This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
96
The Life and Death of

And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them. 76

K. Rich. Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrell:
Go, by this token: rise, and lend thine ear. Whispers.
There is no more but so: say it is done,
And I will love thee, and prefer thee for it. 80

Tyr. I will dispatch it straight. Exit.

[Re-]enter Buckingham.

Buck. My lord, I have consider'd in my mind
The late request that you did sound me in.

K. Rich. Well, let that rest. Dorset is fled to Richmond. 84

Buck. I hear the news, my lord.

K. Rich. Stanley, he is your wife's son: well, look to it.

Buck. My lord, I claim the gift, my due by promise,
For which your honour and your faith is pawn'd: 88
Th' earldom of Hereford and the moveables
Which you have promised I shall possess.

K. Rich. Stanley, look to your wife: if she convey
Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it. 92

Buck. What says your highness to my just request?

K. Rich. I do remember me, Henry the Sixth
Did prophesy that Richmond should be king,
When Richmond was a little peevish boy. 96
A king! perhaps—

[Buck. My lord!

K. Rich. How chance the prophet could not at that time
Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him? 100


79 There . . . so: i.e. nothing more than to carry out the whispered instructions
80 prefer: advance
88 pawn'd: pledged
91 wife; cf. n.
92 answer: answer for
94 remember me: recollect
95 prophesy; cf. n.
98–115 Cf. n.
99 How chance: how chances it that