Glos. Unmanner'd dog! stand thou when I com mand. Advance thy halberd higher than my breast, [the Bearers set down the coffin. Anne. What, do you tremble? are you all afraid? Thou hadst but power over his mortal body; For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell, O, gentlemen, see, see! dead Henry's wounds Provokes this deluge most unnatural. O God, which this blood madest, revenge his death! O earth, which this blood drink'st, revenge his death! Either, heaven, with lightning strike the murderer dead, Or, earth, gape open wide, and eat him quick; Glos. Lady, you know no rules of charity, Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses. Anne. Villain, thou know'st no law of God nor man: No beast so fierce, but knows some touch of pity. Glos. But I know none, and therefore am no beast. Anne. O wonderful, when devils tell the truth! Glos. More wonderful, when angels are so angry! Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman, Of these supposed evils, to give me leave, By circumstance, but to acquit myself. Anne. Vouchsafe, diffused infection of a man, For these known evils, but to give me leave, By circumstance, to curse thy cursed self. Glos. Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have Some patient leisure to excuse myself. Anne. Fouler than heart can think thee, thou canst make No excuse current, but to hang thyself. Glos. By such despair, I should accuse myself. Anne. And, by despairing, shalt thou stand excused; For doing worthy vengeance on thyself, That didst unworthy slaughter upon others. Glos. Say, that I slew them not? But dead they are, and, devilish slave, by thee. Anne. Why, then he is alive. Glos. Nay, he is dead, and slain by Edward's hand. Anne. In thy foul throat thou liest: queen Margaret saw Thy murderous falchion smoking in his blood; Glos. I was provoked by her slanderous tongue, Glos. I grant ye. Anne. Dost grant me, hedgehog? then, God grant me too, Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed! O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous. Glos. The fitter for the King of heaven that hath him. Anne. He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come. Glos. Let him thank me, that holp to send him thither; For he was fitter for that place than earth. Anne. And thou unfit for any place but hell. Glos. Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it. Anne. Some dungeon. Glos. Your bed-chamber. Anne. Ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest ! Glos. So will it, madam, till I lie with Anne. I hope so. you. Glos. I know so. But, gentle lady Anne, To leave this keen encounter of our wits, And fall somewhat into a slower method;— Is not the causer of the timeless deaths Of these Plantagenets, Henry and Edward, As blameful as the executioner? Anne. Thou wast the cause, and most accursed effect. Glos. Your beauty was the cause of that effect Your beauty, which did haunt me in my sleep, To undertake the death of all the world, So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom. Anne. If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide, These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks. Glos. These eyes could not endure that beauty's wreck : You should not blemish it, if I stood by. As all the world is cheered by the sun, So I by that; it is my day, my life. Anne. Black night o'ershade thy day, and death thy life! Glos. Curse not thyself, fair creature; thou art both. Anne. I would I were, to be revenged on thee. To be revenged on him that loveth thee. Anne. His better doth not breathe upon the earth. Glos. He lives, that loves you better than he could. Anne. Name him. Glos. Anne. Glos. Plantagenet. Why, that was he. The self-same name, but one of better nature. Anne. Where is he? Glos. Here. [she spits at him.] Why dost thou spit at me? Anne. Would it were mortal poison for thy sake! Glos. Never came poison from so sweet a place. Anne. Never hung poison on a fouler toad. Out of my sight! thou dost infect mine eyes. mine. Anne. Would they were basilisks, to strike thee dead! Glos. I would they were, that I might die at once ; For now they kill me with a living death. Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt tears; Shamed their aspects with store of childish drops. |