CE's young daughter.

Who meets us here ?-my niece Plantagenet
hand of her kind aunt of Glofter?
my life, the's wand'ring to the Tower,
eart's love, to greet the tender prince.-
well met.

God give your graces both

nd a joyful time of day!

As much to you, good fifter! Whither away?
o further than the Tower; and, as I guess,
ike devotion as yourselves,

te the gentle princes there.

Kind fifter, thanks; we'll enter all together:

Enter BRAKENBURY.

ood time, here the lieutenant comes.tenant, pray you, by your leave,

the prince, and my young fon of York? Eght well, dear madam: By your patience, suffer you to visit them;

hath strictly charg'd the contrary.

The king! who's that?

*I mean, the lord protector.

2. Eliz

C

2. Eliz. The Lord protect him from that kingly title! Hath he fet bounds between their love, and me? I am their mother, Who fhall bar me from them? Duck. I am their father's mother, I will see them. Anne. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother : Then bring me to their fights; I'll bear thy blame, And take thy office from thee, on my peril.

Brak. No, madam, no, I may not leave it so; I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me.

Enter STANLEY.

[Exit BRAKENBURY.

Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, And I'll falute your grace of York as mother, And reverend looker-on of two fair queens.Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster.

[To the Duchefs of Glofter.

There to be crowned Richard's royal queen.

2. Eliz. Ah, cut my lace asunder!

That my pent heart may have some scope to beat,
Or else I fwoon with this dead-killing news.

Anne. Despiteful tidings! O unpleafing news!

Dor. Be of good cheer :-Mother, how fares your grace?
2. Eliz. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee gone,
Death and destruction dog thee at the heels;
Thy mother's name is ominous to children:
If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the feas,
And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell.
Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughterhouse,
Left thou encrease the number of the dead;

And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse,—
Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen.
Stan. Full of wife care is this your counfel, madam :—

And I with all unwillingness will go.— to God, that the inclusive verge

metal, that must round my brow, -hot fteel, to fear me to the brain! let me be with deadly venom;

ere men can fay-God fave the queen!

- Go, go, poor foul, I envy not thy glory; y humour, with thyself no harm.

Jo! why? When he, that is my husband now,

ne, as I follow'd Henry's corfe;

rce the blood was well wash'd from his hands,
u'd from my other angel husband,

dead faint which then I weeping follow'd;
I fay, I look'd on Richard's face,
my with,-Be thou, quoth I, accurs'd,
g me, fe young, fo old a widow!

n thou wed'ft, let forrow haunt thy bed;
wife (if any be so mad)

-able by the life of thee,

haft made me by my dear lord's death!
can repeat this curse again,

o fhort a space, my woman's heart
rew captive to his honey words,
'd the subject of mine own foul's curse :
er fince hath held mine eyes from reft;

For

For never yet one hour in his bed

Did I enjoy the golden dew of fleep,

But with his timorous dreams was ftill awak'd.
Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick;
And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me.

2. Eliz. Poor heart, adieu; I pity thy complaining.
Anne. No more than with my foul I mourn for yours.
Dor. Farewell, thou woful welcomer of glory!
Anne. Adieu, poor foul, that tak'ft thy leave of it!
Duch. Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide

thee!

[TO DORSET.

Go thou to Richard, and good angels tend thee!—

[To ANNE. Go thou to fanctuary, and good thoughts poffefs thee! [To 2, ELIZABETH.

I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me !
Eighty odd years of forrow have I seen,

And each hour's joy wreck'd with a week of teen.

2. Eliz. Stay yet; look back, with me, unto the Tower.Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes, Whom envy hath immur'd within your walls! Rough cradle for such little pretty ones! Rude ragged nurfe! old fullen play-fellow For tender princes, use my babies well! So foolish forrow bids your ftones farewell.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Room of ftate in the Palace.

Flourish of trumpets. RICHARD, as king upon his throne; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, a Page, and Others.

K. Rich. Stand all apart.-Cousin of Buckingham, --

Buck. My gracious fovereign.

K. Rich. Give me thy hand. Thus high, by thy advice, And thy affistance, is king Richard feated :But shall we wear these glories for a day?

Or fhall they laft, and we rejoice in them?

Buck. Still live they, and for ever let them last !

K. Rich. Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if thou be current gold, indeed :—

Young Edward lives;-Think now what I would speak.
Buck. Say on, my loving lord.

K. Rich. Why, Buckingham, I fay, I would be king.
Buck. Why, fo you are, my thrice-renowned liege.
K. Rich. Ha! am I king? 'Tis fo: but Edward lives.
Buck. True, noble prince.

K. Rich.

O bitter confequence,
That Edward ftill fhould live,-true, noble prince !-
Coufin, thou waft not wont to be fo dull :-
Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead;
And I would have it fuddenly perform'd.

What fay'st thou now? speak suddenly, be brief.
Buck. Your grace may do your pleasure.

K. Rich. Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezes: Say, have I thy consent, that they shall die?

Buck. Give me fome breath, some little paufe, dear lord, Before I pofitively speak in this :

I will refolve your grace immediately.

[Exit BUCKINGHAM. Gate. The king is angry; fee, he gnaws his lip. [Afide. K. Rich. I will converfe with iron-witted fools,

[defcends from his throne.

And unrefpective boys; none are for me,
That look into me with confiderate eyes :-
High-reaching Buckingham grows circumfpect.-
Boy,-

Page.