Daugh. Why do you weep so oft? and beat your breast; And cry-O, Clarence, my unhappy son! your head, Duch. My pretty cousins, you mistake me both; I do lament the sickness of the king, As loath to lose him, not your father's death; It were lost sorrow, to wail one that's lost. Son. Then, grandam, you conclude that he is dead. The king my uncle is to blame for this: God will revenge it; whom I will impórtune Daugh. And so will I. Duch. Peace, children, peace! the king doth love you well: Incapable and shallow innocents, You cannot guess who caused your father's death. 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! He is my son, ay, and therein my shame, 2 Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit. Son. Think you, my uncle did dissemble, grandam? Duch. Ay, boy. Son. I cannot think it. Hark! what noise is this? 1 The duchess is here addressing her grand children; but cousin seems to have been used instead of kinsman and kinswoman, and to have supplied the place of both. 2 This word yave no offence to our ancestors; it was used even in the most refined poetry. 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, Duch. What means this scene of rude impatience? That our swift-winged souls may catch the king's; 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 To overgo thy plaints, and drown thy cries! Son. Ah, aunt! you wept not for our father's death; How can we aid you with our kindred tears? Daugh. Our fatherless distress was left unmoaned; Your widow-dolor likewise be unwept! Q. Eliz. Give me no help in lamentation; I am not barren to bring forth laments: 1 The children by whom he was represented. All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes, Chil. Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Clarence ! Duch. Alas, for both, both mine, Edward and 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. Dor. Comfort, dear mother, God is much displeased, With dull unwillingness to repay a debt, Riv. Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother, Enter GLOSTER, BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, 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; I marvel that her grace did leave it out. [Aside. Buck. You cloudy princes, and heart-sorrowing peers, That bear this mutual, heavy load of moan, Riv. Why with some little train, my lord of Buckingham? Buck. Marry, my lord, lest, by a multitude, The new-healed wound of malice should break out; Which would be so much the more dangerous, By how much the estate is green, and yet ungoverned; Where every horse bears his commanding rein, 1 Edward, the young prince, in his father's lifetime, and at his demise, kept his household at Ludlow, as prince of Wales; under the governance of Anthony Woodville, earl of Rivers, his uncle by the mother's side. The intention of his being sent thither was to see justice done in the Marches; and, by the authority of his presence, to restrain the Welshmen, who were wild, dissolute, and ill-disposed, from their accustomed murders and outrages.-Vide Holinshed. 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;1 Which, haply, by much company might be urged. That it is meet so few should fetch the prince. Glo. Then be it so; and go we to determine [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, 3 As index to the story we late talked of, To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince. Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not stay behind. SCENE III. The same. A Street. Enter two Citizens, meeting. [Exeunt. 1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbor. Whither away so fast? 2 Cit. I promise you, I scarcely know myself. Hear you the news abroad? 1 This speech seems rather to belong to Hastings, who was of the duke of Gloster's party. The next speech might be given to Stanley. 2 i. e. your judgments, your opinions. 3 That is, preparatory, by way of prelude. |