The trumpets sound. A STREET Enter the young PRINCE, the Dukes of GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM, CARDINAL BOURCHIER, BUCKINGHAM CATESBY, and others ELCOME, SWEET PRINCE, PRINCE. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy: I want more uncles here to welcome me. GLOU. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years Hath not yet dived into the world's deceit : Nor more can you distinguish of a man 1 chamber] London, the capital city of the kingdom, was formally called "camera regis." Than of his outward show; which, God he knows, were none. GLOU. My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you. Enter the Lord Mayor, and his train MAY. God bless your grace with health and happy days! PRINCE. I thank you, good my lord; and thank you all. I thought my mother and my brother York Enter LORD HASTINGS BUCK. And, in good time here comes the sweating lord. PRINCE. Welcome, my lord: what, will our mother come? HAST. On what occasion, God he knows, not I, The queen your mother and your brother York Have taken sanctuary: the tender prince 22 slug] sluggard. 10 20 Would fain have come with me to meet your grace, BUCK. Fie, what an indirect and peevish course If she deny, Lord Hastings, go with him, To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land BUCK. You are too senseless-obstinate, my lord, Weigh it but with the grossness of this age, To those whose dealings have deserved the place, 44 senseless-obstinate] unreasonable in obstinacy. 45 Too . . . traditional] Too much attached to ceremonies and traditions. 46 Weigh... age] Consider it in the light of the unlicensed temper of the times (which calls for high-handed action). 30 40 50 Oft have I heard of sanctuary men; But sanctuary children ne'er till now. CARD. My lord, you shall o'er-rule my mind for once. Come on, Lord Hastings, will you go with me? HAST. I go, my lord. PRINCE. Good lords, make all the speedy haste you may. [Exeunt Cardinal and Hastings. 60 Say, uncle Gloucester, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation? GLOU. Where it seems best unto your royal self. If I may counsel you, some day or two Your highness shall repose you at the Tower: Then where you please, and shall be thought most fit For your best health and recreation. PRINCE. I do not like the Tower, of any place. Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord? BUCK. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place; 70 Which, since, succeeding ages have re-edified. PRINCE. Is it upon record, or else reported Successively from age to age, he built it? BUCK. Upon record, my gracious lord. Even to the general all-ending day. GLOU. [Aside] So wise so young, they say, do never live long. PRINCE. What say you, uncle? 77 retail'd recounted, rehearsed. 80 GLOU. I say, without characters, fame lives long. PRINCE. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man; PRINCE. An if I live until I be a man, GLOU. [Aside] Short summers lightly have a forward spring. 81 without characters] without the help of letters or inscriptions. "Characters" is invariably accented by Shakespeare on the second syllable. 82 Thus ... Iniquity] In the old Morality plays the leading character in attendance on the Devil bore the conventional (“formal") designation of "The Vice," and indulged in persistent word-play. The character was occasionally known by the more specific name of "Iniquity" or "Hypocrisy" or some other sin. 83 I moralize ... word] I give this word a double interpretation. Gloucester is referring to the word "characters," which he has just used. It means both "written characters" (or "records"), and "individuality" of temperament. Gloucester is hazily suggesting that had his victim, the young prince, lacked character or individuality, there was no reason why he should not be suffered to live long. "Moralize," which is naturally suggested by Gloucester's reference to "the formal Vice, Iniquity", of the Morality play, often bore the sense of "interpret." 94 lightly] commonly; a rare usage deduced from the meaning of "easily" or "readily" which often attaches to the word. 90 |