THE LITTLE PRINCES

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(From "King Richard the Third ")

WHEN Edward IV. died (1483) he left two sons, Edward, in his thirteenth year, and Richard, who was but eleven years of age. The coronation of the little king was set for May 4th, then for June 22d, and finally for November 2d; but the ceremony was never performed. Gloucester imprisoned the boys in the Tower, claimed the succession, and was crowned Richard III. on June 25th.

(The trumpets sound. Enter the Prince of Wales, Gloster, Buckingham, Cardinal Bouchier, and others.)

Buckingham. Welcome, sweet prince, to London, to your chamber.1

Gloster. Welcome, dear cousin, my thought's sovereign;

The weary way hath made you melancholy.

Prince. No, uncle; but our crosses on the way Have made it tedious, wearisome, and heavy :

I want more uncles here to welcome me.

Gloster. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your years

Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit.

No more can you distinguish of a man

Than of his outward show; which, God he knows. Seldom or never jumpeth 2 with the heart.

Those uncles which you want were dangerous;
Your grace attended to their sugar'd words,
But look'd not on the poison of their hearts:

God keep you from them, and from such false friends!
Prince. God keep me from false friends! but they

were none.

Gloster. My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you.

(Enter the Lord Mayor and his Train.)

Mayor. God bless your grace with health and happy days!

Prince. I thank you, good my lord; and thank

I thought my mother and my brother York

Would long ere this have met us on the way.

Say, uncle Gloster, if our brother come,

*

Where shall we sojourn till our coronation?

Gloster. Where it think'st 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.

Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place. -Did Julius Cæsar build that place, my lord?

Buckingham. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place,

Which, since, succeeding ages have reëdified.
Prince. Is it upon record, or else reported
Successively from age to age, he built it?

Buckingham. Upon record, my gracious lord. Prince. But say, my lord, it were not register'd, Methinks the truth should live from age to age, As 'twere retail'd to all posterity,

Even to the general all-ending day.

Gloster (aside). So wise, so young, they say, do never live long.

Prince. What say you, uncle?

Gloster. I say, without characters1 fame lives long. (Aside) Thus, like the formal Vice, Iniquity,

I moralize two meanings in one word."

Prince. That Julius Cæsar was a famous man; With what his valour did enrich his wit, His wit set down to make his valour live. Death makes no conquest of his conqueror; For now he lives in fame, though not in life. — I'll tell you what, my cousin Buckingham. Buckingham. What, my gracious lord? Prince. An if I live until I be a man, I'll win our ancient right in France again, Or die a soldier, as I liv'd a king.

Gloster (aside). Short summers lightly 2 have a forward spring.

(Enter York, Hastings, and the Cardinal.)

Buckingham. Now, in good time, here comes the Duke of York.

Prince. Richard of York, how fares our noble brother?

1inscriptions; written records.

2 commonly.

York. Well, my dread lord; so must I call you

now.

Prince. Ay, brother, to our grief, as it is yours. Too late he died that might have kept that title, Which by his death hath lost much majesty.

Gloster. How fares our cousin, noble Lord of
York?

York. I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord,
You said that idle weeds are fast in growth;
The prince my brother hath outgrown me far.
Gloster. He hath, my lord.

York.

And therefore is he idle? Gloster. O, my fair cousin, I must not say so. York. Then he is more beholding 1 to you than I. Gloster. He may command me as my sovereign, But you have power in me as in a kinsman.

York. I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger. Gloster. My dagger, little cousin? with all my heart. Prince. A beggar, brother?

York. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give; And being but a toy, which is no grief to give.

Gloster. A greater gift than that I'll give my cousin.

York. A greater gift? O, that's the sword to it. Gloster. Ay, gentle cousin, were it light enough. York. O, then, I see, you'll part but with light gifts;

In weightier things you'll say a beggar nay.

Gloster. It is too weighty for your grace to wear.

1 indebted.

York. I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.

Gloster. What! would you have my weapon, little

lord?

York. I would, that I might thank you as you call

me.

Gloster. How?

York. Little.

Prince. My Lord of York will still be cross in talk.

Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him.

York. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with me.Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me; Because that I am little, like an ape,

He thinks that you should bear me on your shoulders. Buckingham. With what a sharp-provided wit he

reasons!

To mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himself.

So cunning, and so young, is wonderful.

Gloster. 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.

York. What! will you go unto the Tower, my lord?

Prince. My lord protector needs will have it so.
York. I shall not sleep in quiet at the Tower.

Gloster. Why, what should you fear?
York. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghost;
My grandam told me he was murther'd there.