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Enter the old DUCHESS of York, with the two children of Clarence
Enter the old DUCHESS of York, with the two children of Clarence

BOY

Good grandam, tell us, is our father dead?

BOY

Good grandam, tell us, is our father dead?

DUCHESS

No, boy.

DUCHESS

No, boy.

GIRL

Why do you weep so oft, and beat your breast,
And cry, “O Clarence, my unhappy son?”

GIRL

Why do you weep so oft, and beat your breast,
And cry, “O Clarence, my unhappy son?”

BOY

5 Why do you look on us and shake your head,
And call us orphans, wretches, castaways,
If that our noble father were alive?

BOY

Why do you look on us and shake your head,
And call us orphans, wretches, castaways,
If that our noble father were alive?

DUCHESS

My pretty cousins, you mistake me both.
I do lament the sickness of the king,
10 As loath to lose him, not your father’s death.
It were lost sorrow to wail one that’s lost.

DUCHESS

My pretty cousins, you mistake me both.
I do lament the sickness of the king,
As loath to lose him, not your father’s death.
It were lost sorrow to wail one that’s lost.

BOY

Then, you conclude, my grandam, he is dead.
The king mine uncle is to blame for it.
God will revenge it, whom I will importune
15 With earnest prayers, all to that effect.

BOY

Then, you conclude, my grandam, he is dead.
The king mine uncle is to blame for it.
God will revenge it, whom I will importune
With earnest prayers, all to that effect.

GIRL

And so will I.

GIRL

And so will I.

DUCHESS

Peace, children, peace. The king doth love you well.
Incapable and shallow innocents,
You cannot guess who caused your father’s death.

DUCHESS

Peace, children, peace. The king doth love you well.
Incapable and shallow innocents,
You cannot guess who caused your father’s death.

BOY

20 Grandam, we can, for my good uncle Gloucester
Told me the king, provoked to it by the queen,
Devised impeachments to imprison him;
And when my uncle told me so, he wept,
And pitied me, and kindly kissed my cheek,
25 Bade me rely on him as on my father,
And he would love me dearly as a child.

BOY

Grandam, we can, for my good uncle Gloucester
Told me the king, provoked to it by the queen,
Devised impeachments to imprison him;
And when my uncle told me so, he wept,
And pitied me, and kindly kissed my cheek,
Bade me rely on him as on my father,
And he would love me dearly as a child.

DUCHESS

Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shape,
And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice.
He is my son, ay, and therein my shame,
30 Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit.

DUCHESS

Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shape,
And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice.
He is my son, ay, and therein my shame,
Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit.

BOY

Think you my uncle did dissemble, grandam?

BOY

Think you my uncle did dissemble, grandam?

DUCHESS

Ay, boy.

DUCHESS

Ay, boy.

BOY

I cannot think it. Hark, what noise is this?

BOY

I cannot think it. Hark, what noise is this?
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH , with her hair about her ears, RIVERS , and DORSET after her
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH , with her hair about her ears, RIVERS , and DORSET after her

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ah, who shall hinder me to wail and weep,
35 To chide my fortune and torment myself?
I’ll join with black despair against my soul
And to myself become an enemy.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ah, who shall hinder me to wail and weep,
To chide my fortune and torment myself?
I’ll join with black despair against my soul
And to myself become an enemy.

DUCHESS

What means this scene of rude impatience?

DUCHESS

What means this scene of rude impatience?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

To make an act of tragic violence.
40 Edward, my lord, thy son, our king, is dead.
Why grow the branches when the root is gone?
Why wither not the leaves that want their sap?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

To make an act of tragic violence.
Edward, my lord, thy son, our king, is dead.
Why grow the branches when the root is gone?
Why wither not the leaves that want their sap?
If you will live, lament. If die, be brief,
That our swift-wingèd souls may catch the king’s,
45 Or, like obedient subjects, follow him
To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night.
If you will live, lament. If die, be brief,
That our swift-wingèd souls may catch the king’s,
Or, like obedient subjects, follow him
To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night.

DUCHESS

Ah, so much interest have I in thy sorrow
As I had title in thy noble husband.
I have bewept a worthy husband’s death
50 And lived with looking on his images;
But now two mirrors of his princely semblance
Are cracked in pieces by malignant death,
And I, for comfort, have but one false glass
That grieves me when I see my shame in him.
55 Thou art a widow, yet thou art a mother,
And hast the comfort of thy children left,
But death hath snatched my husband from mine arms
And plucked two crutches from my feeble hands,
Clarence and Edward. O, what cause have I,
60 Thine being but a moiety of my moan,
To overgo thy woes and drown thy cries!

DUCHESS

Ah, so much interest have I in thy sorrow
As I had title in thy noble husband.
I have bewept a worthy husband’s death
And lived with looking on his images;
But now two mirrors of his princely semblance
Are cracked in pieces by malignant death,
And I, for comfort, have but one false glass
That grieves me when I see my shame in him.
Thou art a widow, yet thou art a mother,
And hast the comfort of thy children left,
But death hath snatched my husband from mine arms
And plucked two crutches from my feeble hands,
Clarence and Edward. O, what cause have I,
Thine being but a moiety of my moan,
To overgo thy woes and drown thy cries!

BOY

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Ah, aunt, you wept not for our
   father’s death.
How can we aid you with our kindred tears?

BOY

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Ah, aunt, you wept not for our
   father’s death.
How can we aid you with our kindred tears?

GIRL

Our fatherless distress was left unmoaned.
65 Your widow-dolor likewise be unwept!

GIRL

Our fatherless distress was left unmoaned.
Your widow-dolor likewise be unwept!

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Give me no help in lamentation.
I am not barren to bring forth complaints.
All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes,
That I, being governed by the watery moon,
70 May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world.
Ah, for my husband, for my dear lord Edward!

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Give me no help in lamentation.
I am not barren to bring forth complaints.
All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes,
That I, being governed by the watery moon,
May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world.
Ah, for my husband, for my dear lord Edward!

CHILDREN

Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Clarence!

CHILDREN

Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Clarence!

DUCHESS

Alas for both, both mine, Edward and Clarence!

DUCHESS

Alas for both, both mine, Edward and Clarence!

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What stay had I but Edward? And he’s gone.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What stay had I but Edward? And he’s gone.

CHILDREN

75 What stay had we but Clarence? And he’s gone.

CHILDREN

What stay had we but Clarence? And he’s gone.

DUCHESS

What stays had I but they? And they are gone.

DUCHESS

What stays had I but they? And they are gone.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Was never widow had so dear a loss.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Was never widow had so dear a loss.

CHILDREN

Were never orphans had so dear a loss.

CHILDREN

Were never orphans had so dear a loss.

DUCHESS

Was never mother had so dear a loss.
80 Alas, I am the mother of these griefs.
Their woes are parceled; mine are general.
She for an Edward weeps, and so do I;
I for a Clarence weep; so doth not she.
These babes for Clarence weep and so do I;
85 I for an Edward weep; so do not they.
Alas, you three, on me, threefold distressed,
Pour all your tears. I am your sorrow’s nurse,
And I will pamper it with lamentations.

DUCHESS

Was never mother had so dear a loss.
Alas, I am the mother of these griefs.
Their woes are parceled; mine are general.
She for an Edward weeps, and so do I;
I for a Clarence weep; so doth not she.
These babes for Clarence weep and so do I;
I for an Edward weep; so do not they.
Alas, you three, on me, threefold distressed,
Pour all your tears. I am your sorrow’s nurse,
And I will pamper it with lamentations.

DORSET

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Comfort, dear mother. God is
   much displeased
90 That you take with unthankfulness, his doing.
In common worldly things, ’tis called ungrateful
With dull unwillingness to repay a debt
Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent;
Much more to be thus opposite with heaven,
95 For it requires the royal debt it lent you.

DORSET

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Comfort, dear mother. God is
   much displeased
That you take with unthankfulness, his doing.
In common worldly things, ’tis called ungrateful
With dull unwillingness to repay a debt
Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent;
Much more to be thus opposite with heaven,
For it requires the royal debt it lent you.

RIVERS

Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother,
Of the young prince your son. Send straight for him.
Let him be crowned. In him your comfort lives.
Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward’s grave
100 And plant your joys in living Edward’s throne.

RIVERS

Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother,
Of the young prince your son. Send straight for him.
Let him be crowned. In him your comfort lives.
Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward’s grave
And plant your joys in living Edward’s throne.
Enter RICHARD , BUCKINGHAM , STANLEY , HASTINGS , and RATCLIFFE
Enter RICHARD , BUCKINGHAM , STANLEY , HASTINGS , and RATCLIFFE

RICHARD

Sister, have comfort. All of us have cause
To wail the dimming of our shining star,
But none can help our harms by wailing them.—
Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy;
105 I did not see your Grace. Humbly on my knee
I crave your blessing.

RICHARD

Sister, have comfort. All of us have cause
To wail the dimming of our shining star,
But none can help our harms by wailing them.—
Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy;
I did not see your Grace. Humbly on my knee
I crave your blessing.
He kneels
He kneels

DUCHESS

God bless thee, and put meekness in thy breast,
Love, charity, obedience, and true duty.

DUCHESS

God bless thee, and put meekness in thy breast,
Love, charity, obedience, and true duty.

RICHARD

(standing) Amen. (aside) And make me die a good old man!
110 That is the butt end of a mother’s blessing;
I marvel that her Grace did leave it out.

RICHARD

(standing) Amen. (aside) And make me die a good old man!
That is the butt end of a mother’s blessing;
I marvel that her Grace did leave it out.

BUCKINGHAM

You cloudy princes and heart-sorrowing peers
That bear this heavy mutual load of moan,
Now cheer each other in each other’s love.
115 Though we have spent our harvest of this king,
We are to reap the harvest of his son.
The broken rancor of your high-swoll'n hates,
But lately splintered, knit, and joined together,
Must gently be preserved, cherished, and kept.
120 Meseemeth good that with some little train
Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fet
Hither to London, to be crowned our king.

BUCKINGHAM

You cloudy princes and heart-sorrowing peers
That bear this heavy mutual load of moan,
Now cheer each other in each other’s love.
Though we have spent our harvest of this king,
We are to reap the harvest of his son.
The broken rancor of your high-swoll'n hates,
But lately splintered, knit, and joined together,
Must gently be preserved, cherished, and kept.
Meseemeth good that with some little train
Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fet
Hither to London, to be crowned our king.

RIVERS

Why “with some little train,” my Lord of Buckingham?

RIVERS

Why “with some little train,” my Lord of Buckingham?

BUCKINGHAM

Marry, my lord, lest by a multitude
125 The new-healed wound of malice should break out,
Which would be so much the more dangerous
By how much the estate is green and yet ungoverned.
Where every horse bears his commanding rein
And may direct his course as please himself,
130 As well the fear of harm as harm apparent,
In my opinion, ought to be prevented.

BUCKINGHAM

Marry, my lord, lest by a multitude
The new-healed wound of malice should break out,
Which would be so much the more dangerous
By how much the estate is green and yet ungoverned.
Where every horse bears his commanding rein
And may direct his course as please himself,
As well the fear of harm as harm apparent,
In my opinion, ought to be prevented.

RICHARD

I hope the king made peace with all of us;
And the compact is firm and true in me.

RICHARD

I hope the king made peace with all of us;
And the compact is firm and true in me.

RIVERS

And so in me, and so, I think, in all.
135 Yet since it is but green, it should be put
To no apparent likelihood of breach,
Which haply by much company might be urged.
Therefore I say with noble Buckingham
That it is meet so few should fetch the prince.

RIVERS

And so in me, and so, I think, in all.
Yet since it is but green, it should be put
To no apparent likelihood of breach,
Which haply by much company might be urged.
Therefore I say with noble Buckingham
That it is meet so few should fetch the prince.

HASTINGS

140 And so say I.

HASTINGS

And so say I.

RICHARD

Then be it so, and go we to determine
Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow.—
Madam, and you, my sister, will you go
To give your censures in this business?

RICHARD

Then be it so, and go we to determine
Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow.—
Madam, and you, my sister, will you go
To give your censures in this business?
Exeunt all but BUCKINGHAM and RICHARD
Exeunt all but BUCKINGHAM and RICHARD

BUCKINGHAM

145 My lord, whoever journeys to the prince,
For God’s sake let not us two at home.
For by the way I’ll sort occasion,
As index to the story we late talked of,
To part the queen’s proud kindred from the prince.

BUCKINGHAM

My lord, whoever journeys to the prince,
For God’s sake let not us two at home.
For by the way I’ll sort occasion,
As index to the story we late talked of,
To part the queen’s proud kindred from the prince.

RICHARD

150 My other self, my council’s consistory,
My oracle, my prophet, my dear cousin,
I, as a child, will go by thy direction
Toward Ludlow then, for we’ll not stay behind.

RICHARD

My other self, my council’s consistory,
My oracle, my prophet, my dear cousin,
I, as a child, will go by thy direction
Toward Ludlow then, for we’ll not stay behind.
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter the old DUCHESS of York, with the two children of Clarence
Enter the old DUCHESS of York, with the two children of Clarence

BOY

Good grandam, tell us, is our father dead?

BOY

Good grandam, tell us, is our father dead?

DUCHESS

No, boy.

DUCHESS

No, boy.

GIRL

Why do you weep so oft, and beat your breast,
And cry, “O Clarence, my unhappy son?”

GIRL

Why do you weep so oft, and beat your breast,
And cry, “O Clarence, my unhappy son?”

BOY

5 Why do you look on us and shake your head,
And call us orphans, wretches, castaways,
If that our noble father were alive?

BOY

Why do you look on us and shake your head,
And call us orphans, wretches, castaways,
If that our noble father were alive?

DUCHESS

My pretty cousins, you mistake me both.
I do lament the sickness of the king,
10 As loath to lose him, not your father’s death.
It were lost sorrow to wail one that’s lost.

DUCHESS

My pretty cousins, you mistake me both.
I do lament the sickness of the king,
As loath to lose him, not your father’s death.
It were lost sorrow to wail one that’s lost.

BOY

Then, you conclude, my grandam, he is dead.
The king mine uncle is to blame for it.
God will revenge it, whom I will importune
15 With earnest prayers, all to that effect.

BOY

Then, you conclude, my grandam, he is dead.
The king mine uncle is to blame for it.
God will revenge it, whom I will importune
With earnest prayers, all to that effect.

GIRL

And so will I.

GIRL

And so will I.

DUCHESS

Peace, children, peace. The king doth love you well.
Incapable and shallow innocents,
You cannot guess who caused your father’s death.

DUCHESS

Peace, children, peace. The king doth love you well.
Incapable and shallow innocents,
You cannot guess who caused your father’s death.

BOY

20 Grandam, we can, for my good uncle Gloucester
Told me the king, provoked to it by the queen,
Devised impeachments to imprison him;
And when my uncle told me so, he wept,
And pitied me, and kindly kissed my cheek,
25 Bade me rely on him as on my father,
And he would love me dearly as a child.

BOY

Grandam, we can, for my good uncle Gloucester
Told me the king, provoked to it by the queen,
Devised impeachments to imprison him;
And when my uncle told me so, he wept,
And pitied me, and kindly kissed my cheek,
Bade me rely on him as on my father,
And he would love me dearly as a child.

DUCHESS

Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shape,
And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice.
He is my son, ay, and therein my shame,
30 Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit.

DUCHESS

Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shape,
And with a virtuous visor hide deep vice.
He is my son, ay, and therein my shame,
Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit.

BOY

Think you my uncle did dissemble, grandam?

BOY

Think you my uncle did dissemble, grandam?

DUCHESS

Ay, boy.

DUCHESS

Ay, boy.

BOY

I cannot think it. Hark, what noise is this?

BOY

I cannot think it. Hark, what noise is this?
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH , with her hair about her ears, RIVERS , and DORSET after her
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH , with her hair about her ears, RIVERS , and DORSET after her

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ah, who shall hinder me to wail and weep,
35 To chide my fortune and torment myself?
I’ll join with black despair against my soul
And to myself become an enemy.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ah, who shall hinder me to wail and weep,
To chide my fortune and torment myself?
I’ll join with black despair against my soul
And to myself become an enemy.

DUCHESS

What means this scene of rude impatience?

DUCHESS

What means this scene of rude impatience?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

To make an act of tragic violence.
40 Edward, my lord, thy son, our king, is dead.
Why grow the branches when the root is gone?
Why wither not the leaves that want their sap?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

To make an act of tragic violence.
Edward, my lord, thy son, our king, is dead.
Why grow the branches when the root is gone?
Why wither not the leaves that want their sap?
If you will live, lament. If die, be brief,
That our swift-wingèd souls may catch the king’s,
45 Or, like obedient subjects, follow him
To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night.
If you will live, lament. If die, be brief,
That our swift-wingèd souls may catch the king’s,
Or, like obedient subjects, follow him
To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night.

DUCHESS

Ah, so much interest have I in thy sorrow
As I had title in thy noble husband.
I have bewept a worthy husband’s death
50 And lived with looking on his images;
But now two mirrors of his princely semblance
Are cracked in pieces by malignant death,
And I, for comfort, have but one false glass
That grieves me when I see my shame in him.
55 Thou art a widow, yet thou art a mother,
And hast the comfort of thy children left,
But death hath snatched my husband from mine arms
And plucked two crutches from my feeble hands,
Clarence and Edward. O, what cause have I,
60 Thine being but a moiety of my moan,
To overgo thy woes and drown thy cries!

DUCHESS

Ah, so much interest have I in thy sorrow
As I had title in thy noble husband.
I have bewept a worthy husband’s death
And lived with looking on his images;
But now two mirrors of his princely semblance
Are cracked in pieces by malignant death,
And I, for comfort, have but one false glass
That grieves me when I see my shame in him.
Thou art a widow, yet thou art a mother,
And hast the comfort of thy children left,
But death hath snatched my husband from mine arms
And plucked two crutches from my feeble hands,
Clarence and Edward. O, what cause have I,
Thine being but a moiety of my moan,
To overgo thy woes and drown thy cries!

BOY

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Ah, aunt, you wept not for our
   father’s death.
How can we aid you with our kindred tears?

BOY

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Ah, aunt, you wept not for our
   father’s death.
How can we aid you with our kindred tears?

GIRL

Our fatherless distress was left unmoaned.
65 Your widow-dolor likewise be unwept!

GIRL

Our fatherless distress was left unmoaned.
Your widow-dolor likewise be unwept!

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Give me no help in lamentation.
I am not barren to bring forth complaints.
All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes,
That I, being governed by the watery moon,
70 May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world.
Ah, for my husband, for my dear lord Edward!

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Give me no help in lamentation.
I am not barren to bring forth complaints.
All springs reduce their currents to mine eyes,
That I, being governed by the watery moon,
May send forth plenteous tears to drown the world.
Ah, for my husband, for my dear lord Edward!

CHILDREN

Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Clarence!

CHILDREN

Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Clarence!

DUCHESS

Alas for both, both mine, Edward and Clarence!

DUCHESS

Alas for both, both mine, Edward and Clarence!

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What stay had I but Edward? And he’s gone.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What stay had I but Edward? And he’s gone.

CHILDREN

75 What stay had we but Clarence? And he’s gone.

CHILDREN

What stay had we but Clarence? And he’s gone.

DUCHESS

What stays had I but they? And they are gone.

DUCHESS

What stays had I but they? And they are gone.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Was never widow had so dear a loss.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Was never widow had so dear a loss.

CHILDREN

Were never orphans had so dear a loss.

CHILDREN

Were never orphans had so dear a loss.

DUCHESS

Was never mother had so dear a loss.
80 Alas, I am the mother of these griefs.
Their woes are parceled; mine are general.
She for an Edward weeps, and so do I;
I for a Clarence weep; so doth not she.
These babes for Clarence weep and so do I;
85 I for an Edward weep; so do not they.
Alas, you three, on me, threefold distressed,
Pour all your tears. I am your sorrow’s nurse,
And I will pamper it with lamentations.

DUCHESS

Was never mother had so dear a loss.
Alas, I am the mother of these griefs.
Their woes are parceled; mine are general.
She for an Edward weeps, and so do I;
I for a Clarence weep; so doth not she.
These babes for Clarence weep and so do I;
I for an Edward weep; so do not they.
Alas, you three, on me, threefold distressed,
Pour all your tears. I am your sorrow’s nurse,
And I will pamper it with lamentations.

DORSET

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Comfort, dear mother. God is
   much displeased
90 That you take with unthankfulness, his doing.
In common worldly things, ’tis called ungrateful
With dull unwillingness to repay a debt
Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent;
Much more to be thus opposite with heaven,
95 For it requires the royal debt it lent you.

DORSET

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Comfort, dear mother. God is
   much displeased
That you take with unthankfulness, his doing.
In common worldly things, ’tis called ungrateful
With dull unwillingness to repay a debt
Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent;
Much more to be thus opposite with heaven,
For it requires the royal debt it lent you.

RIVERS

Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother,
Of the young prince your son. Send straight for him.
Let him be crowned. In him your comfort lives.
Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward’s grave
100 And plant your joys in living Edward’s throne.

RIVERS

Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother,
Of the young prince your son. Send straight for him.
Let him be crowned. In him your comfort lives.
Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward’s grave
And plant your joys in living Edward’s throne.
Enter RICHARD , BUCKINGHAM , STANLEY , HASTINGS , and RATCLIFFE
Enter RICHARD , BUCKINGHAM , STANLEY , HASTINGS , and RATCLIFFE

RICHARD

Sister, have comfort. All of us have cause
To wail the dimming of our shining star,
But none can help our harms by wailing them.—
Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy;
105 I did not see your Grace. Humbly on my knee
I crave your blessing.

RICHARD

Sister, have comfort. All of us have cause
To wail the dimming of our shining star,
But none can help our harms by wailing them.—
Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy;
I did not see your Grace. Humbly on my knee
I crave your blessing.
He kneels
He kneels

DUCHESS

God bless thee, and put meekness in thy breast,
Love, charity, obedience, and true duty.

DUCHESS

God bless thee, and put meekness in thy breast,
Love, charity, obedience, and true duty.

RICHARD

(standing) Amen. (aside) And make me die a good old man!
110 That is the butt end of a mother’s blessing;
I marvel that her Grace did leave it out.

RICHARD

(standing) Amen. (aside) And make me die a good old man!
That is the butt end of a mother’s blessing;
I marvel that her Grace did leave it out.

BUCKINGHAM

You cloudy princes and heart-sorrowing peers
That bear this heavy mutual load of moan,
Now cheer each other in each other’s love.
115 Though we have spent our harvest of this king,
We are to reap the harvest of his son.
The broken rancor of your high-swoll'n hates,
But lately splintered, knit, and joined together,
Must gently be preserved, cherished, and kept.
120 Meseemeth good that with some little train
Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fet
Hither to London, to be crowned our king.

BUCKINGHAM

You cloudy princes and heart-sorrowing peers
That bear this heavy mutual load of moan,
Now cheer each other in each other’s love.
Though we have spent our harvest of this king,
We are to reap the harvest of his son.
The broken rancor of your high-swoll'n hates,
But lately splintered, knit, and joined together,
Must gently be preserved, cherished, and kept.
Meseemeth good that with some little train
Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fet
Hither to London, to be crowned our king.

RIVERS

Why “with some little train,” my Lord of Buckingham?

RIVERS

Why “with some little train,” my Lord of Buckingham?

BUCKINGHAM

Marry, my lord, lest by a multitude
125 The new-healed wound of malice should break out,
Which would be so much the more dangerous
By how much the estate is green and yet ungoverned.
Where every horse bears his commanding rein
And may direct his course as please himself,
130 As well the fear of harm as harm apparent,
In my opinion, ought to be prevented.

BUCKINGHAM

Marry, my lord, lest by a multitude
The new-healed wound of malice should break out,
Which would be so much the more dangerous
By how much the estate is green and yet ungoverned.
Where every horse bears his commanding rein
And may direct his course as please himself,
As well the fear of harm as harm apparent,
In my opinion, ought to be prevented.

RICHARD

I hope the king made peace with all of us;
And the compact is firm and true in me.

RICHARD

I hope the king made peace with all of us;
And the compact is firm and true in me.

RIVERS

And so in me, and so, I think, in all.
135 Yet since it is but green, it should be put
To no apparent likelihood of breach,
Which haply by much company might be urged.
Therefore I say with noble Buckingham
That it is meet so few should fetch the prince.

RIVERS

And so in me, and so, I think, in all.
Yet since it is but green, it should be put
To no apparent likelihood of breach,
Which haply by much company might be urged.
Therefore I say with noble Buckingham
That it is meet so few should fetch the prince.

HASTINGS

140 And so say I.

HASTINGS

And so say I.

RICHARD

Then be it so, and go we to determine
Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow.—
Madam, and you, my sister, will you go
To give your censures in this business?

RICHARD

Then be it so, and go we to determine
Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow.—
Madam, and you, my sister, will you go
To give your censures in this business?
Exeunt all but BUCKINGHAM and RICHARD
Exeunt all but BUCKINGHAM and RICHARD

BUCKINGHAM

145 My lord, whoever journeys to the prince,
For God’s sake let not us two at home.
For by the way I’ll sort occasion,
As index to the story we late talked of,
To part the queen’s proud kindred from the prince.

BUCKINGHAM

My lord, whoever journeys to the prince,
For God’s sake let not us two at home.
For by the way I’ll sort occasion,
As index to the story we late talked of,
To part the queen’s proud kindred from the prince.

RICHARD

150 My other self, my council’s consistory,
My oracle, my prophet, my dear cousin,
I, as a child, will go by thy direction
Toward Ludlow then, for we’ll not stay behind.

RICHARD

My other self, my council’s consistory,
My oracle, my prophet, my dear cousin,
I, as a child, will go by thy direction
Toward Ludlow then, for we’ll not stay behind.
Exeunt
Exeunt
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