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 touchstone,

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. ' 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 'tis-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 fled 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 way-for 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 Richmond.

Buck. I have heard the news, my lord.

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

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.

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!

[Exit.

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

Their young faces, who knows how far their looks
Of innocence may tempt you into pity?
Stand back-Lieutenant, have you brought the keys?

Enter LIEUTENANT.

Lieut. I have them, sir.

Tirrel. Then here's your warrant to deliver them.

[Giving a Ring. Licut What can this mean! why at this dead of

night

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?