York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me: Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me ; He thinks that you fhould bear me on your fhoulders. York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost; Glo. 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. [Exeunt Prince, York, Haftings, Cardinal and attendants. Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating York Was not incensed by his fubtle mother, 3 Becaufe that I am little like an ape,] The reproach seems to confift in this at country fhews it was common to fet the monkey on the back of fome other animal, as a bear. The duke therefore, in calling himself ape, calls his uncle bear. JOHNSON. To this custom there feems to be an allufion in Ben Jonson's Mafque of Gypfies: "A gypfy in his shape, "More calls the beholder, Or the ape on his fhoulder." STEEVENS, Glo Glo. No doubt, no doubt: O, 'tis a parlous boy; Bold, quick, ingenious, forward, capable; He's all the mother's, from the top to toe. Buck. Well, let them reft.-Come hither, Catefby; thou art fworn As deeply to effect what we intend, As closely to conceal what we impart : In the feat royal of this famous ifle? Catef. He for his father's fake fo loves the prince, Catef. He will do all in all as Hastings doth. And, as it were far off, found thou lord Haftings, If thou doft find him tractable to us, Glo. Commend me to lord William: tell him, His ancient knot of dangerous adverfaries divided councils,] That is, a private confultation, feparate from the known and publick council. So, in the next fcene, Haftings fays: Bid him not fear the separated councils. JOHNSON. And And bid my friend, for joy of this good news, Buck. Good Catesby, go, effect this business foundly. Catef. My good lords both, with all the heed I can. Glo. Shall we hear from you, Catesby, ere we fleep? Catef. You fhall, my lord. Glo. At Crofby-place, there you fhall find us both. [Exit Catesby. Buck. Now, my lord, what fhall we do, if we per ceive Lord Haftings will not yield to our complots? Glo. Chop off his head, man ;-fomewhat we will do 5: And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables Whereof the king my brother was poffefs'd. Buck. I'll claim that promife at your grace's hand. Glo. And look to have it yielded with all kindness. Come, let us fup betimes; that afterwards We may digeft our complots in fome form. [Exeunt. SCENE II." Before Lord Haftings houfe. Enter a Meffenger. Mef. My lord, my lord, Haft. [Within.] Who knocks? T 5 will do:] The folio reads-will determine. STEEVENS. • Scene II. Every material circumftance in the following fcene is taken from the Chronicles, except that it is a knight with whom Haftings converfes, inftead of Buckingham, STEEVENS. Enter Enter Haftings. Haft. Cannot thy mafter sleep these tedious nights? Mef. So it fhould seem by that I have to fay. Firft, he commends him to your noble lordship. Haft. And then,— ; Mef. Then certifies your lordship, that this night Haft. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; Tell him, his fears are fhallow, wanting inftance; To truft the mockery of unquiet flumbers : 7 the boar had rafed off his helm.] This term rafed or rashed is always given to defcribe the violence inflicted by a boar. So, in K. Lear, 4to edit : "In his anointed flesh rash boarish fangs." Again, in Warner's Albion's England, 160z, B. VII. ch. 36: ha, cur, avaunt, the bore fo rafe thy hide !" By the boar, throughout this scene, is meant Glofter, who was called the boar, or the bog, from his having a boar for his cognizance, and one of the supporters of his coat of arms. 8 STEEVENS. wanting inftance:] That is, wanting fome example · or act of malevolence, by which they may be justified: or which, perhaps, is nearer to the true meaning, wanting any immediate ground or reafon. JOHNSON. The folio reads without inftance. STEEVENS. To E To fly the boar, before the boar purfues, Were to incenfe the boar to follow us, Enter Catesby. Catef. Many good morrows to my noble lord! What news, what news, in this our tottering state? 'Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.S Catef. Ay, my good lord.. Haft. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my fhoulders, Before I'll fee the crown fo foul misplac'd. But canft thou guefs that he doth aim at it? Catef. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you for ward Upon his party, for the gain thereof: And, thereupon, he fends you this good news, Catef. God keep your lordfhip in that gracious Haft. |