To Richard, haste, and pierce him with our cries: Enter GLOSTER and CATESBY, with Forces. Glost. Who interrupts me, in my expedition ? Glost. I cry your mercy, madam-is it you? Glost. Ay, I thank Heaven, my father, and your self. Duch. of York. Then I command thee, hear me. Glost. Madam, I have a touch of your condition, That cannot brook the accent of reproof. Duch. of York. Stay, I'll be mild, and gentle, in my words. Glost. And brief, good mother, for I am in haste. Duch. of York. Why, I have staid for thee, (just Heav'n knows) In torment, and in agony. Glost. And came not I at last, to comfort you? Duch. of York. No, on my soul! too well thou know'st it, A grievous burden was thy birth to me, Techy, and wayward, was thy infancy; Thy prime of manhood, daring, bold, and stubborn; Let me march on, and not offend thee, madam; Without a tongue.-Methinks, the very sight Where are my children, Gloster? Duch. of York. Where is thy brother, Clarence ? Queen. Where Hastings? Duch. of York. Rivers? Queen. Vaughan ? Duch. of York. Grey? Glost. A flourish, trumpets; strike alarum, drums; Let not the Heav'ns hear these tell-tale women Rail on the Heav'ns anointed!-Strike, I say! [Alarm of Drums and Trumpets. Either be patient, and entreat me fair, Duch. of York. Then hear me, Heav'n! and Heav'n, at his latest hour, Be deaf to him, as he is now to me! Mischance, and sorrow, wait thee to the field! [Exit. Queen. Though far more cause, yet much less pow er to curse Abides in me, I say amen to her. Glost. Stay, madam, I would beg some words with you. Queen. What canst thou ask, that I have now to grant? Is't another son? Gloster, I have none. Glost. You have a beauteous daughter, call'd Elizabeth Queen. Must she die too? Glost. For whose fair sake, I'll bring more good to you, Than ever you, or yours, had from me, harm : Thou'lt drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs, Queen. Be brief, lest, that the process of thy kind ness, Last longer telling, than thy kindness' date. Glost. Know, then, that, from my soul, I love the fair Elizabeth, and will, with your permission, Seat her on the throne of England. Queen. Alas, vain man! how canst thou woo her? As one, being best acquainted with her humour. Queen. If thou wilt learn of me, then woo her thus: Send to her, by the man who kill'd her brothers, Queen. What shall I say?-Still to affront his love, [Aside. I have consider'd, sir, of your important wishes, Glost. Now, by the sacred host of saints aboveQueen. Oh, do not swear, my lord, I ask no oath, Unless my daughter like you more than I. Glost. Oh, my kind mother! (I must call you so) Be thou to her, my love's soft orator; Plead what I will be, not what I have been; Not my deserts, but what I will deserve. And, when this warlike arm, shall have chastis'd The audacious rebel, hot-brain'd Buckingham; Bound with triumphant garlands, will I come, And lead your daughter, to a conqueror's bed. Queen. My lord, farewell-in some few days, ex pect To hear, how fair a progress I have made: well! Relenting, shallow-thoughted women! love.-Fare[Exit QUEEN. Enter RATCLiff. How now?-the news? Ratcliff. Most gracious sovereign, on the western coasts, Rides a most powerful navy, and our fears There do they hull, expecting but the aid Of Buckingham, to welcome them ashore. [Exit. Glost. We must prevent him, then-Come hither, Catesby. Catesby. My lord, your pleasure? Glost. Post to the Duke of Norfolk, instantly,Bid him, straight levy all the strength and power That he can make, and meet me, suddenly, At Salisbury.-Commend me to his grace-away! [Exit CATESBY. Enter LORD STANLEY. Well, my lord, what news have you gather'd? Glost. There let him sink, and be the seas on him, White-liver'd renegade !--what does he there? Stanley. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess. Glost. Well, as you guess? Stanley. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and He makes for England here, to claim the crown. Where is thy power then, to beat him back? Where be thy tenants, and thy followers? The foe upon the coast, and thou no friends to meet them? Or, hast thou march'd them to the western shore, Stanley. My lord, my friends are ready all i' th' Glost. The North! why, what do they i' th' North, When they should serve their sovereign in the West? Stanley. They, yet, have had no orders, sir, to move: If 'tis your royal pleasure they should march, Stanley. Sir, you have no cause to doubt my loyalty; I ne'er yet was, nor ever will be, false. Glost. Away then to thy friends, and lead them on To meet me-hold-come back-I will not trust thee. I've thought a way to make thee sure-your son, |