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 Enter BUCKINGHAM and STANLEY. Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and Stanley. ! Buck. Good time of day unto your royal grace been! Q. Eliz. The countess Richmond, good my lord of To your good prayer will scarcely say-amen. Stan. I do beseech you, either not believe Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds Stan. But now, the duke of Buckingham, and I, Are come from visiting his majesty. 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? 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 4 them to his royal presence. Q. Eliz. 'Would all were well! But that will never be ; I fear, our happiness is at the height. Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and DORSET. Glo. They do me wrong, and I will not endure it :- Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive, and cog, Cannot a plain man live, and think no harm, By silken, sly, insinuating Jack's? Grey. To whom in all this presence speaks your grace? Glo. To thee, that hast nor honesty, nor grace. When have I injur'd thee? when done thee wrong?Or thee?—or thee?-or any of your faction? Summon. A plague upon you all! His royal grace,- But you must trouble him with lewd complaints. ter: The king, of his own royal disposition, Glo. I cannot tell ;-The world is grown so bad, That wrens may 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, You envy my advancement, and my friends; Glo. Meantime, God grants that we have need of you: Our brother is imprison'd by your means, Myself disgrac'd, and the nobility Held in contempt; while great promotions Are daily given, to ennoble those That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble. 7 5 Rude, ignorant. 6 Low fellow. 7 A coin rated at 6s. 8d. 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, Glo. You may deny that you were not the cause Riv. She may, my lord; for Glo. She may, lord Rivers why, who knows not She so? 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. & Think. 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. 'Tis time to speak, my pains9 are quite forgot. Glo. Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband 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 Let me put in your minds, if you forget, Q. Mar. A murd'rous villain, and so still thou art. |