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With words, at distance dropp'd, 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 awhile to understand me
not;

At length, from plainer speaking, urg'd to answer,
He said, in heat, rather than wrong the head
To whom the crown was due, he'd lose his own.
Glost. Indeed! his own then answer for that say-
ing:

He shall be taken care of; meanwhile, Catesby,
Be thou near me.- Cousin of Buckingham,
Let's lose no time; the mayor and citizens
Are now at busy 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.

Buck. Doubt not, my lord, I'll play the orator, As if myself might wear the golden fee,

For which I plead.

Glost. If you thrive well, bring them to see me

here,

Where you shall find me seriously employ'd,
With the most learned fathers of the church.
Buck. I fly, my lord, to serve you.
Glost. To serve thyself, 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 possess❜d.

Buck. I shall remember, that your grace was boun

tiful.

[graphic]

Glost. Cousin, I have said it.

Buck. I am gone, my lord.

Glost. So, I've secur'd my cousin here.

Will never let his brains rest, till I'm king.

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Catesby, go you with speed to Doctor Shaw,
And thence, to Friar Beuker-bid them both
Attend me here, within an hour at farthest :

[Exit CATESBY.

Meanwhile, my private orders shall be given,
To lock out all admittance to the princes.
Now, by St. Paul, the work goes bravely on!
How many frightful stops would conscience make
In some soft heads, to undertake like me!

Come, this conscience is a convenient scarecrow;
It guards the fruit, which priests and wise men taste,
Who never set it up to fright themselves;

They know 'tis rags, and gather in the face on't; While half-starv'd, shallow daws, through fear, are honest.

Why were laws made, but, that we're rogues by na

ture?

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-lived pleasure;
Old greybeards 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 despotic 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
Inhuman, 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.

SCENE II.

A Chamber.

LADY ANNE discovered, sitting on a Couch.

Lady A. When-when shall I have rest? Was marriage made

To be the scourge of our offences here?

Oh, no! 'twas meant a blessing to the virtuous;
It once was so to me, though now my curse.
The fruit of Edward's love was sweet and pleasing;
But, oh! untimely cropp'd by cruel Gloster;
Let me have music, to compose my thoughts.

[Soft Music. It will not be; naught but the grave can close my

But see,

eyes.

He comes the rude disturber of my pillow.

Enter GLOSter.

Glost. Ha! still in tears? let them flow on; theyr'e signs

Of a substantial grief.-Why don't she die?
She must; my interest will not let her live.
The fair Elizabeth hath caught my eye;
My heart's vacant, and she shall fill her place.
They say,
that women have but tender hearts :
'Tis a mistake, I doubt I've found them tough;

They'll bend, indeed, but he must strain, that cracks

them.

All I can hope's to throw her into sickness,

That I may send her a physician's help.

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 dote upon you.

Lady A. I wish I could-but 'twill not be believ'd. Have I deserv'd this usage?

Glost. You have-you do not please me, as at first. Lady A. What have I done? What horrid crime committed?

Glost. To me the worst of crimes; outliv'd my liking.

Lady A. If that be criminal, just Hea'vn be kind, And take me while my penitence is warm; Oh, sir, forgive and kill me.

Glost. Umph! no-the meddling world will call
that murder,

And I would have them think me pitiful:
Now, wert thou not afraid of self destruction,
Thou hast a fair excuse for't.

Lady A. How fain would I be friends with death!
Oh, name it.

Glost. Thy husband's 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?

Lady A. Thy vows of love to me were all dissem bled.

Glost. 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.

Lady A. Forgive me, Heav'n, that I forgave this

man.

Oh may my story, told in after ages,

Give warning to our easy sex's ears;

May it unveil the hearts of men, and strike
Them deaf to their dissimulated love!

Enter CATESBY.

Glost. Now, Catesby

Catesby. My lord, his Grace of Buckingham attends your highness' pleasure.

Glost. Wait on him-I'll expect him here.

[Exit CATESBY.

[Exit.

Your absence, madam, will be necessary.
Lady A. 'Would my death were so !

Glost. It may be, shortly.

[CATESBY passes over the back of the Stage.

Enter BUCKINGHAM.

My cousin, what say the citizens?

Buck. Now, by our hopes, my lord, they are senseless stones:

Their hesitating fear has struck them dumb!

Glost. Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children?

Buck. 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 country's good,
To do you right, and cry, Long live King Richard!
Glost. And did they so?

Buck. Not one, by Heav'n-but each like statues
fix'd,

Speechless and pale, star'd in his fellow's face:
Which, when I saw, I reprehended them,

And ask'd the Mayor what meant this wilful silence?

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