Buck. Oh patience, Heav'n! is't thus he pays my

service?
Was it for this I rais'd him to the throne ?
Oh ! if the peaceful dead have any sense
Of the vile injuries they.bore while living,
Then sure the joyful souls of blood-suck'd Edward,
Henry, Clarence, Hastings, and all that through
His foul corrupted dealings have miscarried,
Will, from the walls of heav'n, in smiles look down,
To see this tyrant tumbling from his throne,
His fall unmourn’d, and bloody as their own!

[Erit,

SCENE III.

An Apartment in the Tower.

Enter Tirrel, DIGHTON, and FOREST.
Tirrel. Come, gentlemen,
Have you concluded on the means ?

Forest. Smothering will make no noise, sir.
Tirrel. Let it be done i'th' dark—for should

you

see

To give them too! 'tis not for me to inquire. [Exit. Tirrel. Gentlemen, there lies your way.

[Exeunt severally.

SCENE IV.

The Presence Chamber.

Enter GLOSTER.

Glost. ,'Would it were done ! There is a busy something here, That foolish custom has made terrible, To the intent of evil deeds? and nature too, As if she knew me womanish and weak, Tugs at my heart-strings with complaining cries, To talk me from my purpose-And then the thought of what men's tongues will

say, Of what their hearts must think; To have no creature love me living, nor My memory when dead. Shall future ages, when these children's tale Is told, drop tears in pity of their hapless fate, And read with detestation, the misdeeds of Gloster. The crook-back'd tyrant, cruel, barbarous, And bloody? will they not say too, That to possess the crown, nor laws divine Nor human stopt my way?- Why, let them say it; They can't but say I had the crown; I was not fool as well as villain.

Enter TIRREL.

Now, my Tirrel, how are the brats dispos’d?
Say, am I happy? hast thou dealt upon them?

Tirrel. If to have done the thing you gave in

charge, Beget your happiness, then, sir, be happy, for it is

done. Glost. But didst thou see them dead ? Tirrel, I did, my

lord. Glost. And bury'd, my good Tirrel? Tirrel. In that, I thought to ask your grace's plea

sure.

Glost. I have it-I'll have them sure-get me a

coffin Full of holes--let them be both cramm'd into it; And hark thee, in the night tide, throw them down The Thames-once in, they'll find the way to the bot

tom;
Meantime, but think, how I may do thee good,
And be inheritor of thy desire.

Tirrel. I humbly thank your highness.
Glost. About it, strait, good Tirrel.
Tirrel. Conclude it done, my lord. [Exit.

Glost. Why, then my loudest fears are hush'd;
The sons of Edward have eternal rest,
And Anne, my wife, has bid this world good night;
While fair Elizabeth, my beauteous niece,
Like a new morn, lights onward to my wishes.

Enter CATESBY.

Catesby. My lord
Glost. Good news, or bad, that thou com'st in 50

bluntly? Catesby. Bad news, my lord; Morton is filed to

Richmond, And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welsbmen, Is in the field, and still his power increases. Glost. Morton with Richmond, touches me more

néar, Than Buckingham, and his rash levy'd numbers.

But come, dangers retreat, when boldly they're con

fronted, And dull delays lead impotence and fear; Then fiery expedition raise my arm, And fatal may it fall on crush'd rebellion ! Let's muster men-my counsel is my shield, We must be brief, when traitors brave the field. (Exit.

SCENE V.

A Court in the Tower.

Enter QUEEN and Duchess of York.

Queen. Oh, my poor children! Oh, my tender

babes! My unblown flowers, pluck'd by untimely hands : If yet your gentle souls fly in the air, And he not fix'd in doom perpetual, Hover about me, with your airy wings, And hear your mother's lamentation ! Why slept their guardian angels, when this deed was

done ? Duch. of York. So many miseries have drain'd my

eyes, That my woe-weary'd tongue is still and mute;Why should calamity be full of words ? Queen. Let's give them scope; for though they

can't remove, Yet, do they ease,

affliction. Duch.of York. Why, tben, let us be loud in excla

mations,

To Richard, haste, and pierce him with our cries :

[Trumpet sounds a March. Hark, his trumpet sounds !—this way he must pass.

Queen. Alas, I've not the daring to confront him ! Duch. of York. I have a mother's right-l'll force

him to hear me.

Enter Gloster and CATESBY, with Forces.

Trumpet sounds a March. Glost. Who interrupts me, in my expedition ? Duch. of York. Dost thou not know me? Art thou

not my son ? Glost. I cry your mercy, madam—is it you? Duch. of York. Art thou my son? Glost. Ay, I thank Heaven, my father, and your

self. Duch. of York. Then I command thee, hear me. Glost. Madam, I have a touch of

your condition, That cannot brook the accent of reproof. Duch. of York. Stay, I'll be mild, and gentle, in my

words. Glost. And brief, good mother, for I am in haste. Duch. of York. Why, I have staid for thee, (just

Heav'n knows)
In torment, and in agony.

Glost. And came not I at last, to comfort
Duch. of York. No, on my soul! too well thou

know'st it,
A grievous burden was thy birth to me,
Techy, and wayward, was thy infancy;
Thy prime of manhood, daring, bold, and stubborn;
Thy age confirm’d, most subtle, proud, and bloody!

Glost. If I am so disgracious in thy eye,
Let me march on, and not offend thee, madam;

Duch. of York. Yet stay, I charge thee, hear me.
Queen. If not, hear me; for I have wrongs will

speak

you?