YORKI would, that I might thank you as you call me.
GLOSTER
How?
YORK
Little.
PRINCE
My Lord of York will still be cross in talk:—
Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him.
YORK
You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me:—
Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me;
Because that I am little, like an ape,
He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders.
BUCKINGHAM
With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons!
To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himself:
So cunning and so young is wonderful.
GLOSTER
My lord, wil’t please you pass along?
Myself and my good cousin Buckingham
Will to your mother, to entreat of her
To meet you at the Tower and welcome you.
YORK
What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord?
PRINCE
My lord protector needs will have it so.
YORK
I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower.
GLOSTER
Why, what should you fear?
YORK
Marry, my uncle Clarence’ angry ghost:
My grandam told me he was murder’d there.
PRINCE
I fear no uncles dead.
GLOSTER
Nor none that live, I hope.
PRINCE
An if they live, I hope I need not fear.
But come, my lord; and with a heavy heart,
Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.
[Sennet. Exeunt PRINCE, YORK, HASTINGS, CARDINAL, and Attendants.]
BUCKINGHAM
Think you, my lord, this little prating York
Was not incensèd by his subtle mother
To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?
GLOSTER
No doubt, no doubt: O, ‘tis a parlous boy;
Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable:
He is all the mother’s, from the top to toe.
BUCKINGHAM
Well, let them rest.—Come hither, Catesby.
Thou art sworn as deeply to effect what we intend
As closely to conceal what we impart:
Thou know’st our reasons urg’d upon the way;—
What think’st thou? is it not an easy matter
To make William Lord Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke
In the seat royal of this famous isle?
CATESBY
He for his father’s sake so loves the prince
That he will not be won to aught against him.
BUCKINGHAM
What think’st thou then of Stanley? will not he?
CATESBY
He will do all in all as Hastings doth.
BUCKINGHAM
Well then, no more but this: go, gentle Catesby,
And, as it were far off, sound thou Lord Hastings
How he doth stand affected to our purpose;
And summon him tomorrow to the Tower,
To sit about the coronation.
If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons:
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou so too; and so break off the talk,
And give us notice of his inclination:
For we tomorrow hold divided councils,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ’d.
GLOSTER
Commend me to Lord William: tell him, Catesby,
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
Tomorrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle;
And bid my lord, for joy of this good news,
Give Mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.
BUCKINGHAM
Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly.
CATESBY
My good lords both, with all the heed I can.
GLOSTER
Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?
CATESBY
You shall, my lord.
GLOSTER
At Crosby Place, there shall you find us both.
[Exit CATESBY.]
BUCKINGHAM
Now, my lord, what shall we
