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THE STAFFORDS. 239
In the following Scene (5)
we find him agreeing with Richard to
play the hypocrite, and (when the Lord Mayor enters) he palliates to him
the hasty execution, as though Richard were innocent thereof; he assures
him " concerning Hastings, The subtle traitor this day had plotted in
" the council-house to murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester,"
adding :
"Yet had we not determined he should die,
Until your Lordship came to see his end ;
Which now the loving haste of these his friends
Somewhat against our meaning, hath prevented."
In another Scene he tells Richard how he had enlarged to the
citizens on his virtues
And that when
"Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility,
Indeed left nothing fitting for your purpose
Untouched, or slightly handled in discourse."
" Some ten voices call'd ' God save King Richard !
Thus I took the vantage of those few
'Thanks, gentle citizens and friends," quoth I,
'
This general applause and cheerful shout
Argues your wisdom and your love for Richard.'"
He, too, suggests to Richard how he should come forth to meet the
Lord Mayor and aldermen:
"And look you get a prayer-book in your hand,
And stand between two Churchmen, good my Lord,
For on that ground I'll make a holy descant."*
And then, when the Lord Mayor comes in, draws invidious comparisons
between Richard and the late King, and says :
"Ah, ah! my Lord, this prince is not an Edward;
'
Not sleeping to engross his idle body,
But praying to enrich his watchful soul.
Happy were England would this virtuous prince
Take on himself the sovereignty thereof;
But, sure, I fear, we ne'er shall win him to it." f
As they have arranged, Richard appears "between two bishops,"
and in reply to earnest entreaties from Buckingham that he would accept
the Crown, he pleads
:
"Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty, and so many, my defects,
That I would rather hide me from my greatness."
* Act VII. Sc. 7. fAct VII. Sc. 7.