Buck. Ay, madam. He desires to make atonement I fear our happiness is at the height. Enter Gloucester [Hastings, and Dorset]. Glou. They do me wrong, and I will not endure it. 40 That I, forsooth, am stern and love them not? Cannot a plain man live and think no harm 50 Grey. To who in all this presence speaks your Grace? Glou. To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace. 55 When have I injur'd thee? When done thee Or thee? or thee? or any of your faction? Whom God preserve better than you would wish!- 60 But you must trouble him with lewd complaints. Q. Eliz. Brother of Gloucester, you mistake the matter. The King, on his own royal disposition, And not provok'd by any suitor else, Aiming, belike, at your interior hatred, That in your outward action shows itself Against my children, brothers, and myself, 65 Makes him to send that he may learn the ground. Glou. I cannot tell. The world is grown so bad 70 That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. Since every Jack became a gentleman, There's many a gentle person made a Jack. Q. Eliz. Come, come, we know your meaning, brother You envy my advancement and my friends'. 75 Glou. Meantime, God grants that I have need of you. Held in contempt; while great promotions 80 That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble. Q. Eliz. By Him that rais'd me to this careful height From that contented hap which I enjoy'd, I never did incense his Majesty Against the Duke of Clarence, but have been My lord, you do me shameful injury, Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects. 85 Glou. You may deny that you were not the mean 90 Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment. Riv. She may, my lord, for Glou. She may, Lord Rivers! Why, who knows not so? 95 She may do more, sir, than denying that. she, Riv. What, marry, may she? Glou. What, marry, may she! 101 105 Marry with a king, A bachelor, and a handsome stripling too. I wis your grandam had a worser match. Q. Eliz. My Lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs. By heaven, I will acquaint his Majesty Of those gross taunts that oft I have endur'd. I had rather be a country servant-maid Than a great queen, with this condition, To be thus baited, scorn'd, and stormed at. Small joy have I in being England's Queen. 110 Enter old Queen Margaret. Q. Mar. And less'ned be that small, God I beseech Him! Thy honour, state, and seat is due to me. Glou. What! threat you me with telling of the King? [Tell him, and spare not. Look, what I have said] I will avouch't in presence of the King. I dare adventure to be sent to the Tower. 115 "Tis time to speak; my pains are quite forgot. Q. Mar. Out, devil! I do remember them too well: 120 Thou kill'dst my husband Henry in the Tower, And Edward, my poor son, at Tewksbury. Glou. Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king,. I was a pack-horse in his great affairs; A weeder-out of his proud adversaries, A liberal rewarder of his friends. To royalize his blood I spent mine own. 125 Q. Mar. Ay, and much better blood than his or thine. Were factious for the house of Lancaster; Let me put in your minds, if you forget, 130 What you have been ere this, and what you are; Q. Mar. A murderous villain, and so still thou art. 134 Glou. Poor Clarence did forsake his father, Warwick; Ay, and forswore himself, Q. Mar. Which God revenge! which Jesu pardon ! Glou. To fight on Edward's party for the crown ; I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's ; I am too childish-foolish for this world. 141 Q. Mar. Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave this world, Thou cacodemon! there thy kingdom is. 145 Far be it from my heart, the thought thereof! 150 Q. Eliz. As little joy, my lord, as you suppose You should enjoy, were you this country's king, in me, 155 [Advancing.] That I enjoy, being the queen thereof. Q. Mar. A little joy enjoys the queen thereof; For I am she, and altogether joyless. I can no longer hold me patient. Hear me, you wrangling pirates, that fall out In sharing that which you have pill'd from me! Which of you trembles not that looks on me? If not that I am queen, you bow like subjects, 160 |