Page 1201 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

To the disgrace and downfall of your House;
And with this resolution here we leave you.
Come, citizens; zounds, I’ll entreat no more.

RICHARD

O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham!
Exeunt [Buckingham, Lord Mayor, and Citizens].

CAT ESBY

Call him again, sweet Prince; accept their suit. [220]
If you deny them, all the land will rue it.

RICHARD

Will you enforce me to a world of cares?
Call them again. I am not made of stones,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties,
Albeit against my conscience and my soul. [225]

Enter Buckingham and the rest.

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, [230]
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. [235]

MAY OR

God bless your Grace: we see it, and will say it.

RICHARD

In saying so, you shall but say the truth.

BUCKINGHAM

Then I salute you with this royal title:
Long live Richard, England’s worthy King!