o.d!

Who builds his hope in air of your good looks Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

LOVEL. Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim.

HASTINGS. O b.l.o.o.d.y Richard! Miserable England!

I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.

Come, lead me to the block; bear him my head.

They smile at me who shortly shall be dead. Exeunt

SCENE 5.

London. The Tower-walls

Enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM in rotten armour, marvellous ill-favoured

GLOUCESTER. Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy colour, Murder thy breath in middle of a word, And then again begin, and stop again, As if thou were distraught and mad with terror?

BUCKINGHAM. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian; Speak and look back, and pry on every side, Tremble and start at wagging of a straw, Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks Are at my service, like enforced smiles; And both are ready in their offices At any time to grace my stratagems.

But what, is Catesby gone?

GLOUCESTER. He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along.

Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY

BUCKINGHAM. Lord Mayor- GLOUCESTER. Look to the drawbridge there!

BUCKINGHAM. Hark! a drum.

GLOUCESTER. Catesby, o'erlook the walls.

BUCKINGHAM. Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent- GLOUCESTER. Look back, defend thee; here are enemies.

BUCKINGHAM. G.o.d and our innocence defend and guard us!

Enter LOVEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS' head

GLOUCESTER. Be patient; they are friends-Ratcliff and Lovel.

LOVEL. Here is the head of that ign.o.ble traitor, The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.

GLOUCESTER. So dear I lov'd the man that I must weep.

I took him for the plainest harmless creature That breath'd upon the earth a Christian; Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded The history of all her secret thoughts.

So smooth he daub'd his vice with show of virtue That, his apparent open guilt omitted, I mean his conversation with Sh.o.r.e's wife- He liv'd from all attainder of suspects.

BUCKINGHAM. Well, well, he was the covert'st shelt'red traitor That ever liv'd.

Would you imagine, or almost believe- Were't not that by great preservation We live to tell it-that the subtle traitor This day had plotted, in the council-house, To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester.

MAYOR. Had he done so?

GLOUCESTER. What! think you we are Turks or Infidels?

Or that we would, against the form of law, Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death But that the extreme peril of the case, The peace of England and our persons' safety, Enforc'd us to this execution?

MAYOR. Now, fair befall you! He deserv'd his death; And your good Graces both have well proceeded To warn false traitors from the like attempts.

I never look'd for better at his hands After he once fell in with Mistress Sh.o.r.e.

BUCKINGHAM. Yet had we not determin'd he should die Until your lordship came to see his end- Which now the loving haste of these our friends, Something against our meanings, have prevented- Because, my lord, I would have had you heard The traitor speak, and timorously confess The manner and the purpose of his treasons: That you might well have signified the same Unto the citizens, who haply may Misconster us in him and wail his death.

MAYOR. But, my good lord, your Grace's words shall serve As well as I had seen and heard him speak; And do not doubt, right n.o.ble Princes both, But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens With all your just proceedings in this cause.

GLOUCESTER. And to that end we wish'd your lordship here, T' avoid the the the censures of the carping world.

BUCKINGHAM. Which since you come too late of our intent, Yet witness what you hear we did intend.

And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.

Exit LORD MAYOR GLOUCESTER. Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.

The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in an post.

There, at your meet'st advantage of the time, Infer the b.a.s.t.a.r.dy of Edward's children.

Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen Only for saying he would make his son Heir to the crown-meaning indeed his house, Which by the sign thereof was termed so.

Moreover, urge his hateful luxury And b.e.s.t.i.a.l appet.i.te in change of l.u.s.t, Which stretch'd unto their servants, daughters, wives, Even where his raging eye or savage heart Without control l.u.s.ted to make a prey.

Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person: Tell them, when that my mother went with child Of that insatiate Edward, n.o.ble York My princely father then had wars in France And, by true computation of the time, Found that the issue was not his begot; Which well appeared in his lineaments, Being nothing like the n.o.ble Duke my father.

Yet touch this sparingly, as 'twere far off; Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.

BUCKINGHAM. Doubt not, my lord, I'll play the orator As if the golden fee for which I plead Were for myself; and so, my lord, adieu.

GLOUCESTER. If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard's Castle; Where you shall find me well accompanied With reverend fathers and well learned bishops.

BUCKINGHAM. I go; and towards three or four o'clock Look for the news that the Guildhall affords. Exit GLOUCESTER. Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.

[To CATESBY] Go thou to Friar Penker. Bid them both Meet me within this hour at Baynard's Castle.

Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER Now will I go to take some privy order To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight, And to give order that no manner person Have any time recourse unto the Princes. Exit

SCENE 6.

London. A street

Enter a SCRIVENER

SCRIVENER. Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings; Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's.

And mark how well the sequel hangs together: Eleven hours I have spent to write it over, For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me; The precedent was full as long a-doing; And yet within these five hours Hastings liv'd, Untainted, unexamin'd, free, at liberty.

Here's a good world the while! Who is so gros That cannot see this palpable device?

Yet who's so bold but says he sees it not?

Bad is the world; and all will come to nought, When such ill dealing must be seen in thought. Exit

SCENE 7.