CLA. O, do not flander him, for he is kind.

i. M. Right, as fnowin harveft. Come, you deceive
'Tis he that fends us to deftroy you here. [yourfelf;

CLA. It cannot be; for he bewept my fortune.
And hug'd me in his arms, and fwore, with fobs,
That he would labour my delivery.

1 . M. Why, fo he doth, when he delivers you
From this earth's thraldom to the joys of heaven.

2. M. Make peace with God, for you muft die, my lord.
CLA. Haft thou that holy feeling in thy foul,

To counfel me to make my peace with God,

And art thou yet to thy own foul fo blind,

That thou wilt war with God by murd'ring me?_

Ah, firs, confider, he, that fet you on

To do this deed, will hate you for the deed.

2.M. What fhall we do?

CLA. Relent, and fave your fouls.

i. M. Relent! 'tis cowardly, and womanim.

CLA. Not to relent, is beaftly, favage, dev'lilh._
My friend, I fpy fome pity in thy looks ;
O, if thine eye be not a flatterer.
Come thou on my fide, and entreat for me:
A begging prince what beggar pities not ?

I.Ja. Ay, thus, and thus; [Jiabbing him.~\ antJj if

this will not ferve,
I'll drown you in the malmsey-bat within.



38 Richard III.

2. Af. A bloody deed, and defp'rately difpatch'd!
How fain, like Pi/ate, would I wafh my hands
Of this mod grievous murther ? [me not ?

1. M. How now? what mean'll thou, thatthou help'ft
By heaven, the duke mall know how flack you have been.

2. M. I would he knew, that I had fav'd his brother!
Take thou the fee, and tell him what I fay ;

For I repent me that the duke is flain. [Exit.

i . M. So do not I ; go, coward as thou art. _
Well, I'll go hide the body in fome hole,
'Till that the duke give order for his burial :
And when I have my meed, I will away ;
For this will out, and then I muft not ftay.

[Exit, twitb tie Body.

A c r ii.

SCENE}, r be fame. A Room in the Palace.

"Enter King Edward, (ledin,fick) and his Queen;

RIVERS, DORSET, BUCKINGHAM, HASTINGS,

Grey, and Otbert.

K. E. Why fo, now have I done a good day's work ;__
You peers, continue this united league ;
I every day expeft an embaflage
From my redeemer to redeem me hence;
And more at peace my foul fhall part to heaven,
Since I have made my friends at peace on earth.
Rivers, and Hajiings, take each other's hand ;
Diflemble not your hatred, fwear your love.

Riy . By heaven , my foul ispurg'd from grudginghate;
And with my hand ~|" I feal my true heart's love.

*7 more to ptaee



Richard III. 39

HAS. So thrive I, as I truly fwear the like !
K. E. Take heed, you dally not before your king;
Left he, that is the fupream King of kings,
Confound your hidden falfhood, and award
Either of you to be the other's end.

HAS. So profper I, as I fwear perfeft love!

Riv. And I, as I love Hajtings with my heart !

K. E. Madam, yourfelf are not exempt in this, _

Nor your fon Dorfet, _ Buckingham, nor you ;

You have been factious one againft the other.
Wife, love lord Ha/lingi, let him kifs your hand;
And what you do, do it unfeignedly.

>ue. There,"|" HaJJings ; t will never more remember
Our former hatred, So thrive I, and mine ! [quifs.

K. E. Dorfet, embrace him ; _ Ha/lings, love lord mar-

DOR. This enterchange of love, I here proteft,
Upon my part, (hall be inviolable.

HAS. And fo fwear I. [they embrace.

K. E. Now, ^nnczly Buckingham, feal thou this league
With thy embracements to my wife's allies,
And make me happy in your unity.

Buc. Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate
Upon your grace, [to the ^^.] but with all duteous love
Doth cherifh you, and yours, God punifh me
With hate in those where I expect moft love !
When I have moft need to employ a friend,
And moft aflured that he is a friend,
Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile
Be he unto me! this do I beg of heaven,
When I am cold in love, to you, or yours.

[embracing Rivers, &C.

K. E. A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham,



40 Richard III.

Is this thy vow unto my fickly heart.
There wanteth now our brother Glojler here,
To make the blefied period of this peace.

Buc. And, in good time, here comes the noble duke.
Enter RICHARD.

Ric . Good morrow to my fovereign king, and queen ;
And', princely peers, a happy time of day !

K. E. Happy, indeed, as we have fpent the day :
Glofter, we have done deeds of charity;
Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate,
Between these fwelling wrong-incenfed peers.

Ric. A bleffed labour, my moft fovereign liege
Among this princely heap, if any here,
By falfe intelligence, or wrong furmise,
Hold me a foe ; if I unwittingly
Have ought committed that is hardly born
By any in this presence, I desiie
To reconcile me to his friendly peace :
'Tis death to me, to be at enmity ;
I hate it, and desire all good men's love.
Firft, madam, 1 entreat true peace of you,
Which I will purchafe with my duteous fervicej .
Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
If ever any grudge were lodg'd between us ;

Of you, lord Rivers, and, lord Grey, of you,

That all without desert have frown'd on me; _
Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen, indeed of all :
I do not know that Englijbman alive,
With whom my foul is any jot at odds,
More than the infant that is born to-night ;
I thank my God for my humility.

*ue. A holy-day mail this be kept hereafter :

'5 v. Nott,



Richard III. 4,

I would to God, all ftrifes were well compounded.-.
My fovereign lord, 1 do befeech your highnefs
To take our brother Clarence to your grace.

Ric. Why, madam, have I offer'd love for this,
To be fo flouted in this royal presence?
Who knows not, that the gentle duke is dead ?

[they allf.art.
You do him injury, to fcorn his corfe.

K. E. Who knows not, he is dead ! who knows, he is ?
Que. All-feeing heaven, what a world is this !
Bvc. Look I fo pale, lord Dorfet, as the reft ?
DOR. Ay, my good lord; and no man in the presence,
But his red colour hath forfook his cheeks.

K. E. Is Clarence dead ? the order was reverf 'd.
Ric. But he, poor man, by your firft order dy'd,
And that a winged Mercury did bear ;
Some tardy cripple bore the countermand,
That came too lag to fee him buried :
God grant, that fome, lefs noble, and lefs loyal,
Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,
Deserve not worfe than wretched Clarence did,
And yet go current from fufpicion !

Enter STANLEY, haflily.

STA. ' A boon, my fovereign, for my fervice done!
K. E. I pr'ythee, peacfc; my foul is full of forrow.
S-TJ. I will not rise, nlefs your highnefs hear me.
K. E. Then fay at once, what is it thou requeit'ft.
SfA. The forfeit, fovereign, of my fervant's life ;
Who flew to-day a riotous gentleman,
Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk.

K. E. Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death,
And fliall that tongue give pardon to a flave ?

*7 requefts



42 Richard III.

My brother kill'd no man, his fault was thought.
And yet his punifhment was bitter death.
Who fu'd to me for him ? who, in my wrath,
Kneel'd at my feet, and bid me be advis'd .'
Who fpoke of brotherhood ? who fpoke of love ?
Who told me, how the poor foul did forfake
The mighty Warwick, and did fight for me ?
Who told me, in the field at Tewksbitry,
When Oxford hud me down, he refcu'd me,
And faid, Dear brother, live, and be a king ?
Who told me, when we both lay in the field,
Frozen almoft to death, how he did lap me
Even in his garments; and did give himfelf,
All thin and naked, to the numb-cold night?
All this from my remembrance brutifh wrath
Sinfully pluck'd, and not a man of you
Had fo much grace to put it in my mind.
But, when your carters, or your waiting vaflals,
Have done a drunken flaughter, and defac'd
The precious image of our dear redeemer,
You ftraight are on your knees for pardon, pardon;
And I, unjuflly too, muft grant it you :
But for my brother not a man would fpeak, _-
Nor I (ungracious) fpeak unto myfelf
For him, poor foul The proudeft of you all
Have been beholden to him in his life ;
Yet none of you would once beg for his life : _-
O God ! I fear, thy juftice will take hold
On me, and you, and mine, and yours, for this.
Come, [/oHaft.] help me to mycloset O poor Clarence!
[Exeunt King, Queen, HAS. Riv. DOR. andGrey.
Sic. This is the fruit of rafhnefs ! Mark'd you not,

3 Come Hafttxgt helpe



Richard III. 43

How that the guilty kindred of the queen

Look'd pale, when they did hear of Clarence 1 death ?

O ! they did urge it ftill unto the king :

God will revenge it. Come, lords ; will you go,

To comfort Edward with our company ?

Sue. We wait upon your grace. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. The fame.
Enter the Dutchefs of York ; and a Son, and Daughter,

of Clarence, her Grand- children.
Son. Good grandam, tell us, is our father dead ?
Dut. No, boy.

Dau. Why do you weep fo oft ? and beat your breaft ?
And cry, O Clarence, my unhappy Jon!

Son. Why do you look on us, and fliake your head,
And call us orphans, wretches, caft-aways,
If that our noble father be alive ?

Dut. My pretty cousins, you miftake me both ;
I do lament the ficknefs of the king,
As loth to lose him, not your father's death ;
It were loft forrow, to wail one that's loft.

Son. Then, grandam, you conclude that he is dead :
The king my uncle is to blame for this :
God will revenge it; whom I will importune
With earneft prayers, all to that effect.

Dau. And fo will I. [well :

Dut. Peace, children, peace ! the king doth love you
Incapable and {hallow innocents,
You cannot guefs who caus'd your father's death.

Son. Grandam, we can : for my good uncle Glojler
Told me, the king, provok'd to't by the queen,
Devis'd impeachments to imprison him :



44 Richard III.

And when my uncle told me fo, he wept,
And pity'd me, and kindly kiff'd my cheek ;
Bad me rely on him, as on my father,
And he would love me dearly as his child.

Duf. Ah, that deceit fhouid fteal fuch gentle fhapes,
And with a virtuous vizard hide deep vice ?
He is my fon, ay, and therein my fliame,
Vet fiom my dugs he drew not this deceit.

Son. Think you, my uncle did diiTemble, grandam ?

Dut. Ay, boy.

Son. I cannot think it. Hark! what noise is this?

Enter the Queen, dijirafiedly ; RIVERS,

and DORSET, after her.

^ue. Ah ! who (hall hinder me to wail and weep ?
To chide my fortune, and torment myfelf?
I'll join with black defpair againft my foul,
And to myfelf become an enemy.

Dut. What means this fcene of rude impatience?

Que. To make an aft of tragic violence :
Edward, my lord, thy fon, our king, is dead._
Why grow the branches, when the root is gone ?
"Why wither not the leaves, that want their fap ? __
If you will live, lament ; if die, be brief;
That our fvvift-winged fouls may catch the king's ;
Or, like obedient fubjedls, follow him
To his new kingdom of perpetual reft.

Dut. Ah, fo much intereft have I in thy forrow,
As I had title in thy noble husband !
J have bewept a worthy husband's death,
And liv'd by looking on his images :
But now, two mirrors of his princely femblance
Are crack'd in pieces by malignant death ;



Richard III. 45

And I for comfort have but one falfe glafs,
That grieves me when I fee my fhame in him.
Thou art a widow ; yet thou art a mother,
And haft the comfort of thy children left thee :
But death hath fnatch'd my husband from mine arms,
And pluck'd two crutches from my feeble hands,
Edward, and Clarence ; O, what cause have I,
(Thine being but a moiety of my grief)
To overgo thy plaints, and drown thy cries ?

Son. Ah, aunt, you wept not for our father's death;
How can we aid you with our kindred tears ?

Dau. Our fatherlefs diftrefs was left unmoan'd,
Your widow dolour likewise be unwept.

Que. Give me no help in lamentation,
I am not barren to bring forth laments :
All fprings reduce their currents to mine eyes,
That I, being govern'd by the wat'ry moon,
May bring forth plenteous tears to drown the world !
Ah, for my husband, for my dear lord Edward!

Chi. Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Clarence!

Dut. Alas, for both, both mine, Edwardand Clarence !

Que. What flay had I, but Edward? and he's gone.

Chi. What ftay had we, but Clarence? and he's gone.

Dut. What ftays had I, but they ? and they are gone.

^ue. Was never widow, had fo dear a lofs.

Chi. Were never orphans, had fo dear a lofs.

Dut. Was never mother, had fo dear a lofs.
Alas, I am the mother of these griefs ;
Their woes are parcel'd, mine is general.
She for an Edward weeps, and fo do I ;
I for a Clarence weep, fo doth not fhe :
These babes for Clarence weep, and fo do I ;

VOL. VII. D



46 Richard III.

I for an Edward weep, fo do not they :
Alas ! you three, on me, threefold diftre/T'd,
Pour all your tears ; I am your forrow's nurfe,
And I will pamper it with lamentations.

DOR . Comfort, dear mother ; God is much difpleas'd,
That you take with unthankfulnefs his doing :
In common worldly things, 'tis call'd ungrateful,
With dull unwillingnefs to repay a debt,
Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent;
Much more, to be thus opposite with heaven,
For it requires the royal debt it lent you.

Rir. Madam, bethink you, like a careful mother,
Of the young prince your fon : fend ftraight for him,
Let him be crown'd; in him your comfort lives:
Drown defperate forrow in dead Edward's grave,
And plant your joys in living Edward's throne.
Enter RICHARD, HASTINGS, BUCKINGHAM,
STANLEY, and divers Others.

Ric. Sifter, have comfort : all of us have cause
To wail the dimming of our mining ftar ;
But none can cure their harms by wailing them. _
Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy,
I did not fee you ; Humbly on my knee
I crave your blefling.

Dut. God blefs thee ; and put meeknefs in thy breaft,
Love, charity, obedience, and true duty !

Ric. " Amen ; and make me die a good old man!"
" That is the but-end of a mother's blefling;"
" I marvel, that her grace did leave it out."

JBuc . You cloudy princes, and heart- forrowing peers,
That bear this mutual heavy load of moan,
Now chear each other in each other's love :

* weepe, and fo do they *J your grace



Richard III. 47

Though we have fpent our harveft of this king,

We are to reap the harveft of his fon.

The broken rancour of your high-fwoln hearts,

But lately fplinted, knit, and join'd together,

Muft gently be preserv'd, cherifh'd, and kept :

Me feemeth good, that, with fome little train,

Forthwith from Ludlo<w the young prince be fetch'd

Hither to London, to be crown'd our king. [ham?

Rir. Why with fome little train, my lord ofBucking-

Buc. Marry, my lord, left, by a multitude,
The new heal'd wound of malice mould break out;
Which would be fo much the more dangerous,
By how much the eftate is yet ungovern'd :
Where every horfe bears his commanding rein,
And may direct his courfe as please himfelf,
As well the fear of harm, as harm apparent,
In my opinion, ought to be prevented.

Ric. I hope, the king made peace with all of us;
And the compact is firm, and true, in me.

HAS. And fo in me; and fo, 1 think, in all :
Yet, fmce it is but green, it mould be put
To no apparent likelihood of breach,
Which, haply, by much company might be urg'd :
Therefore I fay, with noble Buckingham,
That it is meet but few mould fetch the prince.

STA. And fo fay I.

Ric. Then be it fo ; and go we to determine
Who they {hall be that ftraight (hall poft to Ludlow.

Madam, and you my mother, will you go

To give your cenfures in this weighty businefs ?

Buc. " My lord, whoever journeys to the prince,'*
' For God's fake, let not us two ftay at home :"

>J is grccne, and yet * v. Nefe. *5 meete fo few

D 2



48 Richard III.

For, by the way, I'll fort occasion,"

As index to the flory we late talk'd of,"

To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince."

Ric. " My other felf, my counfel's confillory,"

My oracle, my prophet ! my dear cousin,"

1, as a child, will go by thy dire&ion."

' Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not flay behind."

[Exeunt ; Ric. and Buc. loft.

SCENE III. The fame. A Street.

Enter t<wo Citizens, meeting.
i.C. Good morrow, neighbour : Whither away fo fail?

2. C. I promise you, I hardly know mylelf :
Hear you the news abroad ?

1 . C. Yes, that the king is dead.

2. C. Ill news, by'r lady ; feldom comes a better :
I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world.

Enter another Citizen.

3. C. Neighbours, God fpeed !

i.C. Give you good morrow, fir. [death ?

3. C. Doth the news hold of good king Edward's

2. C. Ay, fir, it is too true; God help, the while !
j.C. Then, matters, look to fee a troublous world.

1. C. No, no; by God's good grace, his fon (hall reign.

3. C. Woe to that land, that's govern'd by a child!

2. C. In him there is a hope of government j
That, in his nonage, connfel under him,

And, in his full and ripen'd years, himfelf,

No doubt, (hall then, and 'till then, govern well.

i.e. So flood the ftate, when Henry the fixth
Was crown'd in Paris but at nine months old. [wot;
3. C. Stood the ftate fo ? no, no, good friends, God

16 comes the better



Richard III. 49

For then this land was famoufly enrich'd

With politick grave counfel ; then the king

Had virtuous uncles to proteft his grace. [ther,

j . C. Why, fo hath this, both by his father and mo-

3. C. Better it were, they all came by his father;
Or, by his father, there were none at all :
For emulation now, who mall be neareft,
Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not.
O, full of danger is the duke of Glo/ier;
And the queen's fons, and brothers, haught and proud :
And were they to be rul'd and not to rule,
This fickly land might folace as before.

i . C. Come, come, we fear the worft ; all will be well.

3. C. When clouds are feen, wise men put on their
When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand ; [cloaks ;
When the fun fets, who doth not look for night ?
Untimely dorms make men expeft a dearth :
All may be well ; but, if God fort it fo,
'Tis more than we deserve, or I expedl.

2.C. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear:
You cannot reason almoft with a man,
That looks not heavily, and full of dread.

3. C. Before the days of change, ftill is it fo.:
By a divine inflindl, men's minds miftruft
Enfuing danger ; as, by proof, we fee
The water fwell before a boift'rous florin.
But leave it all to God. Whither away ?

2.C. Marry, we were fent for to the juftices.

3. C. And fo was I ; I'll bear you company. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The fame. A Room in the Palace.
Enter the Ardbifiop e/York, tbejoung Duke of York,



50 Richard III.

the Queen, end the Dutchefs of York.

Arc. Laft night, I hear, they refted at Northampton;
At Stony-ftratford they do lye to-night :
To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.

Dut. I long with all my heart to fee the prince ;
I hope, he is much grown fince laft I faw him.

>ue. But I hear, no ; they fay, my fon of York
Hath almoft over-ta'en him in his growth.

TOR. Ay, mother, but I would not have it fo.

Dut. Why, my young cousin ? it is good to grow.

TOR. Grandam, one night as we did fit at fupper,
My uncle Rivers talk'd how 1 did grow
More than my brother ; Ay, quoth my uncle Glojler*
Small herbs have grace, great tveeds do grow apace :
And fince, methinks, I would not grow fo faft,
Because fweet flowers are flow, and weeds make hafte.

Dut. Good faith, good faith, the faying did not hold
In him that did objeft the fame to thee :
He was the wretched'ft thing, when he was young,
So long a growing, and fo leisurely,
That, if his rule were true, he fhould be gracious.

Arc. And fo, no doubt, he is, my gracious madam.

Dut. I hope, he is; but yet let mothers doubt.

TOR . Now, by my troth, if I had been remember'd,
I could have giv'n my uncle's grace a flout,
To touch his growth, nearer than he touch'd mine.

Dut. How, myyoungJ^r^rTpr'ythee, let me hear it.

Tbx. Marry, they fay, my uncle grew fo faft,
That he could gnaw a cruft at two hours old ;
'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
Grandam, this would have been a biting jeft.

Dut. I pr'ythee, pretty Tork, who told thee this ?

a they lay at 3 do reft to



Richard III. 5 ,

TOR. Grandam, his nurfe.

Dut. His nurfe ! why, me was dead ere thou waft born.

TOR. If 'twere not me, I cannot tell who told me.

Z>ue. A parlous boy :_Go to, you are too fhrewd.

Arc, Good madam, be not angry with the child.]

gue. Pitchers have ears.

Enter a Meflenger.

Arc. Here comes a meflenger. _
What news ?

Me/. Such news, my lord, as grieves me to unfold.

Que. How doth the prince ?

Mef. Well, madam, and in health.

Dut. What is thy news ?

Mef. Lord Rivers, and lord Grey,
Are fent to Pomfret, prisoners; and, with them,
Sir Thomas Vaugban.

Dut. Who hath committed them ?

Mef. The mighty dukes, Glojler, and Buckingham,

Arc. For what offence ?

Mef. The fum of all I can, I have difclos'd ;
Why, or for what, the nobles were committed,
Is all unknown to me, my gracious lord.

^ue. Ay me, I fee the ruin of my houfe!
The tyger now hath feiz'd the gentle hind;
Infuhing tyranny begins to jut

Upon the innocent and awlefs throne :

Welcome, deftrudlion, blood, and mafi'acre!
1 lee, as in a map, the end of all.

Dut. Accurfed and unquiet wrangling days ?
How many of you have mine eyes beheld ?
My husband loll his life to get the crown ;
And often up and down my fons were toff'd,

6 and with them, Sir Tbomat Vavgban, Prisoners.



52 Richard III.

For me to joy, and weep, their gain, and lofs :
And being feated, and domeftick broils
Clean over- blown, themfelves, the conquerors,
Make war upon themfelves ; brother to brother,
Blood to blood, felf againft felf; O, prepofterous
And frantick outrage, end thy damned fpleen ;
Or let me die, to look on death no more !

Que. Come, come, my boy, we will to fanftuary.
Madam, farewel.

Dut. Stay, I will go with you.

Que. You have no cause.

Arc . My gracious lady, go,
And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I'll resign unto your grace
The feal I keep ; And fo betide to me,
As well I tender you, and all of yours !
Come, I'll conduct you to the fanftuary. [Exeunt.

AC? III.

SCENE I. r be fame. A Street.

Flourijh. Enter the young Prince, attended-,

RICHARD, CATESBY, BUCKINGHAM, Cardinal

Bourchier, and Others.

Sue. Welcome, fweet prince, to London, to your cham-
ber.

Ric. Welcome, dear cousin, my thoughts' fovereign:
The weary way hath made you melancholy.

Pri. No, uncle ; but our crofles on the way
Have made it tedious, wearifome, and heavy :
1 want more uncles here to welcome me.



Richard III.



53



Ric. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years
Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit:
No more can you diftinguifli of a man,
Than of his outward fliew ; which, God he knows,
Seldom, or never, jumpeth with the heart.
Those uncles, which you want, were dangerous;
Your grace attended to their fugar'd words,
But look'd not on the poison of their hearts :
God keep you from them, and from fuch falfe friends!

Pri. God keep me from falfe friends ! but they were
none. [you-

Ric. My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet
Enter the Lord Mayor, and his Train.

May. God blefs your grace with health and happy
days !

Pri. I thank you,good my lordand thank you all._
[they kifs his Hand, and retire,
I thought, my mother, and my brother Tork,

Would long ere this have met us on the way :

Fie, what a flug is Hajiings ! that he comes not
To tell us, whether they will come, or no.

Enter HASTINGS. [lord.

Buc. And, in good time, here comes the fweating

Pri. Welcome, my lord-.What.willourmothercomei 1

HAS. On what occasion, God he knows, not I,
The queen your mother, and your brother Tork,
Have taken fandluary : The tender prince
Would fain have come with me to meet your grace,
But by his mother was perforce withheld.

Buc. Fie ! what an indireft and peevifh courfe

Is this of hers ? Lord cardinal, will your grace

Perfuade the queen to fend the duke of Tork



54 Richard III.

Unto his princely brother presently ?

If (he deny, _ Lord Haflings, go with him,

And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce.

Car. My lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory
Can from his mother win the duke of York,
Anon expeft him here : But if (he be obdurate
To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid
We mould infringe the holy priviledge
Of blefled fanduary ! not for all this land
Would I be guilty of fo great a fin.

Buc. You are too fenfelefs-obftinate, my lord,
Too ceremonious and traditional :
Weigh it but with the greennefs of his age,
You break not fandluary in feizing him.
The benefit thereof is always granted
To those whose dealings have deserv'd the place,
And those who have the wit to claim the place :
This prince hath neither claim'd it, nor deserv'd it ;