Page:Richard III (1927) Yale.djvu/97

Richard the Third, III. vii 

Now, Catesby, what says his Grace?

Cate. 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.

Buck. 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.

When holy and devout religious men

Are at their beads, 'tis much to draw them thence;

So sweet is zealous contemplation.

L. May. See, where his Grace stands 'tween two clergymen!

Buck. Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,

To stay him from the fall of vanity;

And, see, a book of prayer in bis 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.

Rich. 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?

 92 beads: prayers

98 ornaments: the word refers to the bishops as well as to the prayer-book

