Page:Richard III (1927) Yale.djvu/133

Richard the Third, IV. iv

Or else his head's assurance is but frail.

Stan. So deal with him as I prove true to you.

Exit Stanley.

Mess. My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire,

As I by friends am well advertised,

Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate,

Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,

With many moe confederates are in arms.

[Sec.] Mess. In Kent, my liege, the Guildfords are in arms;

And every hour more competitors

Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.

[Third] Mess. My lord, the army of great Buckingham—

K. Rich. Out on ye, owls! nothing but songs of death?

There, take thou that, till thou bring better news.

[Third] Mess. The news I have to tell your majesty

Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters,

Buckingham's army is dispers'd and scatter'd;

And he himself wander'd away alone,

No man knows whither.

K. Rich. I cry thee mercy:

There is my purse, to cure that blow of thine.

Hath any well-advised friend proclaim'd

Reward to him that brings the traitor in?

 497 assurance: safety

501 Sir Edward Courtney; cf. n.

502 Bishop of Exeter; cf. n.

503 moe: more

504 the Guildfords; cf. n.

505 competitors: associates

508 owls death; cf. n.

513 Cf. n.

