William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (106 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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RICHARD GLOUCESTER
No doubt, no doubt. O, ‘tis a parlous boy,
Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable.
He is all the mother’s, from the top to toe.
Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable.
He is all the mother’s, from the top to toe.
BUCKINGHAM
Well, let them rest.—Come hither, Catesby. Thou art
sworn
As deeply to effect what we intend
As closely to conceal what we impart.
Thou know‘st our reasons, urged upon the way.
What think’st thou? Is it not an easy matter
To make Lord William Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke
In the seat royal of this famous isle?
sworn
As deeply to effect what we intend
As closely to conceal what we impart.
Thou know‘st our reasons, urged upon the way.
What think’st thou? Is it not an easy matter
To make Lord William Hastings of our mind,
For the instalment of this noble duke
In the seat royal of this famous isle?
CATESBY
He for his father’s sake so loves the Prince
That he will not be won to aught against him.
That he will not be won to aught against him.
BUCKINGHAM
What think’st thou then of Stanley? Will not he?
CATESBY
He will do all-in-all as Hastings doth.
BUCKINGHAM
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.
If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons.
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou so too, and so break off your talk,
And give us notice of his inclination,
For we tomorrow hold divided counsels,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employed.
And, as it were far off, sound thou Lord Hastings
How he doth stand affected to our purpose.
If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reasons.
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou so too, and so break off your talk,
And give us notice of his inclination,
For we tomorrow hold divided counsels,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employed.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Commend me to Lord William. Tell him, Catesby,
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
Tomorrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle,
And bid my lord, for joy of this good news,
Give Mrs Shore one gentle kiss the more.
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
Tomorrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle,
And bid my lord, for joy of this good news,
Give Mrs Shore one gentle kiss the more.
BUCKINGHAM
Good Catesby, go effect this business soundly.
CATESBY
My good lords both, with all the heed I can.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep?
CATESBY You shall, my lord.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
At Crosby House, there shall you find us both.
Exit Catesby
BUCKINGHAM
My lord, what shall we do if we perceive
Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?
Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Chop off his head. Something we will determine.
And look when I am king, claim thou of me
The earldom of Hereford, and all the movables
Whereof the King my brother was possessed.
And look when I am king, claim thou of me
The earldom of Hereford, and all the movables
Whereof the King my brother was possessed.
BUCKINGHAM
I’ll claim that promise at your grace’s hand.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
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
3.2Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards
We may digest our complots in some form.
Exeunt
Enter a Messenger to the door of Lord Hastings MESSENGER (knocking)
My lord, my lord!
LORD HASTINGS ⌈
within
⌉ Who knocks?
within
⌉ Who knocks?
MESSENGER
One from Lord Stanley.
⌈
Enter Lord Hastings
⌉
LORD HASTINGS
What is’t o’clock?
MESSENGER
Upon the stroke of four.
LORD HASTINGS
Cannot my Lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights?
MESSENGER
So it appears by that I have to say.
First he commends him to your noble self.
First he commends him to your noble self.
LORD HASTINGS What then?
MESSENGER
Then certifies your lordship that this night
He dreamt the boar had razed off his helm.
Besides, he says there are two councils kept,
And that may be determined at the one
Which may make you and him to rue at th’other.
Therefore he sends to know your lordship’s pleasure,
If you will presently take horse with him,
And with all speed post with him toward the north
To shun the danger that his soul divines.
He dreamt the boar had razed off his helm.
Besides, he says there are two councils kept,
And that may be determined at the one
Which may make you and him to rue at th’other.
Therefore he sends to know your lordship’s pleasure,
If you will presently take horse with him,
And with all speed post with him toward the north
To shun the danger that his soul divines.
LORD HASTINGS
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, without instance.
And for his dreams, I wonder he’s so simple,
To trust the mock’ry of unquiet slumbers.
To fly the boar before the boar pursues
Were to incense the boar to follow us,
And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.
Go, bid thy master rise, and come to me,
And we will both together to the Tower,
Where he shall see the boar will use us kindly.
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, without instance.
And for his dreams, I wonder he’s so simple,
To trust the mock’ry of unquiet slumbers.
To fly the boar before the boar pursues
Were to incense the boar to follow us,
And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.
Go, bid thy master rise, and come to me,
And we will both together to the Tower,
Where he shall see the boar will use us kindly.
MESSENGER
I’ll go, my lord, and tell him what you say.
Exit
Exit
Enter Catesby
CATESBY
Many good morrows to my noble lord.
LORD HASTINGS
Good morrow, Catesby. You are early stirring.
What news, what news, in this our tott’ring state?
What news, what news, in this our tott’ring state?
CATESBY
It is a reeling world indeed, my lord,
And I believe will never stand upright
Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.
And I believe will never stand upright
Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.
LORD HASTINGS
How? ‘Wear the garland’? Dost thou mean the crown?
CATESBY Ay, my good lord.
LORD HASTINGS
I’ll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders
Before I’ll see the crown so foul misplaced.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?
Before I’ll see the crown so foul misplaced.
But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?
CATESBY
Ay, on my life, and hopes to find you forward
Upon his party for the gain thereof—
And thereupon he sends you this good news:
That this same very day your enemies,
The kindred of the Queen, must die at Pomfret.
Upon his party for the gain thereof—
And thereupon he sends you this good news:
That this same very day your enemies,
The kindred of the Queen, must die at Pomfret.
LORD HASTINGS
Indeed I am no mourner for that news,
Because they have been still my adversaries.
But that I’ll give my voice on Richard’s side
To bar my master’s heirs in true descent,
God knows I will not do it, to the death.
Because they have been still my adversaries.
But that I’ll give my voice on Richard’s side
To bar my master’s heirs in true descent,
God knows I will not do it, to the death.
CATESBY
God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!
LORD HASTINGS
But I shall laugh at this a twelvemonth hence:
That they which brought me in my master’s hate,
I live to look upon their tragedy.
Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,
I’ll send some packing that yet think not on’t.
That they which brought me in my master’s hate,
I live to look upon their tragedy.
Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,
I’ll send some packing that yet think not on’t.
CATESBY
‘Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepared, and look not for it.
When men are unprepared, and look not for it.
LORD HASTINGS
O monstrous, monstrous! And so falls it out
With Rivers, Vaughan, Gray—and so ‘twill do
With some men else, that think themselves as safe
As thou and I, who as thou know’st are dear
To princely Richard and to Buckingham.
With Rivers, Vaughan, Gray—and so ‘twill do
With some men else, that think themselves as safe
As thou and I, who as thou know’st are dear
To princely Richard and to Buckingham.
CATESBY
The Princes both make high account of you—
(
Aside
) For they account his head upon the bridge.
(
Aside
) For they account his head upon the bridge.
LORD HASTINGS
I know they do, and I have well deserved it.
Enter Lord Stanley
Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, man?
Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?
Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?
STANLEY
My lord, good morrow.—Good morrow, Catesby.—
You may jest on, but by the Holy Rood
I do not like these several councils, I.
You may jest on, but by the Holy Rood
I do not like these several councils, I.
LORD HASTINGS
My lord, I hold my life as dear as you do yours,
And never in my days, I do protest,
Was it so precious to me as ‘tis now.
Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would be so triumphant as I am?
And never in my days, I do protest,
Was it so precious to me as ‘tis now.
Think you, but that I know our state secure,
I would be so triumphant as I am?
STANLEY
The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,
Were jocund, and supposed their states were sure,
And they indeed had no cause to mistrust;
But yet you see how soon the day o’ercast.
This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt.
Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward.
What, shall we toward the Tower? The day is spent.
Were jocund, and supposed their states were sure,
And they indeed had no cause to mistrust;
But yet you see how soon the day o’ercast.
This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt.
Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward.
What, shall we toward the Tower? The day is spent.
LORD HASTINGS
Come, come, have with you! Wot you what, my lord?
Today the lords you talked of are beheaded.
Today the lords you talked of are beheaded.
STANLEY
They for their truth might better wear their heads
Than some that have accused them wear their hats.
But come, my lord, let us away.
Than some that have accused them wear their hats.
But come, my lord, let us away.
Enter a Pursuivant named
⌈
hastings
⌉
LORD HASTINGS
Go on before; I’ll follow presently.
Exeunt Stanley and Catesby
Well met, Hastings. How goes the world with thee?
PURSUIVANT
The better that your lordship please to ask.
LORD HASTINGS
I tell thee, man, ‘tis better with me now
Than when I met thee last, where now we meet.
Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
By the suggestion of the Queen’s allies;
But now, I tell thee—keep it to thyself—
This day those enemies are put to death,
And I in better state than e’er I was.
Than when I met thee last, where now we meet.
Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
By the suggestion of the Queen’s allies;
But now, I tell thee—keep it to thyself—
This day those enemies are put to death,
And I in better state than e’er I was.
PURSUIVANT
God hold it to your honour’s good content.
LORD HASTINGS
Gramercy, Hastings. There, drink that for me.
He throws him his purse
PURSUIVANT God save your lordship.
Exit
Enter a Priest
PRIEST
Well met, my lord. I am glad to see your honour.
LORD HASTINGS
I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart.
I am in your debt for your last exercise.
Come the next sabbath, and I will content you.
I am in your debt for your last exercise.
Come the next sabbath, and I will content you.
⌈
He whispers in his ear
.⌉
Enter Buckingham
BUCKINGHAM
What, talking with a priest, Lord Chamberlain?
Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;
Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.
Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;
Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.
LORD HASTINGS
Good faith, and when I met this holy man
The men you talk of came into my mind.
What, go you toward the Tower?
The men you talk of came into my mind.
What, go you toward the Tower?
BUCKINGHAM
I do, my lord, but long I cannot stay there;
I shall return before your lordship thence.
I shall return before your lordship thence.
LORD HASTINGS
Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there.
BUCKINGHAM (
aside
)
aside
)
And supper too, although thou know’st it not.
Come, will you go?
Come, will you go?
LORD HASTINGS
I’ll wait upon your lordship.
Exeunt
Enter Sir Richard Ratcliffe with Halberdiers taking Lord Rivers, Lord Gray, and Sir Thomas Vaughan to death at Pomfret
RIVERS
Sir Richard Ratcliffe, let me tell thee this:
Today shalt thou behold a subject die
For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.
Today shalt thou behold a subject die
For truth, for duty, and for loyalty.
GRAY (
to Ratcliffe
)
to Ratcliffe
)
God bless the Prince from all the pack of you!
A knot you are of damned bloodsuckers.
A knot you are of damned bloodsuckers.
VAUGHAN (
to Ratcliffe
)
to Ratcliffe
)
You live, that shall cry woe for this hereafter.
RATCLIFFE
Dispatch. The limit of your lives is out.
RIVERS
O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison,
Fatal and ominous to noble peers!
Within the guilty closure of thy walls,
Richard the Second here was hacked to death,
And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,
We give to thee our guiltless blood to drink.
Fatal and ominous to noble peers!
Within the guilty closure of thy walls,
Richard the Second here was hacked to death,
And, for more slander to thy dismal seat,
We give to thee our guiltless blood to drink.
GRAY
Now Margaret’s curse is fall’n upon our heads,
For standing by when Richard stabbed her son.
For standing by when Richard stabbed her son.
RIVERS
Then cursed she Hastings; then cursed she Buckingham;
Then cursed she Richard. O remember, God,
To hear her prayer for them as now for us.
And for my sister and her princely sons,
Be satisfied, dear God, with our true blood,
Which, as thou know’st, unjustly must be spilt.
Then cursed she Richard. O remember, God,
To hear her prayer for them as now for us.
And for my sister and her princely sons,
Be satisfied, dear God, with our true blood,
Which, as thou know’st, unjustly must be spilt.
RATCLIFFE
Make haste: the hour of death is expiate.
RIVERS
Come, Gray; come, Vaughan; let us here embrace.
Farewell, until we meet again in heaven.
Farewell, until we meet again in heaven.
Exeunt
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