PRINCE.Richard of York,how fares our loving brother?YORK.Well,my dread lord;so must I can you now.PRINCE.Ay brother,to our grief,as it is yours.Too late he died that might have kept that title,Which by his death hath lost much majesty.GLOUCESTER.How fares our cousin,noble Lord of York?YORK.I thank you,gentle uncle.O,my lord,You said that idle weeds are fast in growth.The Prince my brother hath outgrown me far.GLOUCESTER.He hath,my lord.YORK.And therefore is he idle?GLOUCESTER.O,my fair cousin,I must not say so.YORK.Then he is more beholding to you than I.GLOUCESTER.He may command me as my sovereign;But you have power in me as in a kinsman.YORK.I pray you,uncle,give me this dagger.GLOUCESTER.My dagger,little cousin?With all my heart!PRINCE.A beggar,brother?YORK.Of my kind uncle,that I know will give,And being but a toy,which is no grief to give.GLOUCESTER.A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin.YORK.A greater gift!O,that's the sword to it!GLOUCESTER.Ay,gentle cousin,were it light enough.YORK.O,then,I see you will part but with light gifts:In weightier things you'll say a beggar nay.GLOUCESTER.It is too heavy for your Grace to wear.YORK.I weigh it lightly,were it heavier.GLOUCESTER.What,would you have my weapon,little Lord?YORK.I would,that I might thank you as you call me.GLOUCESTER.How?YORK.Little.PRINCE.My Lord of York will still be cross in talk.Uncle,your Grace knows how to bear with him.YORK.You mean,to bear me,not to bear with me.Uncle,my brother mocks both you and me;Because that I am little,like an ape,He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders.BUCKINGHAM.With what a sharp-provided wit he reasons!To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle He prettily and aptly taunts himself.So cunning and so young is wonderful.GLOUCESTER.
My lord,will't please you pass along?Myself and my good cousin Buckingham Will to your mother,to entreat of her To meet you at the Tower and welcome you.YORK.What,will you go unto the Tower,my lord?PRINCE.My Lord Protector needs will have it so.YORK.I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower.GLOUCESTER.Why,what should you fear?YORK.Marry,my uncle Clarence'angry ghost.My grandam told me he was murder'd there.PRINCE.I fear no uncles dead.GLOUCESTER.Nor none that live,I hope.PRINCE.An if they live,I hope I need not fear.But come,my lord;and with a heavy heart,Thinking on them,go I unto the Tower.A sennet.Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER,BUCKINGHAM,and CATESBY BUCKINGHAM.Think you,my lord,this little prating York Was not incensed by his subtle mother To taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously?GLOUCESTER.No doubt,no doubt.O,'tis a perilous boy;Bold,quick,ingenious,forward,capable.He is all the mother's,from the top to toe.BUCKINGHAM.Well,let them rest.Come hither,Catesby.
Thou art sworn as deeply to effect what we intend As closely to conceal what we impart.Thou know'st our reasons urg'd upon the way.What think'st thou?Is it not an easy matter To make William Lord Hastings of our mind,For the instalment of this noble Duke In the seat royal of this famous isle?CATESBY.He for his father's sake so loves the Prince That he will not be won to aught against him.BUCKINGHAM.What think'st thou then of Stanley?Will not he?CATESBY.He will do all in all as Hastings doth.BUCKINGHAM.Well then,no more but this:go,gentle Catesby,And,as it were far off,sound thou Lord Hastings How he doth stand affected to our purpose;And summon him to-morrow to the Tower,To sit about the coronation.If thou dost find him tractable to us,Encourage him,and tell him all our reasons;If he be leaden,icy,cold,unwilling,Be thou so too,and so break off the talk,And give us notice of his inclination;For we to-morrow hold divided councils,Wherein thyself shalt highly be employ'd.GLOUCESTER.Commend me to Lord William.Tell him,Catesby,His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle;And bid my lord,for joy of this good news,Give Mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more.BUCKINGHAM.Good Catesby,go effect this business soundly.CATESBY.My good lords both,with all the heed I can.GLOUCESTER.Shall we hear from you,Catesby,ere we sleep?CATESBY.You shall,my lord.GLOUCESTER.At Crosby
House,there shall you find us both.Exit CATESBY BUCKINGHAM.Now,my lord,what shall we do if we perceive Lord Hastings will not yield to our complots?GLOUCESTER.Chop off his head-something we will determine.And,look when I am King,claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford and all the movables Whereof the King my brother was possess'd.BUCKINGHAM.I'll claim that promise at your Grace's hand.GLOUCESTER.And look to have it yielded with all kindness.Come,let us sup betimes,that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form.Exeunt
SCENE 2.Before LORD HASTING'S house
Enter a MESSENGER to the door of HASTINGS
MESSENGER.My lord,my lord![Knocking]HASTINGS.[Within]Who knocks?MESSENGER.One from the Lord Stanley.HASTINGS.[Within]What is't o'clock?MESSENGER.Upon the stroke of four.