按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Duke； Tell him； myself； the Mayor and Aldermen； In deep designs； in
matter of great moment； No less importing than our general good； Are
come to have some conference with his Grace。 CATESBY。 I'll signify so
much unto him straight。 Exit BUCKINGHAM。 Ah ha； my lord； this prince
is not an Edward！ He is not lolling on a lewd love…bed； But on his knees at
meditation； Not dallying with a brace of courtezans； But meditating with
two deep divines； Not sleeping； to engross his idle body； But praying； to
enrich his watchful soul。 Happy were England would this virtuous prince
Take on his Grace the sovereignty thereof； But； sure； I fear we shall not
win him to it。 MAYOR。 Marry； God defend his Grace should say us nay！
BUCKINGHAM。 I fear he will。 Here Catesby comes again。
Re…enter CATESBY
Now； Catesby； what says his Grace？ CATESBY。 My lord； He
wonders to what end you have assembled Such troops of citizens to come
to him。 His Grace not being warn'd thereof before； He fears； my lord； you
mean no good to him。 BUCKINGHAM。 Sorry I am my noble cousin
should Suspect me that I mean no good to him。 By heaven； we come to
him in perfect love； And so once more return and tell his Grace。 Exit
CATESBY When holy and devout religious men Are at their beads； 'tis
59
… Page 60…
KING RICHARD III
much to draw them thence； So sweet is zealous contemplation。
Enter GLOUCESTER aloft； between two BISHOPS。 CATESBY
returns
MAYOR。 See where his Grace stands 'tween two clergymen！
BUCKINGHAM。 Two props of virtue for a Christian prince； To stay him
from the fall of vanity； And； see； a book of prayer in his hand； True
ornaments to know a holy man。 Famous Plantagenet； most gracious Prince；
Lend favourable ear to our requests； And pardon us the interruption Of thy
devotion and right Christian zeal。 GLOUCESTER。 My lord； there needs
no such apology： I do beseech your Grace to pardon me； Who； earnest in
the service of my God； Deferr'd the visitation of my friends。 But； leaving
this； what is your Grace's pleasure？ BUCKINGHAM。 Even that； I hope；
which pleaseth God above； And all good men of this ungovern'd isle。
GLOUCESTER。 I do suspect I have done some offence That seems
disgracious in the city's eye； And that you come to reprehend my
ignorance。 BUCKINGHAM。 You have； my lord。 Would it might please
your Grace； On our entreaties； to amend your fault！ GLOUCESTER。 Else
wherefore breathe I in a Christian land？ BUCKINGHAM。 Know then； it is
your fault that you resign The supreme seat； the throne majestical； The
scept'red office of your ancestors； Your state of fortune and your due of
birth； The lineal glory of your royal house； To the corruption of a
blemish'd stock； Whiles in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts； Which
here we waken to our country's good； The noble isle doth want her proper
limbs； Her face defac'd with scars of infamy； Her royal stock graft with
ignoble plants； And almost should'red in the swallowing gulf Of dark
forgetfulness and deep oblivion。 Which to recure； we heartily solicit Your
gracious self to take on you the charge And kingly government of this
your land… Not as protector； steward； substitute； Or lowly factor for
another's gain； But as successively； from blood to blood； Your right of
birth； your empery； your own。 For this； consorted with the citizens； Your
very worshipful and loving friends； And by their vehement instigation； In
this just cause come I to move your Grace。 GLOUCESTER。 I cannot tell if
to depart in silence Or bitterly to speak in your reproof Best fitteth my
degree or your condition。 If not to answer； you might haply think Tongue…
60
… Page 61…
KING RICHARD III
tied ambition； not replying； yielded To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty；
Which fondly you would here impose on me； If to reprove you for this suit
of yours； So season'd with your faithful love to me； Then； on the other side；
I check'd my friends。 Therefore…to speak； and to avoid the first； And then；
in speaking； not to incur the last… Definitively thus I answer you： Your love
deserves my thanks； but my desert Unmeritable shuns your high request。
First； if all obstacles were cut away； And that my path were even to the
crown； As the ripe revenue and due of birth； Yet so much is my poverty of
spirit； So mighty and so many my defects； That I would rather hide me
from my greatness… Being a bark to brook no mighty sea… Than in my
greatness covet to be hid； And in the vapour of my glory smother'd。 But；
God be thank'd； there is no need of me… And much I need to help you；
were there need。 The royal tree hath left us royal fruit Which； mellow'd by
the stealing hours of time； Will well become the seat of majesty And make；
no doubt； us happy by his reign。 On him I lay that you would lay on me…
The right and fortune of his happy stars； Which God defend that I should
wring from him。 BUCKINGHAM。 My lord； this argues conscience in
your Grace； But the respects thereof are nice and trivial； All circumstances
well considered。 You say that Edward is your brother's son。 So say we too；
but not by Edward's wife； For first was he contract to Lady Lucy… Your
mother lives a witness to his vow… And afterward by substitute betroth'd
To Bona； sister to the King of France。 These both put off； a poor petitioner；
A care…craz'd mother to a many sons； A beauty…waning and distressed
widow； Even in the afternoon of her best days； Made prize and purchase of
his wanton eye； Seduc'd the pitch and height of his degree To base
declension and loath'd bigamy。 By her； in his unlawful bed； he got This
Edward； whom our manners call the Prince。 More bitterly could I
expostulate； Save that； for reverence to some alive； I give a sparing limit to
my tongue。 Then； good my lord； take to your royal self This proffer'd
benefit of dignity； If not to bless us and the land withal； Yet to draw forth
your noble ancestry From the corruption of abusing times Unto a lineal
true…derived course。 MAYOR。 Do； good my lord； your citizens entreat you。