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Buck. Had you not come upon your cue,1 my

lord,

William lord Hastings had pronounced your part,I mean your voice,-for crowning of the king.

Glos. Than my lord Hastings no man might be bolder:

His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.
Has. I thank your grace.

Glos. 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.

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

[Exit Ely.

Glos. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.
[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.
Buck. Withdraw yourself awhile; I'll go with
[Exeunt Glos. and Buck.
Stan. We have not yet set down this day of
triumph.

you.

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.

At the proper time: an expression borrowed from the theatre.

Re-enter BISHOP OF ELY.

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

Has. His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning :

There's some conceit1 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.
Stan. What of nis heart perceive you in his face,
By any likelihood ne show'd to-day?

Has. Marry, that with no man here he is offended; For, were he, he had shown it in his looks. Stan. I pray God he be not, I say.

Re-enter GLOSTER and BUCKINGHAM.

Glos. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve, That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft; and that have prevail'd Upon my body with their hellish charms?

Has. The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, Makes me most forward in this noble

presence To doom the offenders. Whosoe'er they be, I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

Glos. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil. Look, how I am bewitch'd; behold, mine arm

Thought.

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[graphic]

Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up:

And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,

That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.
Has. If they have done this deed, my noble

lord,

Glos. If! thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Talk'st thou to me of ifs? Thou art a traitor.
Off with his head :-now, by Saint Paul I swear,
I will not dine until I see the same.

Lovel, and Catesby, look that it be done :—
The rest, that love me, rise, and follow me.

[Exeunt Council, with Glos. and Buck. Has. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for

me;

For I, too fond,1 might have prevented this.
Stanley did dream, the boar did rase his helm ;
But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly.

Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
And startled when he look'd upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.
O, now I want the priest that spake to me:
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triumphing, how mine enemies
To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself secure in grace and favor.
0, Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.

1 Weak, foolish.

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