Enter one Citizen at one door, and another at the other. FIRST CITIZEN
Good morrow, neighbor, whither away so fast? SECOND CITIZEN
I promise you I scarcely know myself.
Hear you the news abroad? FIRST CITIZEN Yes, that the King is dead. SECOND CITIZEN
Ill news, by ’r Lady. Seldom comes the better. 5
I fear, I fear, ’twill prove a giddy world. Enter another Citizen. THIRD CITIZEN
Neighbors, God speed. FIRST CITIZEN Give you good morrow, sir. THIRD CITIZEN
Doth the news hold of good King Edward’s death? SECOND CITIZEN
Ay, sir, it is too true, God help the while. 10 | Three citizens meet on a street in London, chatting about the latest
news. They wonder what the heck is going to happen to England now that
King Edward IV is dead. |
THIRD CITIZEN
Then, masters, look to see a troublous world. FIRST CITIZEN
No, no, by God’s good grace, his son shall reign. THIRD CITIZEN
Woe to that land that’s governed by a child. SECOND CITIZEN
In him there is a hope of government,
Which, in his nonage, council under him, 15
And, in his full and ripened years, himself,
No doubt shall then, and till then, govern well. FIRST CITIZEN
So stood the state when Henry the Sixth
Was crowned in Paris but at nine months old. THIRD CITIZEN
Stood the state so? No, no, good friends, God wot, 20
For then this land was famously enriched
With politic grave counsel; then the King
Had virtuous uncles to protect his Grace. FIRST CITIZEN
Why, so hath this, both by his father and mother. THIRD CITIZEN
Better it were they all came by his father, 25
Or by his father there were none at all,
For emulation who shall now be nearest
Will touch us all too near if God prevent not.
O, full of danger is the Duke of Gloucester,
And the Queen’s sons and brothers haught and 30
proud,
And were they to be ruled, and not to rule,
This sickly land might solace as before. FIRST CITIZEN
Come, come, we fear the worst. All will be well. THIRD CITIZEN
When clouds are seen, wise men put on their 35
cloaks;
When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand;
When the sun sets, who doth not look for night?
Untimely storms makes men expect a dearth.
All may be well; but if God sort it so, 40
’Tis more than we deserve or I expect. | One is optimistic that Edward's son will reign, and though the boy is still too young to do the job properly, at the very least he'll be surrounded by good counsel, which will lead England wisely until the boy is old enough to take over. Another citizen is less confident about the nation's safety, especially since there are two factions competing to advise the young king. On the one side is Richard of Gloucester, who is dangerous. |
SECOND CITIZEN
Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear.
You cannot reason almost with a man
That looks not heavily and full of dread. THIRD CITIZEN
Before the days of change, still is it so. 45
By a divine instinct, men’s minds mistrust
Ensuing danger, as by proof we see
The water swell before a boist’rous storm.
But leave it all to God. Whither away? SECOND CITIZEN
Marry, we were sent for to the Justices. 50 THIRD CITIZEN
And so was I. I’ll bear you company. They exit. | Regardless of who triumphs, the citizens are sure of one thing: there's bound to be a whole lot of drama before the next king is crowned. |