Devis'd impeachments to imprison him : And he would love me dearly as his child. Duch. Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shapes, And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice! Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit. Son. Think you, my uncle did dissemble, gran dam? Duch. Ay, boy. Son. I cannot think it. Hark! what noise is this! Enter Queen ELIZABETH distractedly; RIVERS, and DORSET, following her. Q. Eliz. Ah! who shall hinder me to wail and weep? To chide my fortune, and torment myself? I'll join with black despair against my soul, And to myself become an enemy. Duch. What means this scene of rude impatience? Q. Eliz. To make an act of tragick violence :Edward, my lord, thy son, our king, is dead. Why grow the branches, when the root is gone? Why wither not the leaves, that want their sap?— If you will live, lament; if die, be brief; That our swift-winged souls may catch the king's; Or, like obedient subjects, follow him To his new kingdom of perpetual rest. Duch. Ah, so much interest have I in thy sorrow, As I had title in thy noble husband! I have bewept a worthy husband's death, But now two mirrors of his princely semblance And hast the comfort of thy children left thee: To over-go thy plaints, and drown thy cries! Q. Eliz. Give me no help in lamentation, Chil. Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Clarence! Q. Eliz. What stay had I, but Edward? and he's gone. Chil. What stay had we, but Clarence? and he's gone. Duch. What stays had I, but they? and they are gone. Q. Eliz. Was never widow, had so dear a loss. :- Alas! you three, on me, threefold distress'd, Dor. Comfort, dear mother; God is much displeas'd, That take with unthankfulness his doing; you In common worldly things, 'tis call'd-ungrateful, Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent; Riv. Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother, 4 Divided. Enter GLOSTER, BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, Glo. Sister, have comfort: all of us have cause I did not see your grace :-Humbly on my knee Duch. God bless thee; and put meekness in thy breast, Love, charity, obedience, and true duty! Glo. Amen; and make me die a good old man!That is the butt-end of a mother's blessing; [Aside. I marvel, that her grace did leave it out. Buck. You cloudy princes, and heart sorrowing peers, That bear this mutual heavy load of moan, Now cheer each other in each other's love : Riv. Why with some little train, my lord of Buck. ingham ? Buck. Marry, my lord, lest, by a multitude, The new-heal'd wound of malice should break out; Which would be so much the more dangerous, By how much the estate is green, and yet ungo vern'd: Where every horse bears his commanding rein, And may direct his course as please himself, Glo. I hope, the king made peace with all of us; And the compact is firm, and true, in me. Riv. And so in me; and so, I think, in all; Which, haply, by much company might be urg'd: That it is meet so few should fetch the prince. Hast. And so say I. Glo. Then be it so; and go we to determine Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow. Madam, and you my mother, will you go To give your censures in this weighty business? [Exeunt all but BUCKINGHAM and GLOSTER. Buck. My lord, whoever journeys to the prince, For God's sake, let not us two stay at home;' For, by the way, I'll sort occasion, As index to the story we late talk'd of, To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince. Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not stay behind. 5 Opinion. 6 Preparatory! [Exeunt. |