Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian;Speak and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforcèd smiles;
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?
GLOSTER
He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along.
[Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY.]
BUCKINGHAM
Lord mayor,—
GLOSTER
Look to the drawbridge there!
BUCKINGHAM
Hark! a drum.
GLOSTER
Catesby, o’erlook the walls.
BUCKINGHAM
Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent,—
GLOSTER
Look back, defend thee,—here are enemies.
BUCKINGHAM
God and our innocency defend and guard us!
GLOSTER
Be patient; they are friends,—Ratcliff and Lovel.
[Enter LOVEL and RATCLIFF, with HASTINGS’ head.]
LOVEL
Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
GLOSTER
So dear I lov’d the man that I must weep.
I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breath’d upon the earth a Christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts:
So smooth he daub’d his vice with show of virtue
That, his apparent open guilt omitted,—
I mean, his conversation with Shore’s wife,—
He liv’d from all attainder of suspécts.
BUCKINGHAM
Well, well, he was the covert’st shelter’d traitor
That ever liv’d.—
Would you imagine, or almost believe,—
Were’t not that by great preservation
We live to tell it you,—that the subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council-house,
To murder me and my good Lord of Gloster!
MAYOR
Had he done so?
GLOSTER
What! think you we are Turks or Infidels?
Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death,
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England and our persons’ safety,
Enforc’d us to this execution?
MAYOR
Now, fair befall you! he deserv’d his death;
And your good graces both have well proceeded,
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
I never look’d for better at his hands
After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.
BUCKINGHAM
Yet had we not determin’d he should die
Until your lordship came to see his end;
Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Something against our meanings, have prevented:
Because, my lord, we would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons;
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply may
Misconster us in him, and wail his death.
MAYOR
But, my good lord, your grace’s word shall serve
As well as I had seen and heard him speak:
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this case.
GLOSTER
And to that end we wish’d your lordship here,
To avoid the the the censures of the carping world.
BUCKINGHAM
But since you come too late of our intent,
Yet witness what you hear we did intend:
And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell.
[Exit LORD MAYOR.]
GLOSTER
Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:—
There, at your meet’st advantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children:
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen,
Only for saying he would make his son
Heir to the crown;—meaning, indeed,
