[Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, young YORK, QUEEN ELIZABETH, and the DUCHESS OF YORK]
- Thomas Rotherham. Last night, I hear, they lay at Northampton;
At Stony-Stratford will they be to-night:
1485 To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.
- Duchess of York. I long with all my heart to see the prince:
I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.
- Queen Elizabeth. But I hear, no; they say my son of York
Hath almost overta'en him in his growth.
1490
- Duke of York. Ay, mother; but I would not have it so.
- Duchess of York. Why, my young cousin, it is good to grow.
- Duke of York. Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper,
My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow
More than my brother: 'Ay,' quoth my uncle
1495 Gloucester,
'Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:'
And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast,
Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.
- Duchess of York. Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold
1500
In him that did object the same to thee;
He was the wretched'st thing when he was young,
So long a-growing and so leisurely,
That, if this rule were true, he should be gracious.
- Thomas Rotherham. Why, madam, so, no doubt, he is.
1505
- Duchess of York. I hope he is; but yet let mothers doubt.
- Duke of York. Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd,
I could have given my uncle's grace a flout,
To touch his growth nearer than he touch'd mine.
- Duchess of York. How, my pretty York? I pray thee, let me hear it.
1510
- Duke of York. Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast
That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old
'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.
- Duchess of York. I pray thee, pretty York, who told thee this?
1515
- Duke of York. Grandam, his nurse.
- Duchess of York. His nurse! why, she was dead ere thou wert born.
- Duke of York. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.
- Queen Elizabeth. A parlous boy: go to, you are too shrewd.
- Thomas Rotherham. Good madam, be not angry with the child.
1520
- Queen Elizabeth. Pitchers have ears.
[Enter a Messenger]
- Thomas Rotherham. Here comes a messenger. What news?
- Messenger. Such news, my lord, as grieves me to unfold.
- Queen Elizabeth. How fares the prince?
1525
- Messenger. Well, madam, and in health.
- Duchess of York. What is thy news then?
- Messenger. Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,
With them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.
- Duchess of York. Who hath committed them?
1530
- Messenger. The mighty dukes
Gloucester and Buckingham.
- Queen Elizabeth. For what offence?
- Messenger. The sum of all I can, I have disclosed;
Why or for what these nobles were committed
1535 Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady.
- Queen Elizabeth. Ay me, I see the downfall of our house!
The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind;
Insulting tyranny begins to jet
Upon the innocent and aweless throne:
1540 Welcome, destruction, death, and massacre!
I see, as in a map, the end of all.
- Duchess of York. Accursed and unquiet wrangling days,
How many of you have mine eyes beheld!
My husband lost his life to get the crown;
1545 And often up and down my sons were toss'd,
For me to joy and weep their gain and loss:
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors.
Make war upon themselves; blood against blood,
1550 Self against self: O, preposterous
And frantic outrage, end thy damned spleen;
Or let me die, to look on death no more!
- Queen Elizabeth. Come, come, my boy; we will to sanctuary.
Madam, farewell.
1555
- Duchess of York. I'll go along with you.
- Queen Elizabeth. You have no cause.
- Thomas Rotherham. My gracious lady, go;
And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I'll resign unto your grace
1560 The seal I keep: and so betide to me
As well I tender you and all of yours!
Come, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary.
[Exeunt]
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