While this scene is proceeding in the Tower, another is going on in the king's apartment, from which we have been kept. But the imagination is not limited; and we can still be witnesses of the latter: king Edward on his couch is surrounded by his queen and her kindred, by Hastings, Buckingham, and others of his court: Gloster has not yet entered: the king speaks : [work : [K. Edward.] Why, so:-now have I done a good day's From my [Buckingham.] And in good time, my liege, here comes the [duke. [Gloster.] Good morrow to my sovereign king, and brother : And princely peers, a happy time of day! [K. Edward.] Happy, indeed, as we have spent the day :- [Gloster.] A blessed labour, my most sovereign liege. By false intelligence or wrong surmise, Hold me a foe; If I unwittingly, or in my rage, Have aught committed that is hardly borne To reconcile me to his friendly peace: I hate it, and desire all good men's love.- If any grudge were ever lodg'd between us ; Of you, lord Rivers,-and, lord Grey, of you,- I do not know that Englishman alive The queen comes forward, and gives her hand to Gloster with much alacrity, while she speaks : [Q. Elizabeth.] A holiday shall this be kept hereafter: Gloster prevents the king's reply by speaking first. Who knows not that the gentle duke is dead? They all start, turn pale, and look at each other with affright, while the king exclaims, [K. Edward] Who knows not he is dead! who knows he What, if I sign'd a warrant, did I not Reverse the order? sign'd I not a pardon? [Gloster.] But he, poor man, by your first order died, Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did! [is? [K. Edward.] Ah, wretched that I am, and full of sorrow! What, can my tongue give pardon to a slave? And could I not redeem a brother's life? But now, and one of you was at my feet, My brother kill'd no man, his fault was thought, All this, from my remembrance, brutish wrath You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon, THE ARTS OF THE PROTECTOR, RICHARD DUKE OF GLOSTER, TO OBTAIN THE CROWN DURING THE SHORT REIGN OF EDWARD V.; INDICATED BY SCENES SUPPOSED TO OCCUR IN LONDON, NAMELY, IN A PUBLIC PLACE; IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT THE TOWER; ON THE WALLS OF THE SAME; AND IN THE COURT OF BAYNARD'S CASTLE. HISTORICAL MEMORANDA. Young Edward was at Ludlow with his maternal uncle Rivers when his father died. This was April 9, 1483. Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan, accompanying the prince toward London, were arrested on the way, and sent to Pomfret Castle. Edward made his entry into London on the 4th of May; and his reign terminated by the proclamation of the duke as king, on the 25th of June. Young Edward having reached London from Ludlow, we may imagine a public place just on his entrance into the city, at which he is received by the Protector and a train of noblemen; also by cardinal Bourchier, archbishop of Canterbury, and the lord mayor, with a train of Alder men: [Gloster.] Welcome, my royal cousin, welcome hither! [K. Edward V.] I thank them, and I thank you all, my lords. [Gloster.] My gentle cousin, The weary way hath made you melancholy. [K. Edward.] No, uncle; but our crosses on the way Have made it tedious, wearisome and heavy : I want more uncles here to welcome me. [Gloster ] Sweet prince, the 'untainted virtue of your years Than just his outward show; which, heaven well knows, Those uncles which you want, are dangerous: Heaven keep you from them, and from all false friends [are none. [K. Edward.] Heaven keep me from false friends! but they I thought my mother and my brother York Would long ere this have met us on the way. [Gloster.] My royal cousin, Heaven knows on what occasion,—I do not,— Or he shall pluck him from her arms perforce. [Car. Bourchier.] My lord protector, if that my weak oratory [K, Edward.] Good cardi'nal, make all speedy haste you may. Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come, Where shall we sojourn till our coronation? [Gloster.] Where it seems best unto your royal self. Then, where you please, and shall be thought most fit [K. Edward.] I do not like the Tower,-but as you please. Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord? [Gloster.] He did, my gracious lord, begin that place, Which since succeeding ages have re-edified. [K. Edward.] Is it upon recórd? or else reported? [Gloster.] It is upon recórd, my gracious cousin. |