Even to the general all-ending day.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER (aside)
So wise so young, they say, do never live long.
PRINCE EDWARD What say you, uncle?
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
I say, ‘Without characters fame lives long’.
(Aside) Thus like the formal Vice, Iniquity,
I moralize two meanings in one word.
PRINCE EDWARD
That Julius Caesar was a famous man:
With what his valour did t’enrich his wit,
His wit set down to make his valour live.
Death made no conquest of this conqueror,
For yet he lives in fame though not in life.
I’ll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham.
BUCKINGHAM What, my good lord?
PRINCE EDWARD
An if I live until I be a man,
I’ll win our ancient right in France again,
Or die a soldier, as I lived a king.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER (aside)
Short summers lightly have a forward spring.
Enter young Duke of York, Lord Hastings, and Lord 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.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
How fares our noble cousin, Lord of York?
YORK
I thank you, gentle uncle, well. O, my lord,
You said that idle weeds are fast in growth;
The Prince, my brother, hath outgrown me far.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
He hath, my lord.
YORK
And therefore is he idle?
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
O my fair cousin, I must not say so.
YORK
He is more beholden to you then than I.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
He may command me as my sovereign,
But you have power in me as a kinsman.
YORK
I pray you, uncle, render me this dagger.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
My dagger, little cousin? With all my heart.
PRINCE EDWARD A beggar, brother?
YORK
Of my kind uncle that I know will give,
It being but a toy which is no grief to give.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
A greater gift than that I’ll give my cousin.
YORK
A greater gift? O, that’s the sword to it.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Ay, 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.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
It is too heavy for your grace to wear.
YORK
I’d weigh it lightly, were it heavier.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
What, would you have my weapon, little lord?
YORK
I would, that I might thank you as you call me.
RICHARD 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, prodigal wit he reasons.
To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himself.
So cunning and so young is wonderful.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER (to Prince Edward)
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 (to Prince Edward)
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.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER Why, what should you fear there?
YORK
Marry, my uncle Clarence’ angry ghost.
My grannam told me he was murdered there.
PRINCE EDWARD
I fear no uncles dead.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Nor none that live, I hope.
PRINCE EDWARD
An if they live, I hope I need not fear.
(To York) But come, my lord, and with a heavy heart,
Thinking on them, go we unto the Tower.
A Sennet. Exeunt all but Richard, Buckingham, and Catesby
BUCKINGHAM (to Richard)
Think you, my lord, this little prating York
Was not incensed by his subtle mother
To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?
RICHARD 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 Lord William 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? Will not 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 he doth stand affected to our purpose.
If thou dost find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell 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 tomorrow hold divided counsels,
Wherein thyself shalt highly be employed.
RICHARD GLOUCESTER
Commend me to Lord William. Tell him, Catesby,
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries
Tomorrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle,
And bid my lord, for joy of this good news,