Part 14 (1/2)
ALL. Amen.
BUCKINGHAM. To-morrow may it please you to be crown'd?
GLOUCESTER. Even when you please, for you will have it so.
BUCKINGHAM. To-morrow, then, we will attend your Grace; And so, most joyfully, we take our leave.
GLOUCESTER. [To the BISHOPS] Come, let us to our holy work again.
Farewell, my cousin; farewell, gentle friends. Exeunt
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ACT IV. SCENE 1.
London. Before the Tower
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH, d.u.c.h.eSS of YORK, and MARQUIS of DORSET, at one door; ANNE, d.u.c.h.eSS of GLOUCESTER, leading LADY MARGARET PLANTAGENET, CLARENCE's young daughter, at another door
d.u.c.h.eSS. Who meets us here? My niece Plantagenet, Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloucester?
Now, for my life, she's wand'ring to the Tower, On pure heart's love, to greet the tender Princes.
Daughter, well met.
ANNE. G.o.d give your Graces both A happy and a joyful time of day!
QUEEN ELIZABETH. As much to you, good sister! Whither away?
ANNE. No farther than the Tower; and, as I guess, Upon the like devotion as yourselves, To gratulate the gentle Princes there.
QUEEN ELIZABETH. Kind sister, thanks; we'll enter all together.
Enter BRAKENBURY
And in good time, here the lieutenant comes.
Master Lieutenant, pray you, by your leave, How doth the Prince, and my young son of York?
BRAKENBURY. Right well, dear madam. By your patience, I may not suffer you to visit them.
The King hath strictly charg'd the contrary.
QUEEN ELIZABETH. The King! Who's that?
BRAKENBURY. I mean the Lord Protector.
QUEEN ELIZABETH. The Lord protect him from that kingly t.i.tle!
Hath he set bounds between their love and me?
I am their mother; who shall bar me from them?
d.u.c.h.eSS. I am their father's mother; I will see them.
ANNE. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother.
Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame, And take thy office from thee on my peril.
BRAKENBURY. No, madam, no. I may not leave it so; I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. Exit
Enter STANLEY
STANLEY. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, And I'll salute your Grace of York as mother And reverend looker-on of two fair queens.
[To ANNE] Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster, There to be crowned Richard's royal queen.
QUEEN ELIZABETH. Ah, cut my lace asunder That my pent heart may have some scope to beat, Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news!
ANNE. Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news!
DORSET. Be of good cheer; mother, how fares your Grace?
QUEEN ELIZABETH. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee gone!
Death and destruction dogs thee at thy heels; Thy mother's name is ominous to children.
If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas, And live with Richmond, from the reach of h.e.l.l.
Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house, Lest thou increase the number of the dead, And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse, Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen.