If something thou wouldst swear to be believed,
Swear then by something that thou hast not wronged.
K. Rich. Now by the world,
Q. Eliz.

'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.

K. Rich. My father's death,
Q. Eliz.

Thy life hath that dishonored.

K. Rich. Then, by myself,-
Q. Eliz.

Thyself is self misused.

K. Rich. Why then, by God,-
Q. Eliz.
God's wrong is most of all.
If thou hadst feared to break an oath by him,
The unity, the king thy brother made,

Had not been broken, nor my brother slain.
If thou hadst feared to break an oath by him,
The imperial metal, circling now thy head,
Had graced the tender temples of my child;
And both the princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender bedfellows for dust,
Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms.
What canst thou swear by now?

K. Rich.

By the time to come. Q. Eliz. That thou hast wronged in the time o'er

past;

For I myself have many tears to wash

Hereafter time, for time past, wronged by thee.
The children live, whose parents thou hast slaughtered,
Ungoverned youth, to wail it in their age.

The parents live, whose children thou hast butchered,
Old, barren plants, to wail it with their age.
Swear not by time to come; for that thou hast
Misused ere used, by times ill used o'erpast.
K. Rich. As I intend to prosper, and repent!
So thrive I in my dangerous attempt
Of hostile arms! myself myself confound!
Heaven, and fortune, bar me happy hours!
Day, yield me not thy light; nor, night, thy rest!
Be opposite all planets of good luck

To my proceeding, if with pure heart's love,
Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,

I tender not thy beauteous, princely daughter!

In her consists my happiness, and thine.
Without her, follows to myself, and thee,
Herself, the land, and many a Christian soul,
Death, desolation, ruin, and decay.

It cannot be avoided but by this;
It will not be avoided but by this;
Therefore, dear mother, (I must call you so,)
Be the attorney of my love to her.

Plead what I will be, not what I have been ;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve.
Urge the necessity and state of times,
And be not peevish found in great designs.

Q. Eliz. Shall I be tempted of the devil thus ?
K. Rich. Ay, if the devil tempt thee to do good.
Q. Eliz. Shall I forget myself to be myself?
K. Rich. Ay, if yourself's remembrance wrong
yourself.

Q. Eliz. But thou didst kill my children.

K. Rich. But in your daughter's womb I bury them; Where, in the nest of spicery,' they shall breed Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.

Q. Eliz. Shall I go win my daughter to thy will? K. Rich. And be a happy mother by the deed. Q. Eliz. I go.-Write to me very shortly, And you shall understand from me her mind. K. Rich. Bear her my true love's kiss, and so farewell. [Kissing her. Exit Q. ELIZABETH. Relenting fool, and shallow, changing-woman!' How now? what news?

Enter RATCLIFF; CATESBY following.

Rat. Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore

Throng many doubtful, hollow-hearted friends,
Unarmed, and unresolved to beat them back;
'Tis thought, that Richmond is their admiral;

1 Alluding to the phoenix.

2 Such was the real character of this queen-dowager.

And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham, to welcome them ashore.

K. Rich. Some light-foot friend post to the duke of

Norfolk ;

Ratcliff, thyself,-or Catesby; where is he?

Cate. Here, my good lord. K. Rich. Catesby, fly to the duke. Cate. I will, my lord, with all convenient haste. K. Rich. Ratcliff, come hither; post to Salisbury; When thou com'st thither,-Dull, unmindful villain, [TO CATESBY. Why stay'st thou here, and go'st not to the duke? Čate. First, mighty liege, tell me your highness' pleasure,

What from your grace I shall deliver to him.

K. Rich. O, true, good Catesby.-Bid him levy

straight

The greatest strength and power he can make,
And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.

Cate. I go.

[Exit.

Rat. What, may it please you, shall I do at Salis

bury?

K. Rich. Why, what wouldst thou do there, before

I go?

Rat. Your highness told me I should post before.

Enter STANLEY.

K. Rich. My mind is changed.-Stanley, what news with you?

Stan. None, good my liege, to please you with the hearing;

Nor none so bad, but well may be reported.

K. Rich. Heyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad! What need'st thou run so many miles about,

When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way

Once more, what news?

Stan.

?

Richmond is on the seas.

K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas on him! White-livered runagate, what doth he there?

Stan. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.
K. Rich. Well, as you guess?

Stan. Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham, and
Morton,

He makes for England, here to claim the crown.

K. Rich. Is the chair empty? Is the sword un-
swayed?

Is the king dead, the empire unpossessed?
What heir of York is there alive, but we ?1
And who is England's king, but great York's heir?
Then, tell me, what makes he upon the seas?

Stan. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.
K. Rich. Unless for that he comes to be your liege,
You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.
Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear.

Stan. No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not. K. Rich. Where is thy power, then, to beat him back? Where be thy tenants, and thy followers?

Are they not now upon the western shore,
Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?

Stan. No, my good lord; my friends are in the north. K. Rich. Cold friends to me; what do they in the north,

When they should serve their sovereign in the west?
Stan. They have not been commanded, mighty king.
Pleaseth your majesty to give me leave,

I'll muster up my friends; and meet your grace,
Where, and what time, your majesty shall please.
K. Rich. Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with
Richmond.

I will not trust you, sir.

Stan.
Most mighty sovereign,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful;
I never was, nor never will be false.

1 There was a male heir of the house of York alive, who had a better claim to the throne than he, Edward earl of Warwick, the only son of George duke of Clarence; but Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Edward IV., and all her sisters, had a better title than either of them. He had, however, been careful to have the issue of king Edward pronounced illegitimate; and as the duke of Clarence had been attainted of high treason, he had some color for his bravado.

K. Rich. Well, go, muster men. But, hear you, leave behind

Your son, George Stanley; look your heart be firm, Or else his head's assurance is but frail.

Stan. So deal with him, as I prove true to you.

Enter a Messenger.

[Exit STANLEY.

Mess. My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire, As I by friends am well advértised,

Sir Edward Courtenay, and the haughty prelate,
Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,

With many more confederates, are in arms.

Enter another Messenger.

2 Mess. In Kent, my liege, the Guildfords are in arms; And every hour more competitors1

Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.

Enter another Messenger.

3 Mess. My lord, the army of great Buckingham— K. Rich. Out on ye, owls! nothing but songs of [He strikes him. There, take thou that, till thou bring better news.

death?

3 Mess. The news I have to tell your majesty, Is, that, by sudden floods and fall of waters, Buckingham's army is dispersed and scattered; And he himself wandered away alone,

No man knows whither.

K. Rich.

O, I cry you mercy;

There is my purse, to cure that blow of thine.

Hath any well-advised friend proclaimed

Reward to him that brings the traitor in?

3 Mess. Such proclamation hath been made, my liege.

Enter another Messenger.

4 Mess. Sir Thomas Lovel, and lord marquis Dorset, 'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.

1 Competitors here means confederates.