upon their tragedy.Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,
I’ll send some packing that yet think not on’t.
CATESBY
‘Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepar’d and look not for it.
HASTINGS
O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out
With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so ‘twill do
With some men else that think themselves as safe
As thou and I; who, as thou knowest, are dear
To princely Richard and to Buckingham.
CATESBY
The princes both make high account of you,—
[Aside]
For they account his head upon the bridge.
HASTINGS
I know they do, and I have well deserv’d it.
[Enter STANLEY.]
Come on, come on; where is your boarspear, man?
Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?
STANLEY
My lord, good morrow; and good morrow, Catesby:—
You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,
I do not like these several councils, I.
HASTINGS
My lord, I hold my life as dear as you do yours;
And never in my days, I do protest,
Was it so precious to me as ‘tis now;
Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would be so triumphant as I am?
STANLEY
The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,
Were jocund and suppos’d their states were sure,—
And they, indeed, had no cause to mistrust;
But yet, you see, how soon the day o’ercast!
This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt;
Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward.
What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.
HASTINGS
Come, come, have with you.—Wot you what, my lord?
To-day the lords you talk’d of are beheaded.
STANLEY
They, for their truth, might better wear their heads
Than some that have accus’d them wear their hats.—
But come, my lord, let’s away.
[Enter a Pursuivant.]
HASTINGS
Go on before; I’ll talk with this good fellow.
[Exeunt STANLEY and CATESBY.]
How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee?
PURSUIVANT
The better that your lordship please to ask.
HASTINGS
I tell thee, man, ‘tis better with me now
Than when thou mett’st me last where now we meet:
Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
By the suggestion of the queen’s allies;
But now, I tell thee,—keep it to thyself,—
This day those enemies are put to death,
And I in better state than e’er I was.
PURSUIVANT
God hold it, to your honour’s good content!
HASTINGS
Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for me.
[Throwing him his purse.]
PURSUIVANT
I thank your honour.
[Exit.]
[Enter a PRIEST.]
PRIEST
Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour.
HASTINGS
I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart.
I am in your debt for your last exercise;
Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.
[Enter BUCKINGHAM.]
BUCKINGHAM
What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain!
Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;
Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.
HASTINGS
Good faith, and when I met this holy man,
The men you talk of came into my mind.—
What, go you toward the Tower?
BUCKINGHAM
I do, my lord, but long I cannot stay there;
I shall return before your lordship thence.
HASTINGS
Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there.
BUCKINGHAM
[Aside]
And supper too, although thou knowest it not.—
Come, will you go?
HASTINGS
I’ll wait upon your lordship.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III. Pomfret. Before the Castle
