The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. _London. The Palace_.
_Sennet. Enter_ RICHARD, _in pomp, crowned;_ BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, _a_ Page, _and others_. _K. Rich._ Stand all apart. Cousin of Buckingham! [fdb001] _Buck._ My gracious sovereign? [fdb002] _K. Rich._ Give me thy hand. [_Here he ascendeth his throne._] Thus high, by thy advice [fdb003] And thy assistance, is king Richard seated: But shall we wear these honours for a day? [fdb005] Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them? _Buck._ Still live they and for ever may they last! [fdb007] _K. Rich._ O Buckingham, now do I play the touch, [fdb008] To try if thou be current gold indeed: Young Edward lives: think now what I would say. [fdb010] _Buck._ Say on, my loving lord. [fdb011] _K. Rich._ Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king. _Buck._ Why, so you are, my thrice renowned liege. [fdb013] _K. Rich._ Ha! am I king? ’tis so: but Edward lives. [fdb014] _Buck._ True, noble prince. _K. Rich._ O bitter consequence, ·fdb015· That Edward still should live! ‘True, noble prince!’ [fdb016] Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull: [fdb017] Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead; And I would have it suddenly perform’d. What sayest thou? speak suddenly; be brief. [fdb020] _Buck._ Your grace may do your pleasure. _K. Rich._ Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezeth: [fdb022] Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?
_Cate._ My lord? _K. Rich._ Rumour it abroad [fdb052] That Anne, my wife, is sick and like to die: I will take order for her keeping close. Inquire me out some mean-born gentleman, [fdb055] Whom I will marry straight to Clarence’ daughter: [fdb056] The boy is foolish, and I fear not him. Look, how thou dream’st! I say again, give out [fdb058] That Anne my wife is sick, and like to die: [fdb059] About it; for it stands me much upon, ·fdb060· To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me. [fdb061] [_Exit Catesby._ I must be married to my brother’s daughter, [fdb062] Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass. Murder her brothers, and then marry her! [fdb064] Uncertain way of gain! But I am in ·fdb065· So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin: [fdb066] Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye. [fdb067] _Re-enter_ Page, _with_ TYRREL. Is thy name Tyrrel? _Tyr._ James Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject. _K. Rich._ Art thou, indeed? _Tyr._ Prove me, my gracious sovereign. [fdb070] _K. Rich._ Darest thou resolve to kill a friend of mine? _Tyr._ Ay, my lord; [fdb072] But I had rather kill two enemies. [fdb073] _K. Rich._ Why, there thou hast it: two deep enemies, [fdb074] Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep’s disturbers [fdb075] Are they that I would have thee deal upon: Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower.
_Buck._ My lord! [fdb103] _K. Rich._ How chance the prophet could not at that time Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him? ·fdb105· _Buck._ My lord, your promise for the earldom,-- _K. Rich._ Richmond! When last I was at Exeter, The mayor in courtesy show’d me the castle, [fdb108] And call’d it Rougemont: at which name I started, [fdb109] Because a bard of Ireland told me once, [fdb110] I should not live long after I saw Richmond. _Buck._ My lord! _K. Rich._ Ay, what’s o’clock? _Buck._ I am thus bold to put your grace in mind Of what you promised me. _K. Rich._ Well, but what’s o’clock? [fdb115] _Buck._ Upon the stroke of ten. _K. Rich._ Well, let it strike. _Buck._ Why let it strike? _K. Rich._ Because that, like a Jack, thou keep’st the stroke Betwixt thy begging and my meditation. I am not in the giving vein to-day. ·fdb120· _Buck._ Why, then resolve me whether you will or no. [fdb121] _R. Rich._ Tut, tut, [fdb122] Thou troublest me; I am not in the vein. [fdb123] [_Exeunt all but Buckingham._ _Buck._ Is it even so? rewards he my true service [fdb124] With such deep contempt? made I him king for this? [fdb125] O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on! [_Exit._
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