Enter young YORK, HASTINGS, and the CARDINAL BUCKINGHAM Now, in good time, here comes the Duke of York. PRINCE EDWARD Richard of York! how fares our loving brother? YORK Well, my dread lord; so must I call you now. PRINCE EDWARD 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. GLOUCESTER 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. GLOUCESTER He hath, my lord. YORK And therefore is he idle? GLOUCESTER O, my fair cousin, I must not say so. YORK Then is he more beholding to you than I. GLOUCESTER He may command me as my sovereign;
But you have power in me as in a kinsman. YORK I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger. GLOUCESTER My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart. PRINCE EDWARD A beggar, brother? YORK Of my kind uncle, that I know will give;
And being but a toy, which is no grief to give. GLOUCESTER A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin. YORK A greater gift! O, that's the sword to it. GLOUCESTER A gentle cousin, were it light enough. YORK O, then, I see, you will part but with light gifts;
In weightier things you'll say a beggar nay. GLOUCESTER It is too heavy for your grace to wear. YORK I weigh it lightly, were it heavier. GLOUCESTER What, would you have my weapon, little lord? YORK I would, that I might thank you as you call me. GLOUCESTER How? YORK Little. PRINCE EDWARD 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. BUCKINGHAM 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. GLOUCESTER My 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 EDWARD My lord protector needs will have it so. YORK I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower. GLOUCESTER Why, what should you fear? YORK Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost:
My grandam told me he was murdered there. PRINCE EDWARD I fear no uncles dead. GLOUCESTER Nor none that live, I hope. PRINCE EDWARD An if they live, I hope I need not fear.
But come, my lord; and with a heavy heart, Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.
A Sennet. Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER, BUCKINGHAM and CATESBY BUCKINGHAM Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incensed by his subtle mother To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously? 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. 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 William Lord 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. BUCKINGHAM What think'st thou, then, of Stanley? what will 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 doth he 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 show 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 to-morrow hold divided councils, Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd. GLOUCESTER 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. BUCKINGHAM Good Catesby, go, effect this business soundly. CATESBY My good lords both, with all the heed I may. GLOUCESTER Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we sleep? CATESBY You shall, my lord. GLOUCESTER At Crosby Place, there shall you find us both.
Exit CATESBY BUCKINGHAM Now, my lord, what shall we do, if we perceive Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots? GLOUCESTER Chop off his head, man; somewhat we will do:
And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and the moveables Whereof the king my brother stood possess'd. BUCKINGHAM I'll claim that promise at your grace's hands. GLOUCESTER And look to have it yielded with all willingness.
Come, let us sup betimes, that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form.