Enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM, at several doors GLOUCESTER How now, my lord, what say the citizens? BUCKINGHAM Now, by the holy mother of our Lord, The citizens are mum and speak not a word. GLOUCESTER Touch'd you the bastardy of Edward's children? BUCKINGHAM I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy, And his contract by deputy in France;
The insatiate greediness of his desires, And his enforcement of the city wives;
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy, As being got, your father then in France, His resemblance, being not like the duke;
Withal I did infer your lineaments, Being the right idea of your father, Both in your form and nobleness of mind;
Laid open all your victories in Scotland, Your dicipline in war, wisdom in peace, Your bounty, virtue, fair humility:
Indeed, left nothing fitting for the purpose Untouch'd, or slightly handled, in discourse And when mine oratory grew to an end I bid them that did love their country's good Cry 'God save Richard, England's royal king!' GLOUCESTER Ah! and did they so? BUCKINGHAM No, so God help me, they spake not a word;
But, like dumb statues or breathing stones, Gazed each on other, and look'd deadly pale.
Which when I saw, I reprehended them;
And ask'd the mayor what meant this wilful silence:
His answer was, the people were not wont To be spoke to but by the recorder.
Then he was urged to tell my tale again, 'Thus saith the duke, thus hath the duke inferr'd;'
But nothing spake in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own, At the lower end of the hall, hurl'd up their caps, And some ten voices cried 'God save King Richard!'
And thus I took the vantage of those few, 'Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,' quoth I;
'This general applause and loving shout Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard:'
And even here brake off, and came away. GLOUCESTER What tongueless blocks were they! would not they speak? BUCKINGHAM No, by my troth, my lord. GLOUCESTER Will not the mayor then and his brethren come? BUCKINGHAM The mayor is here at hand: intend some fear;
Be not you spoke with, but by mighty suit:
And look you get a prayer-book in your hand, And stand betwixt two churchmen, good my lord;
For on that ground I'll build a holy descant:
And be not easily won to our request:
Play the maid's part, still answer nay, and take it. GLOUCESTER I go; and if you plead as well for them As I can say nay to thee for myself, No doubt well bring it to a happy issue. BUCKINGHAM Go, go, up to the leads; the lord mayor knocks.
Exit GLOUCESTER
Enter the Lord Mayor and Citizens Welcome my lord; I dance attendance here;
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.
Enter CATESBY
Here comes his servant: how now, Catesby, What says he? CATESBY My lord: he doth entreat your grace;
To visit him to-morrow or next day:
He is within, with two right reverend fathers, Divinely bent to meditation;
And no worldly suit would he be moved, To draw him from his holy exercise. BUCKINGHAM Return, good Catesby, to thy lord again;
Tell him, myself, the mayor and citizens, In deep designs and matters of great moment, No less importing than our general good, Are come to have some conference with his grace. CATESBY I'll tell him what you say, my lord.
Exit BUCKINGHAM Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lolling on a lewd day-bed, But on his knees at meditation;
Not dallying with a brace of courtezans, But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body, But praying, to enrich his watchful soul:
Happy were England, would this gracious prince Take on himself the sovereignty thereof:
But, sure, I fear, we shall ne'er win him to it. Lord Mayor Marry, God forbid his grace should say us nay! BUCKINGHAM I fear he will.
Re-enter CATESBY
How now, Catesby, what says your lord? CATESBY My lord, He wonders to what end you have assembled Such troops of citizens to speak with him, His grace not being warn'd thereof before:
My lord, he fears you mean no good to him. BUCKINGHAM Sorry I am my noble cousin should Suspect me, that I mean no good to him:
By heaven, I come in perfect love to him;
And so once more return and tell his grace.
Exit CATESBY
When holy and devout religious men Are at their beads, 'tis hard to draw them thence, So sweet is zealous contemplation.
Enter GLOUCESTER aloft, between two Bishops. CATESBY returns Lord Mayor See, where he stands between two clergymen! BUCKINGHAM Two props of virtue for a Christian prince, To stay him from the fall of vanity:
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand, True ornaments to know a holy man.
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince, Lend favourable ears to our request;
And pardon us the interruption Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal. GLOUCESTER My lord, there needs no such apology:
I rather do beseech you pardon me, Who, earnest in the service of my God, Neglect the visitation of my friends.