Act IIIScene V
London. The Tower Walls
Enter Richard and Buckingham in rotten armour, marvellous ill-favoured.
Richard
Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy colour,Murder thy breath in middle of a word,And then again begin, and stop again,As if thou were distraught and mad with terror?
Buckingham
Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian;Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looksAre at my service, like enforced smiles,And both are ready in their offices,At anytime to grace my stratagems.But what, is Catesby gone?
Richard
He is; and, see, he brings the Mayor along.
Enter the Lord Mayor and Catesby.
Buckingham
Lord Mayor—
Richard
Look to the drawbridge there!
Buckingham
Hark, a drum.
Richard
Catesby, o’erlook the walls.
Buckingham
Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—
Richard
Look back! Defend thee, here are enemies.
Buckingham
God and our innocence defend and guard us!
Enter Lovell and Ratcliffe with Hastings’ head.
Richard
Be patient, they are friends, Ratcliffe and Lovell.
Lovell
Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
Richard
So dear I loved the man that I must weep.I took him for the plainest harmless creatureThat breathed upon the earth a Christian;Made him my book, wherein my soul recordedThe history of all her secret thoughts.So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtueThat, his apparent open guilt omitted—I mean his conversation with Shore’s wife—He lived from all attainder of suspects.
Buckingham
Well, well, he was the covert’st sheltered traitorThat ever lived.—Would you imagine, or almost believe,Were’t not that by great preservationWe live to tell it, that the subtle traitorThis day had plotted, in the council-house,To murder me and my good lord of Gloucester?
Mayor
Had he done so?
Richard
What, think you we are Turks or Infidels?Or that we would, against the form of law,Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death,But that the extreme peril of the case,The peace of England, and our persons’ safety,Enforced us to this execution?
Mayor
Now, fair befall you! He deserved his death,And your good Graces both have well proceeded,To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
Buckingham
I never looked for better at his handsAfter he once fell in with Mistress Shore.Yet had we not determined he should dieUntil your lordship came to see his endWhich now the loving haste of these our friends,Something against our meanings, have prevented,Because, my lord, we would have had you heardThe traitor speak, and timorously confessThe manner and the purpose of his treasons,That you might well have signified the sameUnto the citizens, who haply mayMisconster us in him, and wail his death.
Mayor
But, my good lord, your Grace’s word shall serveAs well as I had seen and heard him speak;And do not doubt, right noble princes both,But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizensWith all your just proceedings in this case.
Richard
And to that end we wished your lordship here,T’ avoid the censures of the carping world.
Buckingham
But since you come too late of our intent,Yet witness what you hear we did intend.And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
Exit Lord Mayor.
Richard
Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post.There, at your meet’st advantage of the time,Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children;Tell them how Edward put to death a citizenOnly for saying he would make his sonHeir to the Crown—meaning indeed his house,Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.Moreover, urge his hateful luxuryAnd bestial appetite in change of lust,Which stretched unto their servants, daughters, wives,Even where his raging eye or savage heart,Without control, lusted to make a prey.Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:Tell them, when that my mother went with childOf that insatiate Edward, noble YorkMy princely father then had wars in France,And, by true computation of the time,Found that the issue was not his begot;Which well appeared in his lineaments,Being nothing like the noble Duke, my father.Yet touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off;Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
Buckingham
Doubt not, my lord, I’ll play the oratorAs if the golden fee for which I pleadWere for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
Richard
If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle,Where you shall find me well accompaniedWith reverend fathers and well-learned bishops.
Buckingham
I go; and towards three or four o’clockLook for the news that the Guildhall affords.
Exit.
Richard
Go, Lovell, with all speed to Doctor Shaa.
To Ratcliffe.
Go thou to Friar Penker; bid them bothMeet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.
Exeunt Ratcliffe and Lovell.
Now will I go to take some privy orderTo draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,And to give order that no manner personHave any time recourse unto the Princes.
Exit.