Glo. But I know none, and therefore am no beast. Anne. Vouchsafe, diffused infection of a man,* For these known evils, but to give me leave, By circumstance, to curse thy cursed self. Glo. 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. Glo. 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. Glo. Say, that I slew them not? Anne. Why then, they are not dead: But dead they are, and, devilish slave, by thee. Glo. I did not kill your husband. Anne. Why, then he is alive. Glo. Nay, he is dead; and slain by Edward's hand. Anne. In thy soul's throat thou liest; queen Margaret saw Thy murderous faulchion smoking in his blood; The which thou once didst bend against her breast, But that thy brothers beat aside the point. Glo. I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue, Glo. I grant ye. Anne. Dost grant me, hedge-hog? then God grant me too, Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed! O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous. Glo. The fitter for the King of heaven that hath him. Anne. He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come. Glo. 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. Glo. Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it. Glo. Your bed-chamber. Anne. Ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest Glo. So will it, madam, till I lie with you. Anne. I hope so. Glo. I know so.-But, gentle lady Anne,To leave this keen encounter of our wits, And fall somewhat into a slowert method;Is not the causer of the timeless deaths *Wide-spreading pestilence. + More serious. Of these Plantagenets, Henry, and Edward, Anne. Thou wast the cause, and most accursed effect. So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom. These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks. Glo. These eyes would 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! Glo. Curse not thyself, fair creature; thou art both. Anne. I would I were, to be revenged on thee. Glo. It is a quarrel most unnatural, To be revenged on him that loveth thee. Anne. It is a quarrel just and reasonable, To be revenged on him that kill'd my husband. Anne. His better doth not breathe upon the earth. Glo. Plantagenet. Anne. Why, that was he. Glo. The self-same name, but one of better nature. Glo. Here: [She spits at him.] Why dost thou spit at me ? Anne. 'Would it were mortal poison, for thy sake! Glo. Never came poison from so sweet a place. Out of my sight! thou dost infect mine eyes. Glo. Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine. * Pitiful. Thy beauty hath, and made them blind with weeping. My tongue could never learn sweet soothing word; My proud heart sues, and prompts my tongue to speak. Teach not thy lip such scorn; for it was made I lay it naked to the deadly stroke, And humbly beg the death upon my knee. [He lays his breast open; she offers at it with his sword. Nay, do not pause; for I did kill king Henry ; But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me. Nay, now despatch; 'twas I that stabb'd young Edward ; [She again offers at his breast. But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on. Take up the sword again, or take up me. [She lets fall the sword. Anne. Arise, dissembler: though I wish thy death, I will not be thy executioner. Glo. Then bid me kill myself, and I will do it. Glo. 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; To both their deaths shalt thou be accessory. Glo. 'Tis figured in my tongue. Anne. Well, well, put up your sword. Anne. That shall you know hereafter. Anne. All men, I hope, live so. Anne. To take, is not to give. [She puts on the ring. Glo. Look, how this ring encompasseth thy finger, Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart; 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? Glo. That it may please you leave these sad designs To him that hath more cause to be a mourner, And presently repair to Crosby-place; Where-after I have solemnly interr'd, At Chertsey monast'ry, this noble king, For divers unknown reasons, I beseech you, Anne. With all my heart; and much it joys me too, Tressel, and Berkeley, go along with me. Anne. 'Tis more than you deserve: But, since you teach me how to flatter you, Imagine I have said farewell already. [Exeunt LADY ANNE, TRESSEL, and BERKELEY. Glo. Take up the corse, Sirs. Gent. Towards Chertsey, noble lord? Glo. No, to White-Friars; there attend my coming. [Exeunt the rest, with the corse. Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? I'll have her, but I will not keep her long. What! I, that kill'd her husband, and his father, The bleeding witness of her hatred by; With God, her conscience, and these bars against me, 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, 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? On me, that halt, and am misshapen thus? My dukedom to a beggarly denier,* [Exit. And then return lamenting to my love. Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass, 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 majesty Will soon recover his accustom'd health. Grey. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse: Q. Eliz. The loss of such a lord includes all harms. Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young; and his minority Is put into the trust of Richard Gloster, Enter BUCKINGHAM and STANLEY. Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and Stanley. Stan. God make your majesty joyful as you have been! Yet, Stanley, notwithstanding she's your wife, Stan. I do beseech you, either not believe Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds Q. Eliz. Saw you the king to-day, my lord of Stanley ? Are come from visiting his majesty. Q. Eliz. What likelihood of his amendment, lords? Q. Eliz. God grant him health! Did you confer with him? Between the duke of Gloster and your brothers, And sent to warn* them to his presence. Q. Eliz. Would all were well!-But that will never be ;I fear our happiness is at the height. *Summon. |