The fpacious world cannot again afford That cropt the golden prime of this fweet Prince, On me, whofe All not equals Edward's Moiety? SCENE III. Changes to the Palace. [Exit. Enter the Queen, Lord Rivers, and Lord Gray. Riv. Have patience, Madam, there's no doubt his Majefty Will foon recover his accuftom'd health. Gray. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worfe Therefore, for God's fake, entertain good comfort, And cheer his Grace with quick and merry eyes. Queen. If he were dead what would betide of me? could not indeed very properly allow him royalty, I believe we should read, And, no doubt, right loyal. That is, true to her bed. He enumerates the reafons for which the should love him. He was young, wife, and valiant; thefe were apparent and indifputable excellencies. He then mentions another not lefs likely to endear him to his wife, but which he he had lefs opportunity of knowing with certainty, and, na doubt, right loyal. Gray. No other harm, but lofs of fuch a Lord. Queen. The lofs of fuch a Lord includes all harms. Gray. The heav'ns have bleft you with a goodly son, To be your comforter when he is gone. Queen. Ah! he is young, and his minority A man that loves not me, nor none of you. Riv. Is it concluded, he fhall be protector? Queen. It is determin'd, not concluded yet: (3) But fo it must be, if the king miscarry. Enter Buckingham and Stanley. Gray. Here come the Lords of Buckingham and Buck. Good time of day unto your royal Grace! Queen. The Countefs Richmond, good my Lord of To your good pray'r will fcarcely fay, Amen; Stanley. I do befeech you, either not believe Bear with her weakness; which, I think, proceeds (3) It is determin'd, not concluded yet :] Determin'd fignifies the final conclufion of the will: concluded, what cannot be alter'd by reafon of fome act, confequent on the final judgment. WARBURTON. (4) Here come the Lords of Buckingham and Derby.] This is a Blunder of Inadvertence, which has run through the whole chain of Impreffions. It could not well be original in Shaker Speare, who was moft minutely intimate with his Hiftory and the Intermarriages of the Nobility. The Perfon here called Derby, was Thomas Lord Stanley, Lord Steward of King Edqward the IVth's Houthold. But this Thomas Lord Stanley was not created Earl of Derby till after the Acceffion of Henry VII; and, accordingly, afterwards, in the Fourth and Fifth Acts of this Play, before the Battle of Bofworth-field, he is every where call'd Lord Stanley. This fufficiently juftifies the Change I have made in his Title. THEOBALD. From From wayward fickness, and no grounded malice. Queen. Saw you the King to day, my Lord of StanJolley? Stanley. But now the Duke of Buckingham and I Are come from vifiting his Majefty. Queen. What likelihood of his amendment, Lords? Buck. Madam, good hope; his Grace speaks chearfully. Queen. God grant him health! Did you confer with him? Buck. Madam, we did; he seeks to make atone ment Between the Duke of Glofter and your brothers. And between them and my Lord Chamberlain; And fent to warn them to his royal prefence. Queen. 'Would all were well-but that will never be I fear, our happiness is at the height. Enter Gloucester. Glo. They do me wrong, and I will not endure it. Who are they, that complain unto the King, That I, forfooth, am ftern, and love them not By holy Paul they love his Grace but lightly, That fill his ears with fuch diffentious rumours, Because I cannot flatter, and look fair, Smile in men's faces, fmooth, ceceive and cog, Duck with French nods, and apifh courtesy, I must be held a rancorous enemy.. Cannot à plain man live and think no harm, But thus his fimple truth must be abus'd By filken, fly, infinuating Jacks? Gray. To whom in all this prefence fpeaks your Glo. To thee, that haft nor honefty, nor grace: Queen. Queen. Brother of Glo'fter, you mistake the matter The King of his own royal difpofition, And not provok'd by any fuitor else, Aiming, belike, at your interior hatred, There's many a gentle perfon made a Jack. Queen. Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Glofter. You envy my advancement and my friends: God grant we never may have need of you! Glo. Mean time, God grant that we have need of you! Our Brother is imprifon'd by your means; Myfelf difgrac'd; and the nobility Held in contempt; while many fair promotions Are daily given to ennoble thofe, That fcarce fome two days fince were worth a noble. Queen. By him, that rais'd me to this careful height, From that contented hap which I enjoy'd, I never did incenfe his Majefty Against the Duke of Clarence; but have been not fo? why, who knows She may do more, Sir, than denying that: (5) Of your ill will, &c.] This line is restored from the first edition. POPE. What mayay, marry, may What may The e not? the fhe Riv. What, marry, may fhe? Glo. What, marry, may fhe? marry with a King, A bachelor, a handfome ftripling too: I wis, your grandam had a worfer match. Queen. My Lord of Glo'fter, I have too long borne Your blunt upbraidings, and your bitter fcoffs: By heav'n, I will acquaint his Majefty, Of thofe grofs taunts I often have endur'd. I had rather be a country fervant-maid, Than a great Queen with this condition; To be thus taunted, fcorn'd and baited at. Small joy have I in being England's Queen. SCENE IV. Enter Queen Margaret. Q. Mar. And leffen'd be that fmall, God, I befeech thee! Thy honour, ftate, and feat is due to me. Glo. What! threat you me with telling of the King? Tell him, and fpare not; look, what I have faid; (6) will avouch in prefence of the King: "Tis time to fpeak, my pains are quite forgot. (7) Glo. Ere you were Queen, ay, or your husband I was a pack-horfe in his great affairs A weeder out of his proud Adverfaries, To royalize his blood, I fpilt mine own. (6) Tell him, and fpare not; look, what I have faid,] This Verfe I have reftor'd from the old Quarto's. (7) My pains,] My labours; my toils. (8) OUT, Devil] Read No. There is no need of change, but if there were, the commentator does not change enough; he fhould read, I remember them 100 well; that is, his pains. |