Stanley. I farther would advise you, madam, this

instant To remove the princes to some Remote abode, where you yourself are mistress. P. Ed. Dear madam, take me hence; for I shall

ne'er Enjoy a moment's quiet here.

D. of York. Nor I ; pray, mother let me go too. Queen. Come then my pretty young ones, let's

away, For here you lie within the falcon's reach, Who watches but th' unguarded hour to seize you.

Enter LIEUTENANT, with a Warrant. Lieut. I beg your Majesty will pardon me; But the young princes must, on no account, . Have egress from the Tower. Nor must (without the king's especial license) Of what degree soever, any person Have admission to them all must retire. Queen. I am their mother, sir! who else commands

them? If I pass freely, they shall follow me. For you, I'll take the peril of your fault upon myself.

Lieut. My inclination, madam, would oblige you; But I am bound by oath, and must ubey ; Nor, madam, can I now with safety answer For this continued visit. Please you, my lord, to read these orders. Queen. Oh! heav'nly powers, shall I not stay with

them? Lieut. Such are the king's commands, madam. Queen. My lord ! Stanley: 'Tis too true—and it were vain to oppose

them. Queen. Support me, Heav'n! For life can never bear the panys of such a parting. Oh! my poor children! oh, distracting thought !

I dare not bid them, (as I should) farewell ;
And then to part in silence stabs my soul !

P. Ed. What, must you leave us, mother!
Queen. What shall I say?

[Aside. But for a time, my loves—we shall meet again, At least in heaven.

D. of York. Won't you take me with you, mother I shall be so 'fraid to stay when you are gone.

Queen. I cannot speak to them, and yet we must Be parted—then let ihese kisses say farewell. Why! oh why! just Heav'n, must these be our last? Duch. of York. Give not your grief such way-be

sudden when you part.
Queen. I will-since it must be to heav'n I leave

them :
Hear me, ye guardian powers of innocence !
Awake or sleeping-Oh! protect them still!
Still may their helpless youth attract men's pity,
That when the arm of cruelty is rais'd,
Their looks may drop the lifted dagger down
From the stern murderer's relenting hand,
And throw him on his knees in penitence !

Both Princes. Oh, mother, mother!
Queen. Oh! my poor children!

[Exeunt severally

SCENE II.

The Presence Chamber.

Gloster, seated; BUCKINGHAM, Catesby, Rat

CLIFF, LOVEL, &c.
Glost. Stand all apart-Cousin of Buckingham-
Buck. My gracious sovereign !
Glost. Give me thy hand;

At length by thy advice and thy assistance,
Is Gloster seated on the English throne,
But

say, my cousin
What, shall we wear these glories for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?
Buck. I hope for ages, sir-long may they grace

you !
Glost. Oh! Buckingham! now do I play the touch-

stone,
To try if thou be current friend indeed :
Young Edward lives, so does his brother York.
Now think what I would speak,

Buck. Say on, my gracious lord.

Glost. I tell thee, coz, I've lately had two spiders
Crawling upon my startled hopes—
Now tho? thy friendly hand has brush'd them from

me,
Yet still they crawl offensive to my eyes ;
I would have some kind friend to tread upon 'em.
I would be king, my cousin.

Buck. Why, so I think you are, my royal lord.
Glost. Ha! am I king? 'tis so-but-Edward

lives.
Buck. Most true, my lord.

Glost. Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull.
Shall I be plain-I wish the bastards dead!
And I would have it suddenly perform’d!
Now, cousin, canst understand me?

Buck. None dare dispute your highness' pleasure.
Glost. Indeed ! methinks thy kindness freezes,

cousin.
Thou dost refuse me then ?--they shall not die.

Buck. My lord, since 'tis an action cannot be Recall’d, allow me but some pause to think ; I'll instantly resolve your highness.

[Exit. Glost. !'ll henceforth deal with shorter sighted

fools. None are for me, that look into my deeds

With thinking eyes
High reaching Buckingham grows circumspect;
The best on't is, it may be done without him,
Tho' not so well, perhaps--had he consented,
Why, then the murder had been his, not mine.
We'll make a shift as ʼtis--Come hither, Catesby :
Where's that same Tirrel, whom thou told'st me of ?
Hast thou given him those sums of gold I order'd ?

Catesby. I have, my liege.

Glost. Give him this ring, and say, myself Will bring him farther orders instantly.

[Exit CATESBY. The deep revolving Duke of Buckingham No more shall be the neighbour to my councils; Has he so long held out with me untir'd, And stops he now for breath? Well, be it so.

Enter LORD STANLEY.

How now, Lord Stanley, what's the news?
Stanley. I hear, my liege, the Lord Marquis of

Dorset
Is Hled to Richmond, now in Brittany.
Glost. Why, let him go, my lord: he may be

spar'd. Hark thee, Ratcliff, when saw'st thou Anne, my

queen?
Is she still weak? has my physician seen her?

Ratcliff. He has my lord, and fears her mightily.
Glost. But he's exceeding skilful, she'll mend

shortly.
Ratcliff. I hope she will, my lord.

Glost. And if she does, I have mistook my man!
I must be married to my brother's daughter,
At whom I know the Briton, Richmond, aims;
And by that knot, looks proudly on the crown.
But then to stain me with her brother's blood;
Is that the way to woo the sister's love ?

No matter what's the wayfor while they live, My goodly kingdom's on a weak foundation. 'Tis done, my daring heart's resolv’d—they're dead !

Enter BUCKINGHAM.

Buck. My lord, I have consider'd in my mind, The late request, that you did sound me in. Glost, Well, let that rest-Dorset is fled to Rich

mond. Buck. I have heard the news, my

lord. Glost. Stanley, he's your near kinsman-well, look

to bim. Buck. My lord, I claim that gift, my due by pro

mise,
For which your honour and your faith's eng ag'd;
The earldom of Hereford, and those moveables,
Which you have promised I shall possess.

Glost. Stanley, look to your wife ; if she convey
Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it.
Buck. what says your highness to my just re-

quest? Glost. I do remember me, Harry the Sixth, When Richmond was a little, peevish boy, Did prophesy, that Richmond should be king, "Tis odd-a king, perhaps

Enter CATESBY.

Catesby. My lord, I have obey'd your highness'

orders. Buck. May it please you to resolve me in my

suit? Glost. Lead Tirrel to my closet, I'll meet him. Buck. I beg your highness' ear, my lord. Glost. I'm busy-thou troublest ine~ I'm not i' th’ vein.

[Exit.