Even to the hall, to hear what shall become Of the great duke of Buckingham. 1 Gent. I'll save you That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony Of bringing back the prisoner. 2 Gent. Were you there? 1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I. 2 Gent. Pray, speak, what has happen'd? 1 Gent. You may guess quickly what. 2 Gent. Is he found guilty? 1 Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gent. I am sorry for't. 1 Gent. So are a number more. 2 Gent. But, pray, how pass'd it? 1 Gent. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Came to the bar; where to his accusations, He pleaded still, not guilty, and alledg'd At which appear'd against him, his surveyor; "To have brought,"-MALONE. Confessor to him; with that devil-monk, 2 Gent. That fed him with his prophecies ? 1 Gent. That was he, The same. All these accus'd him strongly; which he fain Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not: Have found him guilty of high treason. Much Was either pitied in him, or forgotten. 2 Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gent. When he was brought again to the bar,to hear His knell rung out, his judgment,—he was stirr'd In all the rest show'd a most noble patience. By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder, Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too, 2 Gent. Was a deep envious one. That trick of state At his return, 1 Gent. 2 Gent. All the commons Hate him perniciously, and, o'my conscience, Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much They love and dote on; call him, bounteous Buckingham, The mirror of all courtesy ; Stay there, sir, 1 Gent. And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of. 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. 2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. You that thus far have come to pity me, All good people, 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, And, if I have a conscience, let it sink me, Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful! The law I bear no malice for my death, It has done, upon the premises, but justice: But those, that sought it, I could wish more christians: Be what they will, I heartily forgive them : Yet let them look they glory not in mischief, Nor build their evils on the graves of great men ; For then my guiltless blood must cry against them. 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. Lov. I do beseech your grace, for charity, Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly. There cannot be those numberless offences Longer than I have time to tell his years! Lov. To the water side I must conduct your grace; Then give my charge up to sir Nicholas Vaux, Who undertakes you to your end. Vaux. Prepare there, The duke is coming; see, the barge be ready; And fit it with such furniture as suits The greatness of his person. Buck. Nay, sir Nicholas, Let it alone; my state now will but mock me. That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it; Shall make my grave.] Shakspeare, by this expression, meant no more than to make the duke say, No action expressive of malice shall conclude my life. The sense will then be, (whether quaintly or poetically expressed, let the reader determine,) no malicious action shall close my grave, i. e. attend the conclusion of my existence, or terminate my life; the last action of it shall not be uncharitable. STEEVENS. My noble father, Henry of Buckingham, Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard, And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd most; A most unnatural and faithless service! Heaven has an end in all: Yet, you that hear me, This from a dying man receive as certain: Where you are liberal of your loves, and counsels, Like water from ye, never found again But where they mean to sink ye. 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. 1 Gent. O, this is full of pity!-Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curses on their heads, That were the authors. 2 Gent. If the duke be guiltless, 'Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling Of an ensuing evil, if it fall, Greater than this. |