Glo. Short summers lightly' have a forward spring. Enter YORK, HASTINGS, and the Cardinal. [Aside. Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the duke of York. Prince. Richard of York! how fares our loving bro ther? York. Well, my dread lord'; so must I call you now. Prince. Ay, brother; to our grief, as it is yours; Glo. How fares our cousin, noble lord of York? And therefore is he idle? Glo. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so. York. Then is he more beholden to you, than I. But you have power in me, as in a kinsman. York. I pray you, uncle, then, give me this dagger †. Glo. My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart. Prince. A beggar, brother? York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give; Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin. 1 lightly Commonly, in ordinary course. 2 dread lord;] The original of this epithet applied to kings has been much disputed. In some of our old statutes the king is called Rex metuendissimus. JOHNSON. Too late he died,] i. e. too lately, the loss is too fresh in our memory. "I pray you, uncle, give me," &c.-MALONE. York. O then, I see, you'll part but with light gifts; In weightier things you'll say a beggar, nay. Glo. It is too weighty for your grace to wear. York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier. Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little lord? York. I would, that I might thank you as you call me. Glo. How? York. Little. Prince. My lord of York will still be cross in talk ;Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him. York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me:- He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders. So cunning, and so young, is wonderful. Glo. My gracious lord, will't please you pass along +? Myself, and my good cousin Buckingham, Will to your mother; to entreat of her, To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you. York. What will you go unto the Tower, my lord? Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so. York. I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower. Glo. Why, sir, what should you fear? York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost; My grandam told me, he was murder'd there. Prince. I fear no uncles dead. Glo. Nor none that live, I hope. Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear. 4 I weigh it lightly, &c.] i. e. I should still esteem it but a trifling gift, were it heavier, or perhaps, I'd weigh it lightly,i. e. I could manage it, though it were heavier. † “My lord, will't please," &c.—MALONE. "Why, what should you fear?"-MALONE. But come, my lord, and, with a heavy heart, [Exeunt Prince, YORK, HASTINGS, Cardinal, and Attendants. Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incensed by his subtle mother, 5 To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously? Glo. No doubt, no doubt: O, 'tis a parlous boy; He's all the mother's from the top to toe. Come hither, gentle Catesby †, thou art sworn As closely to conceal what we impart : Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way;- In the seat royal of this famous isle? Cate. He for his father's sake so loves the prince, That he will not be won to aught against him. Buck. What think'st thou then of Stanley? will not he? Cate. He will do all in all as Hastings doth. Buck. Well then, no more but this: Go, gentle Catesby, And, as it were far off, sound thou lord Hastings, And summon him to-morrow to the Tower, If thou dost find him tractable to us, 5 Was not incensed -] i. e. incited or suggested. 6 capable ;] here, as in many other places in these plays, means intelligent, quick of apprehension. + Mr. Malone omits "gentle." Be thou so too; and so break off the talk, Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him, Catesby, And bid my friend, for joy of this good news, Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly. Glo. At Crosby-place, there shall you find us both. [Exit CATESBY. Buck. Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we perceive Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots? Glo. Chop off his head, man ;-somewhat we will do: : And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me Buck. I'll claim that promise at your grace's hand. Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness. Come, let us sup betimes; that afterwards. We may digest our complots in some form. [Exeunt. 7 Hast. [within.] divided councils,] That is, a private consultation, separate from the known and publick council. Mess. One from lord Stanley †. Hast. [within.] What is't o'clock ? Mess. Upon the stroke of four. Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Cannot thy master sleep the tedious nights? Mess. So it should seem by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble lordship. Hast. And then, Mess. And then he sends you word, he dreamt And with all speed post with him toward the north, Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; Tell him, his fears are shallow, wanting instance': + "from the lord Stanley."-MALONE, "these tedious "-MALONE. 8 the boar had rased off his helm:] By the boar, throughout this scene, is meant Gloster, who was called the boar, or the hog, from his having a boar for his cognizance, and one of the supporters of his coat of arms. STEEVENS. • His honour,] This was the usual address to noblemen in Shakspeare's time. 1 wanting instance:] That is, wanting some example or act of malevolence, by which they may be justified: or which, perhaps, is nearer to the true meaning, wanting any immediate ground or reason. JOHNSON. |