K. RICH. Give me thy hand. [He ascends the throne. And thy assistance, is King Richard seated: BUCK. Still live they, and for ever let them last! Young Edward lives: think now what I would speak. K. RICH. Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king, K. RICH. Ha! am I king? 'Tis so but Edward lives BUCK. True, noble prince. K. RICH. O bitter consequence, That Edward still should live! "True, noble prince!" Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead; What sayst thou now? speak suddenly, be brief. K. RICH. Tut, tut! thou art all ice, thy kindness freezes : Say, have I thy consent that they shall die? BUCK. Give me some little breath, some pause, dear lord, Before I positively speak in this : I will resolve you herein presently. [Exit. CATE. (Aside to another). The king is angry: see, he gnaws his lip. K. RICH. (Descends from his throne). I will converse with iron-witted fools And unrespective boys: none are for me That look into me with considerate eyes. PAGE. My lord! K. RICH. Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold. Will tempt unto a close exploit of death? PAGE. I know a discontented gentleman, Whose humble means match not his haughty spirit: Gold were as good as twenty orators, And will, no doubt, tempt him to anything. K. RICH. What is his name? PAGE. His name, my lord, is Tyrrell. K. RICH. I partly know the man: go, call him hither. [Exit Page. The deep-revolving witty Buckingham How now, Lord Stanley! what's the news? The Marquess Dorset, as I hear, is fled K. RICH. Come hither, Catesby: rumour it abroad, I will take order for her keeping close. Look, how thou dream'st! I say again, give out I must be married to my brother's daughter, Re-enter Page, with TYRRELL. Is thy name Tyrrell ? TYR. James Tyrrell, and your most obedient subject. Prove me, my gracious lord. Tyrrell, I mean those bastards in the Tower. TYR. Let me have open means to come to them, And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them. K. RICH. Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrell : Go, by this token: rise, and lend thine ear. [Whispers. [Exit. Re-enter BUCKINGHAM. BUCK. My lord, I have consider'd in my mind The late demand that you did sound me in. K. RICH. Well, let that rest. Dorset is fled to Richmond. BUCK. I hear the news, my lord. K. RICH. Stanley, he is your wife's son: well, look to it. BUCK. My lord, I claim the gift, my due by promise, For which your honour and your faith is pawn'd; The earldom of Hereford and the moveables Which you have promised I shall possess. K. RICH. Stanley, look to your wife: if she convey BUCK. What says your highness to my just request? Did prophesy that Richmond should be king, When Richmond was a little peevish boy. A king! perhaps— BUCK. My lord! K. RICH. How chance the prophet could not at that time Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him? BUCK. My lord, your promise for the earldom,- I should not live long after I saw Richmond. K. RICH. Ay, what's o'clock ? BUCK. I am thus bold to put your Grace in mind Of what you promis'd me. K. RICH. Well, but what is 't o'clock ? BUCK. K. RICH. Well, let it strike. BUCK. Upon the stroke of ten. Why let it strike? K. RICH. Because that, like a Jack, thou keep'st the stroke Betwixt thy begging and my meditation. I am not in the giving vein to-day. BUCK. Why, then resolve me whether you will, or no. K. RICH. Thou troublest me: I am not in the vein. [Exeunt KING RICHARD and Train. BUCK. And is it thus ? repays he my deep service With such contempt ? made I him king for this? O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on. [Exit. THE FAMOUS HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF KING HENRY THE EIGHTH BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ACT II. Scene I.-Westminster. A Street. Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; halberds on each side with him SIR THOMAS LOVELL, SIR NICHOLAS VAUX, SIR WILLIAM SANDS, and common people. BUCK. All good people, You that thus far have come to pity me, Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me. I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment, And by that name must die: yet, heaven bear witness, Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful! But those that sought it I could wish more Christians: For further life in this world I ne'er hope, Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies More than I dare make faults. You few that lov'd me, And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham, His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave Is only bitter to him, only dying, Go with me, like good angels, to my end; And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me, Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice, And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, o' God's name. If ever any malice in your heart Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly. There cannot be those numberless offences 'Gainst me that I cannot take peace with no black envy All good people, Farewell: And when you would say something that is sad, Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me! [Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Train. Scene IV.-A Hall in Black-Friars. SCRIBE. Say, Henry King of England, come into the court. CRIER. Henry King of England, come into the court. K. HEN. Here. SCRIBE. Katharine Queen of England, come into the court. CRIER. Katharine Queen of England, come into the court. [The QUEEN makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the KING, and kneels at his feet; then speaks. Q. KATH. Sir, I desire you do me right and justice; And to bestow your pity on me; for I am a most poor woman, and a stranger, Born out of your dominions; having here And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness, |