For I have often heard my Mother fay,
I came into the World with my Legs forward,
Had I not reafon, think ye, to make hafte,
And feek their Ruin, that ufurp'd our Right?
The Midwife wonder'd, and the Women cry'd,
O Jetus blefs us, he is born with Teeth!
And fo I was, which plainly fignified,
That I fhould fearle, and bite, and play the Dog:
Then fince the Heav'ns have fhap'd my Body fo,
Let Hell make crook'd my Mind to answer it.
I have no Brother, I am like no Brother:
And this word [Love] which grey Beards call Divine,
Be refident in Men like one another,
Clarence beware, thou keep'it me from the light,
But I will fort a pitchy Day for thee:
For I will buz abroad fuch Prophecies,
That Edward thall be fearful of his Life,
And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy Death.
King Henry, and the Prince, his Son, are gone,
Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the reft;
Counting my felf but bad, 'till I be best.
I'll throw thy Body in another room,
And triumph, Henry, in thy day of Doom.
Enter King Edward, Queeen, Clarence, Gloucefter, Ha ftings, Nurse, and Attendants.
K. Edw. Once more we fit on England's Royal Throne, Re-purchas'd with the Blood of Enemies:
What valiant Foc-men, like to Autumn's Corn,
Have we mow'd down in top of all their Pride?
Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold Renown'd,
For hardy and undoubted Champions:
Two Cliffords, as the Father and the Son,
And two Northumberlands; two braver Men
Ne'er fpurr'd their Courfers at the Trumpets found.
With them, the two brave Bears, Warwick and Montague,
That in their Chains fetter'd the Kingly Lion,
And made the Foreft tremble when they roar'd.
Thus have we fwept Sufpicion from our Seat,
And made our Footstool of Security.
Come hither, Bess, and let me kifs my Boy:
Young Ned, for thee, thine Uncles, and my felf,
Have in our Armours watch'd the winter Night,
Went all a-foot in Summers fcalding heat,
That thou might'ft repoffefs the Crown in peace,
And of our Labours thou shalt reap the Gain.
Glo. I'll blaft his Harveft, if your Head were laid,
For yet I am not look'd on in the World.
This Shoulder was ordain'd fo thick, to heave,
And heave it shall fome weight, or break my back;
Work thou the way, and that fhall execute.
[Afide.
K. Edw. Clarence and Glofter, love my lovely Queen,
And kifs your Princely Nephew, Brothers both.
Clar. The duty that I owe your Majefty,
I feal upon the Lips of this fweet Babe.
K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence, worthy Brother, thanks. Glo. And that I love the Tree from whence thou fprang'ft, Witness the loving Kifs I give the Fruit:
To fay the truth, fo Judas kifs'd his Master,
And cry'd, all hail, when as he meant all harm.
K. Edw. Now am I feated as my Soul delights,
Having my Country's peace, and Brothers loves.
Clar. What will your Grace have done with Margaret? Reignier her Father, to the King of France
Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerufalem,
And hither have they fent it for her Ransom.
K. Edw. Away with her, and waft her hence to France: And now what refts, but that we spend the time
With ftately Triumphs, mirthful Comick Shows,
Such as befits the Pleasure of the Court?
Sound Drums and Trumpets, farewel fowr Annoy,
For here, I hope, begins our lafting Joy. [Exeunt omnes.
RICHARD III:
With the Landing of the
Earl of RICHMOND,
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