Why I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time;
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun,
And descant on mine own deformity:
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,—
I am determinèd to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams,
To set my brother Clarence and the king
In deadly hate the one against the other:
And, if King Edward be as true and just,
As I am subtle, false, and treacherous,

This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up;
About a prophecy, which says-that G

Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be.

Dive, thoughts, down to my soul! here Clarence comes.

THE CONDEMNATION OF LORD

HASTINGS.

1483.

LONDON-A ROOM IN THE TOWER.

The Duke of Buckingham, Lord Stanley, Lord Hastings, the Bishop of Ely, Catesby, Lovel, and

others sitting at a table.

Officers of the Council

attending. Edward IV. is just dead, and Richard, Duke of Gloster, the Lord Protector, is about to take measures to deprive his sons of Lord Hastings' support and care.

HASTINGS.

Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met,
Is to determine of the coronation :

In Heaven's name, speak, when is the royal day?

BUCKINGHAM.

Are all things ready for that royal time?

STANLEY.

It is; and wants but nomination.

ELY.

To-morrow, then, I judge a happy day.

BUCKINGHAM.

Who knows the lord protector's mind herein?
Who is most inward with the noble duke?

ELY.

Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.

BUCKINGHAM.

We know each other's faces; for our hearts,
He knows no more of mine, than I of yours ;
Nor I of his, my lord, than you of mine,-
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.

HASTINGS.

I thank his grace, I know he loves me well.
But, for his purpose in the coronation,

I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious pleasure any way therein;
But you, my noble lord, may name the time
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part.

Enter Gloster.

ELY:

In happy time, here comes the duke himself.

GLOSTER.

My noble lords and cousins, all, good morrow.
I have been long a sleeper; but, I trust,
My absence doth neglect no great design
Which by my presence might have been concluded.

BUCKINGHAM.

Had you not come upon your cue,1 my lord, William, lord Hastings, had pronounc'd your partI mean, your voice-for crowning of the king.

1 On the stage, the last word of a speech, which is a sign to the next actor to proceed, is called his cue. If Gloster had not come to take up the word, Hastings would have done so,

GLOSTER.

Than my lord Hastings, no man might be bolder;
His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.
My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn,
I saw good strawberries in your garden there :
I do beseech you send for some of them.1

ELY.

Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.

GLOSTER.

Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.

[Exit Ely.

[Takes him aside.

Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,
And finds the testy gentleman so hot

That he will lose his head, ere give consent
His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it,
Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.

BUCKINGHAM.

Withdraw yourself awhile, I'll go with you.

[Exeunt Gloster and Buckingham.

STANLEY.

We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden;
For I myself am not so well provided
As else I would be were the day prolong'd.

These words and what follows are historical.

2 Mary.

Re-enter Bishop of Ely.

ELY.

Where is my lord protector? I have sent for these strawberries.

HASTINGS.

His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning ;
There's some conceit or other likes him well,
When he doth bid good morrow with such spirit.
I think, there's ne'er a man in Christendom,

Can lesser hide his love or hate than he;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart

STANLEY.

What of his heart perceived you in his face,
By any likelihood he show'd to-day?

HASTINGS.

Marry, that with no man here he is offended;
For were he, he had shown it in his looks.

Re-enter Gloster and Buckingham.

GLOSTER.

I pray you all, tell me what they deserve
That do conspire my death with devilish plots
Of cursed witchcraft, and that have prevailed
Upon my body with their hellish charms?