KING RICHARD III. William Shakespeare

this case.

       GLOSTER

       And to that end we wish’d your lordship here,

       To avoid the the the censures of the carping world.

       BUCKINGHAM

       But since you come too late of our intent,

       Yet witness what you hear we did intend:

       And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell.

       [Exit LORD MAYOR.]

       GLOSTER

       Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.

       The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post:—

       There, at your meet’st advantage of the time,

       Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children:

       Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen,

       Only for saying he would make his son

       Heir to the crown;—meaning, indeed, his house,

       Which, by the sign thereof, was termèd so.

       Moreover, urge his hateful luxury,

       And bestial appetite in change of lust;

       Which stretch’d unto their servants, daughters, wives,

       Even where his raging eye or savage heart,

       Without control, listed to make a prey.

       Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:—

       Tell them, when that my mother went with child

       Of that insatiate Edward, noble York,

       My princely father, then had wars in France

       And, by true computation of the time,

       Found that the issue was not his begot;

       Which well appearèd in his lineaments,

       Being nothing like the noble duke my father.

       Yet touch this sparingly, as ‘twere far off;

       Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.

       BUCKINGHAM

       Doubt not, my lord, I’ll play the orator

       As if the golden fee for which I plead

       Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu.

       GLOSTER

       If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle;

       Where you shall find me well accompanied

       With reverend fathers and well learned bishops.

       BUCKINGHAM

       I go; and towards three or four o’clock

       Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.

       [Exit.]

       GLOSTER

       Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.—

       Go thou [to CATESBY] to Friar Penker;—bid them both

       Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.

       [Exeunt LOVEL and CATESBY.]

       Now will I in, to take some privy order

       To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight;

       And to give order that no manner person

       Have any time recourse unto the princes.

       [Exit.]

      SCENE VI. London. A street

       [Enter a SCRIVENER.]

       SCRIVENER

       Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings;

       Which in a set hand fairly is engross’d,

       That it may be to-day read o’er in Paul’s.

       And mark how well the sequel hangs together:—

       Eleven hours I have spent to write it over,

       For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me;

       The precedent was full as long a-doing:

       And yet within these five hours Hastings liv’d,

       Untainted, unexamin’d, free, at liberty.

       Here’s a good world the while! Who is so gross

       That cannot see this palpable device!

       Yet who so bold but says he sees it not!

       Bad is the world; and all will come to naught,

       When such ill dealing must be seen in thought.

       [Exit.]

      SCENE VII. London. Court of Baynard’s Castle

       [Enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM, meeting.]

       GLOSTER

       How now, how now! what say the citizens?

       BUCKINGHAM

       Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,

       The citizens are mum, say not a word.

       GLOSTER

       Touch’d you the bastardy of Edward’s children?

       BUCKINGHAM

       I did; with his contráct with Lady Lucy,

       And his contráct by deputy in France;

       The insatiate greediness of his desires,

       And his enforcement of the city wives;

       His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,—

       As being got, your father then in France,

       And his resemblance, being not like the duke:

       Withal I did infer your lineaments,—

       Being the right idea of your father,

       Both in your form and nobleness of mind;

       Laid open all your victories in Scotland,

       Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,

       Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;

       Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose

       Untouch’d or slightly handled in discourse:

       And when mine oratory drew toward end

       I bid them that did love their country’s good

       Cry “God save Richard, England’s royal king!”

       GLOSTER

       And did they so?

       BUCKINGHAM

       No, so God help me, they spake not a word;

       But, like dumb statues or breathing stones,

       Star’d each on other, and look’d deadly pale.

       Which when I saw, I reprehended them;

       And ask’d the mayor what meant this wilful silence:

       His answer was—the people were not us’d

       To be spoke to but by the recorder.

       Then he was urg’d to tell my tale again,—

       “Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr’d;”

       But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.

       When he had done, some followers of mine own,

       At lower end of the hall hurl’d up their caps,

       And some ten voices cried, “God save King Richard!”

       And thus I took the vantage of those few,—

       “Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,” quoth I;

       “This general applause