Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub
[blocks in formation]

Famous Plantagenet, moft gracious pri
Lend favourable ear to our requests;
And pardon us the interruption

Of thy devotion, and right-christian ze
Glo. My lord, there needs no fuch ap
I rather do beseech you pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God
Neglect the vifitation of my friends.
But, leaving this, what is your grace's
Buck. Even that, I hope, which plea
And all good men of this ungovern'd i

Glo. I do fufpect, I have done fome
That seems difgracious in the city's ey
And that you come to reprehend my ig
Buck. You have, my lord; Would it

grace,

On our entreaties, to amend your fault
Glo. Elfe wherefore breathe I in a Ch
Buck. Know, then, it is your fault,
The fupreme feat, the throne majestical
The scepter'd office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:
Whilft, in the mildness of your sleepy

6

or for another's gain;
fively, from blood to blood,
f birth, your empery, your own.
forted with the citizens,
orfhipful and loving friends,
- vehement inftigation,

ait come I to move your grace.
not tell, if to depart in filence,
fpeak in your reproof,

my degree, or your condition :
fwer,-you might haply think,
ambition, not replying, yielded
golden yoke of fovereignty,
y you would here impofe on me;
you for this fuit of yours,

with your

faithful love to me,

e other fide, I check'd my friends. to speak, and to avoid the firft; speaking, not to incur the last,— -hus I anfwer you.

ferves my thanks; but

my defert

fhuns your high request.

bftacles were cut away,

path were even to the crown,

God

As

As the ripe revenue and due of birth ;
Yet fo much is my poverty of fpirit,
So mighty, and so many, my defects,

That I would rather hide me from my greatness,→
Being a bark to brook no mighty fea,-
Than in my greatness covet to be hid,
And in the vapour of my glory smother'd.
But, God be thank'd, there is no need of me;
(And much I need to help you, if need were ;)
The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellow'd by the stealing hours of time,
Will well become the feat of majesty,

And make, no doubt, us happy.by his reign.
On him I lay what you would lay on me,
The right and fortune of his happy stars,—
Which, God defend, that I should wring from him!
Buck. My lord, this argues confcience in your grace;
But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,

All circumstances well confidered.

You fay, that Edward is your brother's son ;
So fay we too, but not by Edward's wife:
For first he was contract to lady Lucy,
Your mother lives a witnefs to his vow;
And afterwards by substitute betroth'd
To Bona, filter to the king of France.
These both put by, a poor petitioner,
A care-craz'd mother to a many fons,
A beauty-waning and diftreffed widow,
Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye,
Seduc'd the pitch and height of all his thoughts
To bafe declenfion and loath'd bigamy:

By her, in his unlawful bed, he got

This Edward, whom our manners call-the prince.

More

fufe not, mighty lord, this proffer'd love. make them joyful, grant their lawful suit. », why would you heap those cares on me? For ftate and majesty :

you, take it not amiss;

or I will not yield to you.

you refuse it,-as in love and zeal,
pofe the child, your brother's fon;
know your tenderness of heart,
, kind, effeminate remorse,
have noted in you to your kindred,
y, indeed, to all estates,—
whe'r you accept our fuit or no,
er's fon fhall never reign our king;
plant fome other in the throne,
race and downfal of your house.
Es refolution, here we leave you ;-
zens, we will entreat no more.

[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Citizens.

I them again, fweet prince, accept their fuit; y them, all the land will rue it.

you enforce ine to a world of cares? hem again; I am not made of ftone,

[ocr errors]

But

God

1,

ntreat you. er'd love.

wful fuit.

es on me?

Citizen heir fuit;

But if black scandal, or foul-fac'd reproach
Attend the fequel of your impofition,
Your mere enforcement shall acquittance m
From all the impure blots and stains thereo
For God he knows, and you may partly fee
How far I am from the defire of this.

May. God bless your grace! we fee it, an
Glo. In faying fo, you shall but fay the t
Buck. Then I falute you with this royal t
Long live king Richard, England's worthy
All. Amen.

Buck. To-morrow may it please you to be Glo. Even when you please, fince you w Buck. To-morrow then we will attend yo And so, most joyfully, we take our leave. Glo. Come, let us to our holy work agai

Farewell, good coufin ;-farewell, gentle frie

?

But

« ПредишнаНапред »