Towards Chertsey, noble lord? Glo. Take up the corse, sirs. Gent. Glo. No, to White-Friars; there attend my coming. [Exeunt the rest, with the Corse. Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? With God, her conscience, and these bars against me, But the plain devil, and dissembling looks, Hath she forgot already that brave prince, Edward, her lord, whom I, some three months since, Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal,— And will she yet abase her eyes on me, That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince, On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety? [Exit. SCENE III. The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH, LORD RIVERS, and LORD GREY. Riv. Have patience, madam; there's no doubt, his Will soon recover his accustom'd health. [majesty Grey. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse: Therefore, for God's sake, entertain good comfort, And cheer his grace with quick and merry words. Q. Eliz. If he were dead, what would betide of me? Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young; and his minority Enter BUCKINGHAM and STANLEY. Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and Stanley. To your good prayer will scarcely say―amen. Stan. I do beseech you, either not believe Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds Q. Eliz. What likelihood of his amendment, lords? Buck. Madam, good hope; his grace speaks cheer fully. [him? Q. Eliz. God grant him health! Did you confer with Buck. Ay, madam: he desires to make atonement Between the duke of Gloster and your brothers, And between them and my lord chamberlain; And sent to warn them to his royal presence. Q. Eliz. 'Would all were well!--but that will never I fear, our happiness is at the height. [be ;- Cannot a plain man live, and think no harm, Grey. To whom in all this presence speaks your grace? But you must trouble him with lewd complaints. Q. Eliz. Brother of Gloster, you mistake the matter : The king, of his own royal disposition, And not provok'd by any suitor else; Glo. I cannot tell ;-The world is grown so bad, That wrens may prey where eagles dare not perch: There's many a gentle person made a Jack. [Gloster; Glo. Meantime, God grants that we have need of yon: Held in contempt; while great promotions That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble. 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. Glo. You may deny that you were not the cause Glo. She may, lord Rivers?-why, who knows not so? She may do more, sir, than denying that: She may help you to many fair preferments; And then deny her aiding hand therein, And lay those honours on your high desert. What may she not? She may-ay, marry, may she,-Riv. What, marry, may she? Glo. What, marry, may she? marry with a king, A bachelor, a handsome stripling too: I wis, your grandam had a worser match. Q. Eliz. My lord of Gloster, I have too long borne Your blunt upbraidings, and your bitter scoffs: By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty, Of those gross taunts I often have endur'd. I had rather be a country servant-maid, Than a great queen, with this conditionTo be so baited, scorn'd, and stormed at: Small joy have I in being England's queen. B Enter QUEEN MARGARET, behind. Q. Mar. And lessen'd be that small, God, I beseech Thy honour, state, and seat is due to me. [thee! I dare adventure to be sent to the Tower. Glo. 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, To royalize his blood, I spilt mine own. Q. Mar. Ay, and much better blood than his, or thine. Glo. In all which time, you and your husband Grey, Were factious for the house of Lancaster; And, Rivers, so were you :-Was not your husband Q. Mar. A murd'rous villain, and so still thou art.- Glo. To fight on Edward's party, for the crown; I am too childish-foolish for this world. Q. Mar. Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave this Thou cacodæmon! there thy kingdom is. [world, Riv. My lord of Gloster, in those busy days, Which here you urge, to prove us enemies, We follow'd then our lord, our lawful king; So should we you, if you should be our king |