And prov’d the subject of mine own soul’s curse,—Which hitherto hath held my eyes from rest;
For never yet one hour in his bed
Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep,
But with his timorous dreams was still awak’d.
Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick;
And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Poor heart, adieu! I pity thy complaining.
ANNE
No more than with my soul I mourn for yours.
DORSET
Farewell, thou woeful welcomer of glory!
ANNE
Adieu, poor soul, that tak’st thy leave of it!
DUCHESS
[To DORSET]
Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide thee!—
[To ANNE]
Go thou to Richard, and good angels tend thee!—
[To QUEEN ELIZABETH]
Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess thee!
I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me!
Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen,
And each hour’s joy wreck’d with a week of teen.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Stay yet, look back with me unto the Tower.—
Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes
Whom envy hath immur’d within your walls!
Rough cradle for such little pretty ones!
Rude ragged nurse, old sullen playfellow
For tender princes, use my babies well!
So foolish sorrows bids your stones farewell.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. London. A Room of State in the Palace
[Flourish of trumpets. RICHARD, as King, upon his throne; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, RATCLIFF, LOVEL, a Page, and others.]
KING RICHARD
Stand all apart—Cousin of Buckingham,—
BUCKINGHAM
My gracious sovereign?
KING RICHARD
Give me thy hand.
[Ascends the throne.]
Thus high, by thy advice
And thy assistance, is King Richard seated:—
But shall we wear these glories for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?
BUCKINGHAM
Still live they, and for ever let them last!
KING RICHARD
Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch,
To try if thou be current gold indeed:—
Young Edward lives;—think now what I would speak.
BUCKINGHAM
Say on, my loving lord.
KING RICHARD
Why, Buckingham, I say I would be king.
BUCKINGHAM
Why, so you are, my thrice-renownèd lord.
KING RICHARD
Ha! am I king? ‘tis so: but Edward lives.
BUCKINGHAM
True, noble prince.
KING RICHARD
O bitter consequence,
That Edward still should live,—true, noble Prince!—
Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull:—
Shall I be plain?—I wish the bastards dead;
And I would have it suddenly perform’d.
What say’st thou now? speak suddenly, be brief.
BUCKINGHAM
Your grace may do your pleasure.
KING RICHARD
Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezes:
Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?
BUCKINGHAM
Give me some little breath, some pause, dear lord,
Before I positively speak in this:
I will resolve your grace immediately.
[Exit.]
CATESBY
[Aside]
The king is angry: see, he gnaws his lip.
KING RICHARD
I will converse with iron-witted fools
[Descends from his throne.]
And unrespective boys; none are for me
That look into me with considerate eyes:
High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect.
Boy!—
PAGE
My lord?
KING RICHARD
Know’st thou not any whom corrupting gold
Will tempt unto a close exploit of death?
PAGE
I know a discontented gentleman
Whose humble means match not his haughty spirit:
