but by the recorder.Then he was urg’d to tell my tale again,—
“Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr’d;”
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At lower end of the hall hurl’d up their caps,
And some ten voices cried, “God save King Richard!”
And thus I took the vantage of those few,—
“Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,” quoth I;
“This general applause and cheerful shout
Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard:”
And even here brake off and came away.
GLOSTER
What, tongueless blocks were they! would they not speak?
Will not the mayor, then, and his brethren, come?
BUCKINGHAM
The mayor is here at hand. Intend some fear;
Be not you spoke with but by mighty suit:
And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord;
For on that ground I’ll make a holy descant:
And be not easily won to our requests;
Play the maid’s part,—still answer nay, and take it.
GLOSTER
I go; and if you plead as well for them
As I can say nay to thee for myself,
No doubt we bring it to a happy issue.
BUCKINGHAM
Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks.
[Exit GLOSTER.]
[Enter the LORD MAYOR, ALDERMEN, and Citizens.]
Welcome, my lord. I dance attendance here;
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.
[Enter, from the Castle, CATESBY.]
Now, Catesby,—what says your lord to my request?
CATESBY
He doth entreat your grace, my noble lord,
To visit him tomorrow or next day:
He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation:
And in no worldly suit would he be mov’d,
To draw him from his holy exercise.
BUCKINGHAM
Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke;
Tell him, myself, the mayor and aldermen,
In deep designs, in matter of great moment,
No less importing than our general good,
Are come to have some conference with his grace.
CATESBY
I’ll signify so much unto him straight.
[Exit.]
BUCKINGHAM
Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed,
But on his knees at meditation;
Not dallying with a brace of courtezans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:
Happy were England would this virtuous prince
Take on his grace the sovereignty thereof:
But, sure, I fear, we shall not win him to it.
MAYOR
Marry, God defend his grace should say us nay!
BUCKINGHAM
I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again.
[Re-enter CATESBY.]
Now, Catesby, what says his grace?
CATESBY
He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to come to him:
His grace not being warn’d thereof before,
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
BUCKINGHAM
Sorry I am my noble cousin should
Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love;
And so once more return and tell his grace.
[Exit CATESBY.]
When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, ‘tis much to draw them thence,—
So sweet is zealous contemplation.
[Enter GLOSTER in a Galery above, between two BISHOPS. CATESBY returns.]
MAYOR
See where his grace stands ‘tween two clergymen!
BUCKINGHAM
Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity:
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,—
True ornaments to know a holy man.—
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favourable ear to our requests;
And pardon us the interruption
Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.
GLOSTER
My lord,
