Have taken sanctuary: The tender prince Buck. Fye! what an indirect and peevish course If she deny,-lord Hastings, go with him, Can from his mother win the duke of York, Of blessed sanctuary! not for all this land, Buck. You are too senseless-obstinate my lord, Too ceremonious, and traditional: Weigh it' but with the grossness of this age, To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place, But sanctuary children, ne'er till now. [once. Card. My lord, you shall o'er-rule my mind for 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. Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation? Glo. 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? Glo. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place; 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. Prince. But say, my lord, it were not register'd; Methinks, the truth should live from age to age, As 'twere retail'd' to all posterity, Even to the general all-ending day. Glo. So wise so young,' they say, do ne'er live long. Prince. What say you, uncle? [Aside. Glo. I say, without characters, fame lives long. Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity,3 I moralize two meanings in one word. Aside. Prince. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man; With what his valour did enrich his wit, Prince. An if I live until I be a man, Glo. Short summers lightly have a forward spring. 1 i. e. diffused. [Aside. 2 Is cadit ante senem, qui sapit ante diem. A proverbial line.-STEEVENS. 3 The hypocritical fiend. 4 i. e. commonly. Enter YORK, HASTINGS, and the Cardinal. Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the duke of York. Prince. Richard of York! how fares our loving brother? York. Well, my dread lord; so must I call you now. Prince. Ay, brother; to our grief, as it is yours: Too late he died, that might have kept that title, Which by his death hath lost much majesty. Glo. How fares our cousin, noble lord of York? And therefore is he idle? But you have power in me, as in a kinsman. York. I pray you, uncle, then, give me this dagger. Glo. My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart. Prince. A beggar, brother? York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give; And, being but a toy, which is no grief to give. Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin. York. A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it? Glo. Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough. York. O then, I see, you'll part but with light gifts; In weightier things you'll say a beggar, nay. Glo. It is too weighty for your grace to wear. York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.2 Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little lord? York. I would, that I might thank you as you call Glo. How? i. e. too lately. [me. I should still esteem it but a trifling gift were it heavier. York. Little. [talk; Prince. My lord of York will still be cross in Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him. York. You mean, to bear' me, not to bear with Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me; [me: Because that I am little, like an ape, He thinks that you should bear2 me on your shoulders. Buck. With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons! To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle, He prettily and aptly taunts himself: So cunning, and so young, is wonderful. Glo. My gracious lord, will't please you pass along; Myself, and my good cousin Buckingham, Will to your mother; to entreat of her, To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you. York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord? Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so. York. I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower. Glo. Why, sir, what should you fear? York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost; My grandam told me, he was murder'd there. Prince. I fear no uncles dead. Glo. Nor none that live, I hope. Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. But come, my lord, and with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower. [Exeunt Prince, YORK, HAST. Card. and Attendants. Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incensed3 by his subtle mother, To taunt and scorn you thus opprobiously? Glo. No doubt, no doubt; O, 'tis a parlous boy; Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable;+ He's all the mother's, from the top to toe. 1 Alluding to the hump on Gloster's back, which was commodious for carrying burdens. 2i. e. Act the part of bear. 3 i. e. set on. i. e. quick of apprehension. Come hither, gentle Catesby; thou art sworn Cate. He for his father's sake so loves the prince, Cate. He will do all in all as Hastings doth. And, as it were far off, sound thou lord Hastings, If thou dost find him tractable to us, Be thou so too; and so break off the talk, For we to-morrow hold divided councils,' Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ❜d. Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him, His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries Cate. My good lords both, with all the heed I can. A private consultation. |