king richard iii(理查三世)-第15节
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Duke； Tell him； myself； the Mayor and Aldermen； In deep designs； in
matter of great moment； No less importing than our general good； Are
come to have some conference with his Grace。 CATESBY。 I'll signify so
much unto him straight。 Exit BUCKINGHAM。 Ah ha； my lord； this prince
is not an Edward！ He is not lolling on a lewd love…bed； But on his knees at
meditation； Not dallying with a brace of courtezans； But meditating with
two deep divines； Not sleeping； to engross his idle body； But praying； to
enrich his watchful soul。 Happy were England would this virtuous prince
Take on his Grace the sovereignty thereof； But； sure； I fear we shall not
win him to it。 MAYOR。 Marry； God defend his Grace should say us nay！
BUCKINGHAM。 I fear he will。 Here Catesby comes again。
Re…enter CATESBY
Now； Catesby； what says his Grace？ CATESBY。 My lord； He
wonders to what end you have assembled Such troops of citizens to come
to him。 His Grace not being warn'd thereof before； He fears； my lord； you
mean no good to him。 BUCKINGHAM。 Sorry I am my noble cousin
should Suspect me that I mean no good to him。 By heaven； we come to
him in perfect love； And so once more return and tell his Grace。 Exit
CATESBY When holy and devout religious men Are at their beads； 'tis
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much to draw them thence； So sweet is zealous contemplation。
Enter GLOUCESTER aloft； between two BISHOPS。 CATESBY
returns
MAYOR。 See where his Grace stands 'tween two clergymen！
BUCKINGHAM。 Two props of virtue for a Christian prince； To stay him
from the fall of vanity； And； see； a book of prayer in his hand； True
ornaments to know a holy man。 Famous Plantagenet； most gracious Prince；
Lend favourable ear to our requests； And pardon us the interruption Of thy
devotion and right Christian zeal。 GLOUCESTER。 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？ BUCKINGHAM。 Even that； I hope；
which pleaseth God above； And all good men of this ungovern'd isle。
GLOUCESTER。 I do suspect I have done some offence That seems
disgracious in the city's eye； And that you come to reprehend my
ignorance。 BUCKINGHAM。 You have； my lord。 Would it might please
your Grace； On our entreaties； to amend your fault！ GLOUCESTER。 Else
wherefore breathe I in a Christian land？ BUCKINGHAM。 Know then； it is
your fault that you resign The supreme seat； the throne majestical； The
scept'red office of your ancestors； Your state of fortune and your due of
birth； The lineal glory of your royal house； To the corruption of a
blemish'd stock； Whiles in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts； Which
here we waken to our country's good； The noble isle doth want her proper
limbs； Her face defac'd with scars of infamy； Her royal stock graft with
ignoble plants； And almost should'red in the swallowing gulf Of dark
forgetfulness and deep oblivion。 Which to recure； we heartily solicit Your
gracious self to take on you the charge And kingly government of this
your land… Not as protector； steward； substitute； Or lowly factor for
another's gain； But as successively； from blood to blood； Your right of
birth； your empery； your own。 For this； consorted with the citizens； Your
very worshipful and loving friends； And by their vehement instigation； In
this just cause come I to move your Grace。 GLOUCESTER。 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…
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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。 BUCKINGHAM。 My lord； this argues conscience in
your Grace； But the respects thereof are nice and trivial； All circumstances
well considered。 You say that Edward is your brother's son。 So say we too；
but not by Edward's wife； For first was he contract to Lady Lucy… Your
mother lives a witness to his vow… And afterward by substitute betroth'd
To Bona； sister to the King of France。 These both put off； a poor petitioner；
A care…craz'd mother to a many sons； A beauty…waning and distressed
widow； Even in the afternoon of her best days； Made prize and purchase of
his wanton eye； Seduc'd the pitch and height of his degree To base
declension and loath'd bigamy。 By her； in his unlawful bed； he got This
Edward； whom our manners call the Prince。 More bitterly could I
expostulate； Save that； for reverence to some alive； I give a sparing limit to
my tongue。 Then； good my lord； take to your royal self This proffer'd
benefit of dignity； If not to bless us and the land withal； Yet to draw forth
your noble ancestry From the corruption of abusing times Unto a lineal
true…derived course。 MAYOR。 Do； good my lord； your citizens entreat you。
BUCKINGHAM。 Refuse not； mighty lord； this proffer'd love。 CATESBY。
O； make them joyful； grant their lawful suit！ GLOUCESTER。 Alas； why
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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。
BUCKINGHAM。 If you refuse it…as； in love and zeal； Loath to depose the
child； your brother's son； As well we know your tenderness of heart And
gentle； kind； effeminate remorse； Which we have noted in you to your
kindred And egally indeed to all estates… Yet know； whe'er you accept our
suit or no； Your brother's son shall never reign our king； But we will plant
some other in the throne To the disgrace and downfall of your house； And
in this resolution here we leave you。 Come； citizens。 Zounds； I'll entreat no
more。 GLOUCESTER。 O； do not swear； my lord of Buckingham。 Exeunt
BUCKINGHAM； MAYOR； and citizens CATESBY。 Call him again； sweet
Prince； accept their suit。 If you deny them； all the land will rue it。
GLOUCESTER。 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 o
