Nay, now dispatch; 'twas I that stabb'd young

Edward,

But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on.

She falls the sword.

Take up the sword again, or take up me.

Anne. Arise, dissembler! Though I wish thy death,
I will not be thy executioner.

Glou. Then bid me kill myself, and I will do it.
Anne. I have already.

Glou.

186

That was in thy rage.

Speak it again, and, even with the word,

This hand, which for thy love did kill thy love,

Shall for thy love kill a far truer love;

191

To both their deaths shalt thou be accessory.

Anne. I would I knew thy heart.

Glou. 'Tis figur'd in my tongue.
Anne. I fear me both are false.

195

Glou. Then never man was true.

Anne. Well, well, put up your sword.
Glou. Say, then, my peace is made.

Glou. Look, how my ring encompasseth thy finger,

Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart. 205

Wear both of them, for both of them are thine.
And if thy poor devoted servant may

But beg one favour at thy gracious hand,
Thou dost confirm his happiness for ever.

Anne. What is it?

210

Glou. That it may please you leave these sad designs
To him that hath most cause to be a mourner,
And presently repair to Crosby House;
Where, after I have solemnly interr'd
At Chertsey monastery this noble king,
And wet his grave with my repentant tears,
I will with all expedient duty see you.
For divers unknown reasons, I beseech you,
Grant me this boon.

215

Anne. With all my heart; and much it joys me too, To see you are become so penitent.

Tressel and Berkeley, go along with me.

Glou. Bid me farewell.

Anne.

"Tis more than you deserve; But since you teach me how to flatter you,

Imagine I have said farewell already.

221

225

Exeunt Lady Anne, Tressel, and Berkeley.

[Glou. Sirs, take up the corse.]

Gent.

Towards Chertsey, noble lord?

Glou. No, to White-Friars; there attend my coming.

Exeunt all but Gloucester.

Was ever woman in this humour woo'd?

Was ever woman in this humour won?

I'll have her; but I will not keep her long.

230

What! I, that kill'd her husband and his father,

To take her in her heart's extremest hate,

With curses in her mouth, tears in her eyes,

The bleeding witness of my hatred by;

Having God, her conscience, and these bars against

me,

235

And I no friends to back my suit withal

But the plain devil and dissembling looks,

And yet to win her, all the world to nothing!
Ha!

Hath she forgot already that brave prince,

240

Edward, her lord, whom I, some three months since,
Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury?
A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman,
Fram'd in the prodigality of nature,

Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal,
The spacious world cannot again afford.
And will she yet abase her eyes on me,

246

That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince, And made her widow to a woeful bed?

On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety?

On me, that halts and am misshapen thus?
My dukedom to a beggarly denier,

251

I do mistake my person all this while.
Upon my life, she finds, although I cannot,
Myself to be a marvellous proper man.
I'll be at charges for a looking-glass,

255

And entertain a score or two of tailors,
To study fashions to adorn my body.
Since I am crept in favour with myself,
I will maintain it with some little cost.
But first I'll turn yon fellow in his grave;
And then return lamenting to my love.
Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass,
That I may see my shadow as I pass.

260

Exit.

SCENE III

[The palace.]

Enter Queen Elizabeth, Lord Rivers, and Lord Grey.

Riv. Have patience, madam; there's no doubt his
Majesty

Will soon recover his accustom'd health.
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 eyes. 5 Q. Eliz. If he were dead, what would betide on me? Grey. No other harm but loss of such a lord.

Q. Eliz. The loss of such a lord includes all harms. Grey. The heavens have bless'd you with a goodly son To be your comforter when he is gone.

Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young, and his minority

Is put unto the trust of Richard Gloucester,
A man that loves not me, nor none of you.

10

Riv. Is it concluded he shall be Protector?

Q. Eliz. It is determin'd, not concluded yet;
But so it must be, if the King miscarry.

Enter Buckingham and Derby.

15

Grey. Here comes the lords of Buckingham and Derby.
Buck. Good time of day unto your royal Grace!
Der. God make your Majesty joyful as you have been!
Q. Eliz. The Countess Richmond, good my Lord of
Derby,

To your good prayer will scarcely say amen.
Yet, Derby, notwithstanding she's your wife,
And loves not me, be you, good lord, assur'd
I hate not you for her proud arrogance.
Der. I do beseech you, either not believe

The envious slanders of her false accusers;
Or, if she be accus'd on true report,

20

25

Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds From wayward sickness, and no grounded malice. Q. Eliz. Saw you the King to-day, my Lord of Derby? Der. But now the Duke of Buckingham and I

Are come from visiting his Majesty.

31

Q. Eliz. What likelihood of his amendment, lords? Buck. Madam, good hope; his Grace speaks cheer

fully.

Q. Eliz. God grant him health! Did you confer with

him?

35