William Shakespeare: The Life and Death of King Richard III

ACT III. 4. SCENE IV. London. A Room in the Tower.

[BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the BISHOP of ELY, RATCLIFF,
LOVEL,
and others sitting at a table: Officers of the Council
attending.]

HASTINGS.
Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met
Is to determine of the coronation.
In God's name speak,--when is the royal day?

BUCKINGHAM.
Are all things ready for that royal time?

STANLEY.
Thery are, and wants but nomination.

ELY.
To-morrow, then, I judge a happy day.

BUCKINGHAM.
Who knows the lord protector's mind herein?
Who is most inward with the noble duke?

ELY.
Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.

BUCKINGHAM.
We know each other's faces: for our hearts,
He knows no more of mine than I of yours;
Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.--
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.

HASTINGS.
I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;
But for his purpose in the coronation
I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious pleasure any way therein:
But you, my honourable lords, may name the time;
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part.

ELY.
In happy time, here comes the duke himself.

[Enter GLOSTER.]

GLOSTER.
My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow.
I have been long a sleeper; but I trust
My absence doth neglect no great design
Which by my presence might have been concluded.

BUCKINGHAM.
Had you not come upon your cue, my lord,
William Lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part,--
I mean, your voice,--for crowning of the king.

GLOSTER.
Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder;
His lordship knows me well and loves me well.--
My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn
I saw good strawberries in your garden there:
I do beseech you send for some of them.