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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;
Too late he died, that might have kept that title,
Which by his death hath lost much majesty.

Glo. How fares our cousin, noble lord of York?
York. I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord,
You said, that idle weeds are fast in growth:
The prince my brother hath outgrown me far.
Glo. He hath, my lord.
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.
Glo. He may command me, as my sovereign;

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;
And, being but a toy, which is no grief to give.

Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin.
York. A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it?
Glo. Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough.

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:-
Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me;
Because that I am little, like an ape,

He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders.
Buck. With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons!
To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himself:

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,
Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.

[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;
Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable °;

He's all the mother's from the top to toe.
Buck. Well, let them rest.-

Come hither, gentle Catesby †, thou art sworn
As deeply to effect what we intend,

As closely to conceal what we impart :

Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way;-
What think'st thou? is it not an easy matter
To make William lord Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke

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,
How he doth stand affected to our purpose;

And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,
To sit about the coronation.

If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons:
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,

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,
And give us notice of his inclination:
For we to-morrow hold divided councils",
Wherein thyself shall highly be employed.

Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him, Catesby,
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-castle;

And bid my friend, for joy of this good news,
Give mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.

Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly.
Cate. My good lords both, with all the heed I can.
Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?
Cate. You shall, my lord.

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
The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables
Whereof the king my brother was possess'd.

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.

[blocks in formation]

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
To-night the boar had rased off his helm':
Besides, he says, there are two councils held;
And that may be determin'd at the one,
Which may make you and him to rue at the other.
Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure,—
If, presently, you will take horse with him,

And with all speed post with him toward the north,
To shun the danger that his soul divines.

Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;
Bid him not fear the separated councils:
His honour', and myself, are at the one;
And, at the other, is my good friend Catesby;
Where nothing can proceed, that toucheth us,
Whereof I shall not have intelligence.

Tell him, his fears are shallow, wanting instance':
And for his dreams-I wonder, he's so fond

+ "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.

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