Cate. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you forward Upon his party, for the gain thereof: And, thereupon, he sends you this good news,- The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret. Cate. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind! Hast. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence, That they, who brought me in my master's hate, Well, Catesby, cre a fortnight make me older, Hast. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out. Cate. The princes both make high account of you, For they account his head upon the bridge. [Aside. Hast. I know, they do; and I have well deserv'd it. Enter STANLEY. Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, man? Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided? Stan. My lord, good morrow; and good morrow, Catesby: You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,' Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours; And never, in my life, I do protest, Was it more precious to me than 'tis now: Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from Were jocund, and suppos'd their states were sure, To-day, the lords you talk of are beheaded. Stan. They, for their truth,3 might better wear their heads, Than some, that have accus'd them, wear their hats. But come, my lord, let's away. Hast. Go on fellow. Enter a Pursuivant. before, I'll talk with this good Exeunt STAN. and CATESBY. How now, sirrah? how goes the world with thee? Purs. The better, that your lordship please to ask. Hast. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now, Than when thou met'st me last where now we meet : Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, By the suggestion of the queen's allies; But 2 now, I tell thee, (keep it to thyself,) I the holy rood,] i. e. the cross. I misdoubt;] i. e. suspect it of danger. 3 They, for their truth,] That is, with respect to their honesty. VOL. VI. P This day those enemies are put to death, Purs. God hold it, to your honour's good con tent! Hast. Gramercy, fellow: There, drink that for [Throwing him his Purse. Purs. I thank your honour. [Exit Pursuivant. me. Enter a Priest. Pr. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour. Hast. I thank thee, good sir John, with all my heart. I am in your debt for your last exercise;" Enter BUCKINGHAM. Buck. What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain? Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; Buck. I do, my lord; but long I cannot stay there: I shall return before your lordship thence. Hast. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there. Buck. And supper too, although thou know'st it [Aside. not. Come, will you go? Hast. I'll wait upon your lordship. exercise ;] for attending him in private to hear his confession; or, perhaps it means only religious exhortation or lectures shriving work in hand.] Shriving work is confession SCENE III. Pomfret. Before the Castle. Enter RATCLIFF, with a Guard, conducting RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, to Execution. Rat. Come, bring forth the prisoners. Riv. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this,— To-day, shalt thou behold a subject die, For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. Grey. God keep the prince from all the pack of you! A knot you are of damned blood-suckers. Vaugh. You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter. Rat. Despatch; the limit of your lives is out. Riv. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers! Within the guilty closure of thy walls, Richard the second here was hack'd to death: And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink. When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, Then curs'd she Richard :-O, Remember, God, Riv. Come, Grey,-come, Vaughan,—let us here embrace: Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. London. A Room in the Tower. BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the Bishop of met Is to determine of the coronation : In God's name, speak, when is the royal day? Who is most inward with the noble duke? Ely. Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind. Buck. We know each other's faces: for our hearts, He knows no more of mine, than I of yours; Nor I, of his, my lord, than you of mine: Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love. Hast. I thank his grace, I know he loves me well; But, for his purpose in the coronation, I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd His gracious pleasure any way therein : and wants but nomination.] i. e. the only thing wanting, is appointment of a particular day for the ceremony. inward - i. e. intimate, confidential. |