Of those gross taunts I often have endur'd. Enter Queen Margaret, behind. Q. Mar. And lessen'd be that small, God, I beseech thee! Thy honour, state, and seat, is due to me. Glo. What? threat you me with telling of the Tell him, and spare not: look, what I have said 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; 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 Were factious for the house of Lancaster ;- Let me put in your minds, if you forget, What you have been ere now, and what you are; Withal, what I have been, and what I am. Q. Mar. A murd'rous villain, and so still thou art. Glo. Poor Clarence did forsake his father War wick; * Labours. + Make royal. Ay, and foreswore himself,-Which Jesu par don! Q. Mar. Which God revenge! Glo. To fight on Edward's party, for the crown; And, for his meed*, poor lord, he is mew'd+ up: I would to God, my heart were flint like Edward's, Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine; I am too childish-foolish for this world. Q. Mar. Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave Thou cacodæmont! there thy kingdom is. Q. Eliz. As little joy, my lord, as you suppose You should enjoy, were you this country's king; As little joy you may suppose in me, 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. [Advancing. 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 being queen, you bow like subjects; Yet that, by you depos'd, you quake like rebels ?---Ah, gentle villain, do not turn away! Glo. Foul wrinkled witch, what mak'st thou in my sight? Q. Mar. But repetition of what thou hast marr'd; That will I make, before I let thee go. Glo. Wert thou not banished, on pain of death? Q. Mar. I was; but I do find more pain in banishment, Than death can yield me here by my abode. A husband, and a son, thou ow'st to me, * Reward. † Confined. Corrupt devil. § Pillaged. And thou, a kingdom;-all of you, allegiance: Glo. The curse my noble father laid on thee,— When thou didst crown his warlike brows with paper, And with thy scorns drew'st rivers from his eyes; Dors. No man but prophesied revenge for it. Buck. Northumberland, then present, wept to see it. Q. Mar. What! were you snarling all, before I came, Ready to catch each other by the throat, Did York's dread curse prevail so much with heaven, curses! Though not by war, by surfeit die your king, Deck'd in thy rights, as thou art stall'd in mine! Glo. Have done thy charm, thou hateful wither'd hag. Q. Mar. And leave out thee? stay, dog, for thou shalt hear me. If heaven have any grievous plague in store, On thee, the troubler of the poor world's peace! Glo. I cry thee mercy then; for I did think, That thou hadst call'd me all these bitter names. Q. Mar. Why, so I did; but look'd for no reply. O, let me make the period to my curse. Glo. 'Tis done by me; and ends in-Margaret. Q. Eliz. Thus have you breath'd your curse against yourself. Q. Mar. Poor painted queen, vain flourish of fortune! my Why strew'st thou sugar on that bottled spider*, Hast. False-boding woman, end thy frantick curse; Lest, to thy arm, thou move our patience. Q. Mar. Foul shame upon you! you have all mov'd mine. Riv. Were you well serv'd, you would be taught your duty. Q. Mar. To serve me well, you all should do me duty, Teach me to be your queen, and you my subjects: O, serve me well, and teach yourselves that duty. Dor. Dispute not with her, she is lunatick. Q. Mar. Peace, master marquis, you are malapert: Your fire-new stamp of honour is scarce current† : O, that your young nobility could judge, What 'twere to lose it and be miserable! They that stand high, have many blasts to shake them; And, if they fall, they dash themselves to pieces. Glo. Good counsel, marry ;-learn it, learn it, marquis. Dor. It touches you, my lord, as much as me. Glo. Ay, and much more: But I was born so high, Our aiery buildeth in the cedar's top, And dallies with the wind, and scorns the sun. * Alluding to Gloster's form and venom. |