Archbishop

Last night, I hear, they lay at Stony-Stratford;

And at Northampton they do rest to-night:

To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.

Duchess

I long with all my heart to see the prince:

I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.

Elizabeth

But I hear, no; they say my son of York

Has almost overta'en him in his growth.

York

Ay, mother; but I would not have it so.

Duchess

Why, my good cousin, it is good to grow.

York

Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper,

My uncle Rivers talked how I did grow

More than my brother: “Ay,” quoth my uncle Gloucester,

“Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:”

And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast,

Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.

Duchess

Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold

In him that did object the same to thee;

He was the wretched'st thing when he was young,

So long a-growing and so leisurely,

That, if his rule were true, he should be gracious.

Archbishop

And so no doubt he is, my gracious Madam.

Duchess

I hope he is; but yet let mothers doubt.

York

Now, by my troth, if I had been remembered,

I could have given my uncle's grace a flout,

To touch his growth nearer than he touched mine.

Duchess

How, my young York? I prithee, let me hear it.

York

Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast

That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old:

'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.

Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.

Duchess

I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this?

York

Grandam, his nurse.

Duchess

His nurse! why, she was dead ere thou wast born.

York

If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

Elizabeth

A parlous boy: go to, you are too shrewd.

Archbishop

Good madam, be not angry with the child.

Elizabeth

Pitchers have ears. Enter a Messenger.

Archbishop

Here comes a messenger. What news?

Messenger

Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report.

Elizabeth

How doth the prince?

Messenger

Well, madam, and in health.

Duchess

What is thy news?

Messenger

Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,

And with them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

Duchess

Who hath committed them?

Messenger

The mighty dukes

Gloucester and Buckingham.

Elizabeth

For what offence?

Messenger

The sum of all I can, I have disclosed;

Why or for what the nobles were committed

Is all unknown to me, my gracious lord.

Elizabeth

Ay me, I see the ruin of my house!

The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind;

Insulting tyranny begins to jut

Upon the innocent and aweless throne:

Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre!

I see, as in a map, the end of all.

Duchess

Accursed and unquiet wrangling days,

How many of you have mine eyes beheld!

My husband lost his life to get the crown;

And often up and down my sons were tossed,

For me to joy and weep their gain and loss:

And being seated, and domestic broils

Clean overblown, themselves, the conquerors,

Make war upon themselves; brother to brother,

Blood to blood, self against self: O, preposterous

And frantic outrage, end thy damned spleen;

Or let me die, to look on death no more!

Elizabeth

Come, come, my boy; we will to sanctuary.

Madam, farewell.

Duchess

Stay, I will go with you.

Elizabeth

You have no cause.

Archbishop

My gracious lady, go;

And thither bear your treasure and your goods.

For my part, I'll resign unto your grace

The seal I keep: and so betide to me

As well I tender you and all of yours!

Go, I'll conduct you to the sanctuary. Exeunt.