Page:Richard III (1927) Yale.djvu/81

Richard the Third, III. ii

I live to look upon their tragedy.

Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,

I'll send some packing that yet think not on 't.

Cate. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,

When men are unprepar'd and look not for it.

Hast. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out

With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey; and so 'twill do

With some men else, that think themselves as safe

As thou and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear

To princely Richard and to Buckingham.

Cate. The princes both make high account of you;

[Aside.] For they account his head upon the bridge.

Hast. I know they do, and I have well deserv'd it.

Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man?

Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?

Stan. My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby:

You may jest on, but by the holy rood,

I do not like these several councils, I.

Hast. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours;

And never, in my days, I do protest,

Was it so precious to me as 'tis now.

Think you, but that I know our state secure,

I would be so triumphant as I am?

Stan. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,

Were jocund and suppos'd their states were sure,

And they indeed had no cause to mistrust;

But yet you see how soon the day o'ercast.

This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt;

Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!

 70 head bridge; cf. n.

75 rood: cross

83 jocund: carefree, merry

sure: secure

85 o'ercast: became overcast

86 misdoubt: suspect

87 needless: without cause or reason

