I live to look upon their tragedy.
Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older, 60
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 64
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. 68
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.
Enter Lord Stanley.
Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man? 72
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. 76
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, 80
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; 84
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
