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And all shall heal again.

York

Then lose no time, lest it grow ulcerous.

The false Tresilian, Greene and Bagot

Run naught but poison, brother, spill them all.

Lancaster

They guide the nonage King; it is they protect him.

Ye wear the title of protectorship

But like an under-officer, as though

Yours were derived from theirs; faith, you are too plain.

Woodstock

In my apparel, you will say.

Lancaster

Good faith, in all.

The commons murmur against the dissolute King

Treason is whispered at each common table

As customary as their thanks to heaven.

Men need not gaze up to the sky to see

Whether the sun shine clear or no, it is found

By the small light should beautify the ground.

Conceit you me, a blind man thus much sees:

He wants his eyes to whom we bend our knees.

Arundel

You all are princes of the royal blood

Yet like great oaks ye let the ivy grow

To eat your hearts out with his false embraces.

Ye understand, my Lord?

Woodstock

Ay, ay, good coz, as if ye plainly said

Destroy those flatterers and tell King Richard

He does abase himself to countenance them.

Soft, soft!

Fruit that grows high is not securely plucked,

We must use ladders and by steps ascend

Till by degrees we reach the altitude.

You conceit me too? pray be smooth awhile.

Tomorrow is the solemn nuptial day

Betwixt the King and virtuous Anne-a-Beame

The emperor's daughter, a right gracious lady

That is come to England for King Richard's love.

Then, as you love his grace, and hate his flatterers,

Discountenace not the day with the least frown,

Be ignorant of what ye know. afore my god

I have good hope this happy marriage, brothers,

Of this so noble and religious princess

Will mildly calm his headstrong youth, to see

And shun those stains that blurs his majesty.

If not, by good King Edward's bones, our royal father,

I will remove those hinderers of his health,

Though it cost my head.

York & Lancaster

On these conditions, brother, we agree.

Arundel

And I.

Surrey

And I.

Lancaster

To hide our hate is soundest policy.

York

And brother Gloucester, since it is your pleasure

To have us smooth our sullen brows with smiles

We would have you suit your outside to your heart

And like a courtier cast this country habit

For which the coarse and vulgar call your Grace

By the title of plain Thomas: yet we doubt not

Tomorrow we shall have good hope to see

Your high protectorship in bravery.

Woodstock

No no, good York, this is as fair a sight,

My heart in this plain frieze sits true and right.

In this I will serve my King as true and bold

As if my outside were all trapped in gold.

Lancaster

By Mary but you shall not, brother Woodstock!

What, the marriage day to Richard and his Queen,

And will ye so disgrace the state and realm?

We will have you brave, in faith!

Woodstock Well, well

For your sakes, brothers, and this solemn day

For once I will sumpter a gaudy wardrobe, but it is more

Than I have done (I vow) this twenty years.

Afore my God the King could not have entreated me

To leave this habit, but your wills be done.

Let us hie to court: you all your wishes have:

One weary day, plain Thomas will be brave.

Act I, Scene 2 [A house near London]

Enter Greene, Bagot and Tresilian, in rage Tresilian

Nay, good sir Henry, King Richard calls for you.

Bagot

Prithee sweet Greene

Visit his highness and forsake these passions.

Green

'Sblood I am vexed, Tresilian mad me not,

Thyself and I and all are now undone.

The Lords at London are secured from harm,

The plot is revealed. black curses seize the traitor!

Bagot

Eternal torments whip that Carmelite!

Tresilian

A deeper hell than limbo patrum hold him,

A fainting villain, confusion crush his soul!

Bagot

Could the false slave recoil, and swore their deaths!

Green

Mischief devour him! had it but taken effect

On Lancaster and Edmund Duke of York

(Those headstrong Uncles to the gentle King)

The third brother, plain Thomas, the protector

Had quickly been removed;