Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York ; And all the clouds that lour 'd upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried . Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths ; Our bruised arms hung up for monuments ; Our stern alarums chang 'd to merry meetings , Our dreadful marches to delightful measures . Grim-visag 'd war hath smooth 'd his wrinkled front , And now , instead of mounting barbed steeds To fright the souls of fearful adversaries , He capers nimbly in a lady 's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute . But I-that am not shap 'd for sportive tricks , Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass- I-that am rudely stamp 'd , and want love 's majesty To strut before a wanton ambling nymph- I-that am curtail 'd of this fair proportion , Cheated of feature by dissembling nature , Deform 'd , unfinish 'd , sent before my time Into this breathing world scarce half made up , And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them- Why , I , in this weak piping time of peace , Have no delight to pass away the time , Unless to spy my shadow in the sun And descant on mine own deformity . And therefore , since I cannot prove a lover To entertain these fair well-spoken days , I am determined to prove a villain And hate the idle pleasures of these days . Plots have I laid , inductions dangerous , By drunken prophecies , libels , and dreams , To set my brother Clarence and the King In deadly hate the one against the other ; And if King Edward be as true and just As I am subtle , false , and treacherous , This day should Clarence closely be mew 'd up- About a prophecy which says that G Of Edward 's heirs the murderer shall be . Dive , thoughts , down to my soul . Here Clarence comes . Enter CLARENCE , guarded , and BRAKENBURY Brother , good day . What means this armed guard That waits upon your Grace ? Upon what cause ? Alack , my lord , that fault is none of yours : He should , for that , commit your godfathers . O , belike his Majesty hath some intent That you should be new-christ'ned in the Tower . But what 's the matter , Clarence ? May I know ? Why , this it is when men are rul 'd by women : ‘ Tis not the King that sends you to the Tower ; My Lady Grey his wife , Clarence , ‘ tis she That tempers him to this extremity . Was it not she and that good man of worship , Antony Woodville , her brother there , That made him send Lord Hastings to the Tower , From whence this present day he is delivered ? We are not safe , Clarence ; we are not safe . Humbly complaining to her deity Got my Lord Chamberlain his liberty . I 'll tell you what-I think it is our way , If we will keep in favour with the King , To be her men and wear her livery : The jealous o'erhYpppHeNworn widow , and herself , Since that our brother dubb 'd them gentlewomen , Are mighty gossips in our monarchy . Even so ; a n't please your worship , Brakenbury , You may partake of any thing we say : We speak no treason , man ; we say the King Is wise and virtuous , and his noble queen Well struck in years , fair , and not jealous ; We say that Shore 's wife hath a pretty foot , A cherry lip , a bonny eye , a passing pleasing tongue ; And that the Queen 's kindred are made gentlefolks . How say you , sir ? Can you deny all this ? Naught to do with Mistress Shore ! I tell thee , fellow , He that doth naught with her , excepting one , Were best to do it secretly alone . Her husband , knave ! Wouldst thou betray me ? We are the Queen 's abjects and must obey . Brother , farewell ; I will unto the King ; And whatsoe'er you will employ me in- Were it to call King Edward 's widow sister- I will perform it to enfranchise you . Meantime , this deep disgrace in brotherhood Touches me deeper than you can imagine . Well , your imprisonment shall not be long ; I will deliver or else lie for you . Meantime , have patience . Go tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return . Simple , plain Clarence , I do love thee so That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven , If heaven will take the present at our hands . But who comes here ? The new-delivered Hastings ? As much unto my good Lord Chamberlain ! Well are you welcome to the open air . How hath your lordship brook 'd imprisonment ? No doubt , no doubt ; and so shall Clarence too ; For they that were your enemies are his , And have prevail 'd as much on him as you . What news abroad ? Now , by Saint John , that news is bad indeed . O , he hath kept an evil diet long And overmuch consum 'd his royal person ! ‘ Tis very grievous to be thought upon . Where is he ? In his bed ? Go you before , and I will follow you . Stay , you that bear the corse , and set it down . Villains , set down the corse ; or , by Saint Paul , I 'll make a corse of him that disobeys ! Unmanner 'd dog ! Stand thou , when I command . Advance thy halberd higher than my breast , Or , by Saint Paul , I 'll strike thee to my foot And spurn upon thee , beggar , for thy boldness . Sweet saint , for charity , be not so curst . Lady , you know no rules of charity , Which renders good for bad , blessings for curses . But I know none , and therefore am no beast . More wonderful when angels are so angry . Vouchsafe , divine perfection of a woman , Of these supposed crimes to give me leave By circumstance but to acquit myself . Fairer than tongue can name thee , let me have Some patient leisure to excuse myself . By such despair I should accuse myself . Say that I slew them not ? I did not kill your husband . Nay , he is dead , and slain by Edward 's hands . I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue That laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders . I grant ye . The better for the King of Heaven , that hath him . Let him thank me that holp to send him thither , For he was fitter for that place than earth . Yes , one place else , if you will hear me name it . Your bed-chamber . So will it , madam , till I lie with you . I know so . But , gentle Lady Anne , To leave this keen encounter of our wits , And fall something into a slower method- Is not the causer of the timeless deaths Of these Plantagenets , Henry and Edward , As blameful as the executioner ? Your beauty was the cause of that effect- Your beauty that did haunt me in my sleep To undertake the death of all the world So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom . These eyes could not endure that beauty 's wreck ; You should not blemish it if I stood by . As all the world is cheered by the sun , So I by that ; it is my day , my life . Curse not thyself , fair creature ; thou art both . It is a quarrel most unnatural , To be reveng 'd on him that loveth thee . He that bereft thee , lady , of thy husband Did it to help thee to a better husband . He lives that loves thee better than he could . Plantagenet . The self-same name , but one of better nature . Here .Why dost thou spit at me ? Never came poison from so sweet a place . Thine eyes , sweet lady , have infected mine . I would they were , that I might die at once ; For now they kill me with a living death . Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt tears , Sham 'd their aspects with store of childish drops- These eyes , which never shed remorseful tear , No , when my father York and Edward wept To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made When black-fac 'd Clifford shook his sword at him ; Nor when thy warlike father , like a child , Told the sad story of my father 's death , And twenty times made pause to sob and weep That all the standers-by had wet their cheeks Like trees bedash 'd with rain-in that sad time My manly eyes did scorn an humble tear ; And what these sorrows could not thence exhale Thy beauty hath , and made them blind with weeping . I never sued to friend nor enemy ; My tongue could never learn sweet smoothing word ; But , now thy beauty is propos 'd my fee , My proud heart sues , and prompts my tongue to speak . Teach not thy lip such scorn ; for it was made For kissing , lady , not for such contempt . If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive , Lo here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword ; Which if thou please to hide in this true breast And let the soul forth that adoreth thee , I lay it naked to the deadly stroke , And humbly beg the death upon my knee . Nay , do not pause ; for I did kill King Henry- But ‘ twas thy beauty that provoked me . Nay , now dispatch ; ‘ twas I that stabb 'd young Edward- But ‘ twas thy heavenly face that set me on . Take up the sword again , or take up me . Then bid me kill myself , and I will do it . That was in thy rage . Speak it again , and even with the word This hand , which for thy love did kill thy love , Shall for thy love kill a far truer love ; To both their deaths shalt thou be accessary . ‘ Tis figur 'd in my tongue . Then never was man true . Say , then , my peace is made . But shall I live in hope ? Vouchsafe to wear this ring . Look how my ring encompasseth thy finger , Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart ; Wear both of them , for both of them are thine . And if thy poor devoted servant may But beg one favour at thy gracious hand , Thou dost confirm his happiness for ever . That it may please you leave these sad designs To him that hath most cause to be a mourner , And presently repair to Crosby House ; Where-after I have solemnly interr 'd At Chertsey monast'ry this noble king , And wet his grave with my repentant tears- I will with all expedient duty see you . For divers unknown reasons , I beseech you , Grant me this boon . Bid me farewell . Sirs , take up the corse . No , to White Friars ; there attend my coming . They do me wrong , and I will not endure it . Who is it that complains unto the King That I , forsooth , am stern and love them not ? By holy Paul , they love his Grace but lightly That fill his ears with such dissentious rumours . Because I cannot flatter and look fair , Smile in men 's faces , smooth , deceive , and cog , Duck with French nods and apish courtesy , I must be held a rancorous enemy . Cannot a plain man live and think no harm But thus his simple truth must be abus 'd With silken , sly , insinuating Jacks ? To thee , that hast nor honesty nor grace . When have I injur 'd thee ? when done thee wrong , Or thee , or thee , or any of your faction ? A plague upon you all ! His royal Grace- Whom God preserve better than you would wish ! - Cannot be quiet searce a breathing while But you must trouble him with lewd complaints . I cannot tell ; the world is grown so bad That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch . Since every Jack became a gentleman , There 's many a gentle person made a Jack . Meantime , God grants that I have need of you . Our brother is imprison 'd by your means , Myself disgrac 'd , and the nobility Held in contempt ; while great promotions Are daily given to ennoble those That scarce some two days since were worth a noble . You may deny that you were not the mean Of my Lord Hastings ’ late imprisonment . She may , Lord Rivers ? Why , who knows not so ? She may do more , sir , than denying that : She may help you to many fair preferments And then deny her aiding hand therein , And lay those honours on your high desert . What may she not ? She may-ay , marry , may she- What , marry , may she ? Marry with a king , A bachelor , and a handsome stripling too . Iwis your grandam had a worser match . What ! Threat you me with telling of the King ? Tell him and spare not . Look what I have said I will avouch't in presence of the King . I dare adventure to be sent to th ’ Tow'r . ‘ Tis time to speak-my pains are quite forgot . Ere you were queen , ay , or your husband King , I was a pack-horse in his great affairs , A weeder-out of his proud adversaries , A liberal rewarder of his friends ; To royalize his blood I spent mine own . In all which time you and your husband Grey Were factious for the house of Lancaster ; And , Rivers , so were you . Was not your husband In Margaret 's battle at Saint Albans slain ? Let me put in your minds , if you forget , What you have been ere this , and what you are ; Withal , what I have been , and what I am . Poor Clarence did forsake his father , Warwick , Ay , and forswore himself-which Jesu pardon ! - To fight on Edward 's party for the crown ; And for his meed , poor lord , he is mewed up . I would to God my heart were flint like Edward 's , Or Edward 's soft and pitiful like mine . I am too childish-foolish for this world . If I should be ! I had rather be a pedlar . Far be it from my heart , the thought thereof ! Foul wrinkled witch , what mak'st thou in my sight ? Wert thou not banished on pain of death ? The curse my noble father laid on thee , When thou didst crown his warlike brows with paper And with thy scorns drew'st rivers from his eyes , And then to dry them gav'st the Duke a clout Steep 'd in the faultless blood of pretty Rutland- His curses then from bitterness of soul Denounc 'd against thee are all fall'n upon thee ; And God , not we , hath plagu 'd thy bloody deed . Have done thy charm , thou hateful wither 'd hag . Margaret ! Ha ? I cry thee mercy then , for I did think That thou hadst call 'd me all these bitter names . ‘ Tis done by me , and ends in-Margaret . Good counsel , marry ; learn it , learn it , Marquis . Ay , and much more ; but I was born so high , Our aery buildeth in the cedar 's top , And dallies with the wind , and scorns the sun . What doth she say , my Lord of Buckingham ? I cannot blame her ; by God 's holy Mother , She hath had too much wrong ; and I repent My part thereof that I have done to her . Yet you have all the vantage of her wrong . I was too hot to do somebody good That is too cold in thinking of it now . Marry , as for Clarence , he is well repaid ; He is frank 'd up to fatting for his pains ; God pardon them that are the cause thereof ! So do I ever- being well advis 'd ; For had I curs 'd now , I had curs 'd myself . I do the wrong , and first begin to brawl . The secret mischiefs that I set abroach I lay unto the grievous charge of others . Clarence , who I indeed have cast in darkness , I do beweep to many simple gulls ; Namely , to Derby , Hastings , Buckingham ; And tell them ‘ tis the Queen and her allies That stir the King against the Duke my brother . Now they believe it , and withal whet me To be reveng 'd on Rivers , Dorset , Grey ; But then I sigh and , with a piece of Scripture , Tell them that God bids us do good for evil . And thus I clothe my naked villainy With odd old ends stol'n forth of holy writ , And seem a saint when most I play the devil . Enter two MURDERERS But , soft , here come my executioners . How now , my hardy stout resolved mates ! Are you now going to dispatch this thing ? Well thought upon ; I have it here about me . When you have done , repair to Crosby Place . But , sirs , be sudden in the execution , Withal obdurate , do not hear him plead ; For Clarence is well-spoken , and perhaps May move your hearts to pity , if you mark him . Your eyes drop millstones when fools ’ eyes fall tears . I like you , lads ; about your business straight ; Go , go , dispatch . Good morrow to my sovereign king and Queen ; And , princely peers , a happy time of day ! A blessed labour , my most sovereign lord . Among this princely heap , if any here , By false intelligence or wrong surmise , Hold me a foe- If I unwittingly , or in my rage , Have aught committed that is hardly borne To any in this presence , I desire 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 . First , madam , I entreat true peace of you , Which I will purchase with my duteous service ; Of you , my noble cousin Buckingham , If ever any grudge were lodg 'd between us ; Of you , and you , Lord Rivers , and of Dorset , That all without desert have frown 'd on me ; Of you , Lord Woodville , and , Lord Scales , of you ; Dukes , earls , lords , gentlemen-indeed , of all . I do not know that Englishman alive With whom my soul is any jot at odds More than the infant that is born to-night . I thank my God for my humility . Why , madam , have I off'red love for this , To be so flouted in this royal presence ? Who knows not that the gentle Duke is dead ? You do him injury to scorn his corse . But he , poor man , by your first order died , And that a winged Mercury did bear ; Some tardy cripple bare the countermand That came too lag to see him buried . God grant that some , less noble and less loyal , Nearer in bloody thoughts , an not in blood , Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did , And yet go current from suspicion ! This is the fruits of rashness . Mark 'd you not How that the guilty kindred of the Queen Look 'd pale when they did hear of Clarence ’ death ? O , they did urge it still unto the King ! God will revenge it . Come , lords , will you go To comfort Edward with our company ? Sister , have comfort . All of us have cause To wail the dimming of our shining star ; But none can help our harms by wailing them . Madam , my mother , I do cry you mercy ; I did not see your Grace . Humbly on my knee I crave your blessing . Amen !And make me die a good old man ! That is the butt end of a mother 's blessing ; I marvel that her Grace did leave it out . I hope the King made peace with all of us ; And the compact is firm and true in me . Then be it so ; and go we to determine Who they shall be that straight shall post to Ludlow . Madam , and you , my sister , will you go To give your censures in this business ? My other self , my counsel 's consistory , My oracle , my prophet , my dear cousin , I , as a child , will go by thy direction . Toward Ludlow then , for we 'll not stay behind . Exeunt Welcome , dear cousin , my thoughts ’ sovereign . The weary way hath made you melancholy . Sweet Prince , the untainted virtue of your years Hath not yet div 'd into the world 's deceit ; Nor more can you distinguish of a man Than of his outward show ; which , God He knows , Seldom or never jumpeth with the heart . Those uncles which you want were dangerous ; Your Grace attended to their sug'red words But look 'd not on the poison of their hearts . God keep you from them and from such false friends ! My lord , the Mayor of London comes to greet you . Where it seems best unto your royal self . If I may counsel you , some day or two Your Highness shall repose you at the Tower , Then where you please and shall be thought most fit For your best health and recreation . So wise so young , they say , do never live long . I say , without characters , fame lives long . Thus , like the formal vice , Iniquity , I moralize two meanings in one word . Short summers lightly have a forward spring . How fares our cousin , noble Lord of York ? He hath , my lord . O , my fair cousin , I must not say so . He may command me as my sovereign ; But you have power in me as in a kinsman . My dagger , little cousin ? With all my heart ! A greater gift than that I 'll give my cousin . Ay , gentle cousin , were it light enough . It is too heavy for your Grace to wear . What , would you have my weapon , little Lord ? How ? My lord , will't please you pass along ? Myself and my good cousin Buckingham Will to your mother , to entreat of her To meet you at the Tower and welcome you . Why , what should you fear ? Nor none that live , I hope . No doubt , no doubt . O , ‘ tis a perilous boy ; Bold , quick , ingenious , forward , capable . He is all the mother 's , from the top to toe . Commend me to Lord William . Tell him , Catesby , His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret Castle ; And bid my lord , for joy of this good news , Give Mistress Shore one gentle kiss the more . Shall we hear from you , Catesby , ere we sleep ? At Crosby House , there shall you find us both . Chop off his head-something we will determine . And , look when I am King , claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford and all the movables Whereof the King my brother was possess 'd . And look to have it yielded with all kindness . Come , let us sup betimes , that afterwards We may digest our complots in some form . Exeunt My noble lords and cousins all , good morrow . I have been long a sleeper , but I trust My absence doth neglect no great design Which by my presence might have been concluded . Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder ; His lordship knows me well and loves me well . My lord of Ely , when I was last in Holborn I saw good strawberries in your garden there . I do beseech you send for some of them . BISHOP of ELY . Marry and will , my lord , with all my heart . Cousin of Buckingham , a word with you . Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business , And finds the testy gentleman so hot That he will lose his head ere give consent His master 's child , as worshipfully he terms it , Shall lose the royalty of England 's throne . I pray you all , tell me what they deserve That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft , and that have prevail 'd Upon my body with their hellish charms ? Then be your eyes the witness of their evil . Look how I am bewitch 'd ; behold , mine arm Is like a blasted sapling wither 'd up . And this is Edward 's wife , that monstrous witch , Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore , That by their witchcraft thus have marked me . If ? - thou protector of this damned strumpet , Talk'st thou to me of ifs ? Thou art a traitor . Off with his head ! Now by Saint Paul I swear I will not dine until I see the same . Lovel and Ratcliff , look that it be done . The rest that love me , rise and follow me . Come , cousin , canst thou quake and change thy colour , Murder thy breath in middle of a word , And then again begin , and stop again , As if thou were distraught and mad with terror ? He is ; and , see , he brings the mayor along . Look to the drawbridge there ! Catesby , o'erlook the walls . Look back , defend thee ; here are enemies . Be patient ; they are friends-Ratcliff and Lovel . So dear I lov 'd the man that I must weep . I took him for the plainest harmless creature That breath 'd upon the earth a Christian ; Made him my book , wherein my soul recorded The history of all her secret thoughts . So smooth he daub 'd his vice with show of virtue That , his apparent open guilt omitted , I mean his conversation with Shore 's wife- He liv 'd from all attainder of suspects . What ! think you we are Turks or Infidels ? Or that we would , against the form of law , Proceed thus rashly in the villain 's death But that the extreme peril of the case , The peace of England and our persons ’ safety , Enforc 'd us to this execution ? And to that end we wish 'd your lordship here , T ’ avoid the the the censures of the carping world . Go , after , after , cousin Buckingham . The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post . There , at your meet'st advantage of the time , Infer the bastardy of Edward 's children . Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen Only for saying he would make his son Heir to the crown-meaning indeed his house , Which by the sign thereof was termed so . Moreover , urge his hateful luxury And bestial appetite in change of lust , Which stretch 'd unto their servants , daughters , wives , Even where his raging eye or savage heart Without control lusted to make a prey . Nay , for a need , thus far come near my person : Tell them , when that my mother went with child Of that insatiate Edward , noble York My princely father then had wars in France And , by true computation of the time , Found that the issue was not his begot ; Which well appeared in his lineaments , Being nothing like the noble Duke my father . Yet touch this sparingly , as ‘ twere far off ; Because , my lord , you know my mother lives . If you thrive well , bring them to Baynard 's Castle ; Where you shall find me well accompanied With reverend fathers and well learned bishops . Go , Lovel , with all speed to Doctor Shaw . Go thou to Friar Penker . Bid them both Meet me within this hour at Baynard 's Castle . How now , how now ! What say the citizens ? Touch 'd you the bastardy of Edward 's children ? And did they so ? What , tongueless blocks were they ? Would they not speak ? Will not the Mayor then and his brethren come ? I go ; and if you plead as well for them As I can say nay to thee for myself , No doubt we bring it to a happy issue . 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 ? I do suspect I have done some offence That seems disgracious in the city 's eye , And that you come to reprehend my ignorance . Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land ? 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-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 . Alas , why would you heap this care on me ? I am unfit for state and majesty . I do beseech you , take it not amiss : I cannot nor I will not yield to you . O , do not swear , my lord of Buckingham . Will you enforce me to a world of cares ? Call them again . I am not made of stones , But penetrable to your kind entreaties , Albeit against my conscience and my soul . Re-enter BUCKINGHAM and the rest Cousin of Buckingham , and sage grave men , Since you will buckle fortune on my back , To bear her burden , whe'er I will or no , I must have patience to endure the load ; But if black scandal or foul-fac 'd reproach Attend the sequel of your imposition , Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me From all the impure blots and stains thereof ; For God doth know , and you may partly see , How far I am from the desire of this . In saying so , you shall but say the truth . Even when you please , for you will have it so . Come , let us to our holy work again . Farewell , my cousin ; farewell , gentle friends . Exeunt