William Shakespeare: The Life and Death of King Richard III

ACT III. 7. SCENE VII. London. Court of Baynard's Castle. (continued)

CATESBY.
Call them again, sweet prince, accept their suit:
If you deny them, all the land will rue it.

GLOSTER.
Will you enforce me to a world of cares?
Call them again.

[CATESBY goes to the Mayor, &c., and then exit.]

I am not made of stone,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties,
Albeit against my conscience and my soul.

[Re-enter BUCKINGHAM and CATESBY, Mayor, &c., coming forward.]

Cousin of Buckingham,--and sage grave men,
Since you will buckle fortune on my back,
To bear her burden, whe'er I will or no,
I must have patience to endure the load:
But if black scandal or foul-fac'd reproach
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots and stains thereof;
For God doth know, and you may partly see,
How far I am from the desire of this.

MAYOR.
God bless your grace! we see it, and will say it.

GLOSTER.
In saying so, you shall but say the truth.

BUCKINGHAM.
Then I salute you with this royal title,--
Long live King Richard, England's worthy king!

ALL.
Amen.

BUCKINGHAM.
To-morrow may it please you to be crown'd?

GLOSTER.
Even when you please, for you will have it so.

BUCKINGHAM.
To-morrow, then, we will attend your grace:
And so, most joyfully, we take our leave.

GLOSTER.
[To the BISHOPS.]
Come, let us to our holy work again.--
Farewell, my cousin;--farewell, gentle friends.

[Exeunt.]