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Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH , Lord Marquess of DORSET , Lord RIVERS, and Lord GREY
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH , Lord Marquess of DORSET , Lord RIVERS, and Lord GREY

RIVERS

Have patience, madam. There’s no doubt his majesty
Will soon recover his accustomed health.

RIVERS

Have patience, madam. There’s no doubt his majesty
Will soon recover his accustomed health.

GREY

In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse.
Therefore, for God’s sake, entertain good comfort
5 And cheer his grace with quick and merry eyes.

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.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

If he were dead, what would betide on me?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

If he were dead, what would betide on me?

RIVERS

No other harm but loss of such a lord.

RIVERS

No other harm but loss of such a lord.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

The loss of such a lord includes all harms.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

The loss of such a lord includes all harms.

GREY

The heavens have blessed you with a goodly son
10 To be your comforter when he is gone.

GREY

The heavens have blessed you with a goodly son
To be your comforter when he is gone.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

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.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

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.

RIVERS

Is it concluded that he shall be Protector?

RIVERS

Is it concluded that he shall be Protector?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

15 It is determined, not concluded yet;
But so it must be if the king miscarry.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

It is determined, not concluded yet;
But so it must be if the king miscarry.
Enter BUCKINGHAM and Lord STANLEY , Earl of Derby
Enter BUCKINGHAM and Lord STANLEY , Earl of Derby

GREY

Here comes the lord of Buckingham, and Derby.

GREY

Here comes the lord of Buckingham, and Derby.

BUCKINGHAM

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Good time of day unto your royal Grace.

BUCKINGHAM

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Good time of day unto your royal Grace.

STANLEY

20 God make your Majesty joyful, as you have been.

STANLEY

God make your Majesty joyful, as you have been.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

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, assured
25 I hate not you for her proud arrogance.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

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, assured
I hate not you for her proud arrogance.

STANLEY

I do beseech you either not believe
The envious slanders of her false accusers,
Or if she be accused in true report,
Bear with her weakness, which I think proceeds
30 From wayward sickness and no grounded malice.

STANLEY

I do beseech you either not believe
The envious slanders of her false accusers,
Or if she be accused in true report,
Bear with her weakness, which I think proceeds
From wayward sickness and no grounded malice.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Saw you the king today, my lord of Derby?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Saw you the king today, my lord of Derby?

STANLEY

But now the duke of Buckingham and I
Are come from visiting his majesty.

STANLEY

But now the duke of Buckingham and I
Are come from visiting his majesty.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What likelihood of his amendment, lords?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What likelihood of his amendment, lords?

BUCKINGHAM

35 Madam, good hope. His grace speaks cheerfully.

BUCKINGHAM

Madam, good hope. His grace speaks cheerfully.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

God grant him health. Did you confer with him?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

God grant him health. Did you confer with him?

BUCKINGHAM

Ay, madam. He desires to make atonement
Betwixt the duke of Gloucester and your brothers,
And betwixt them and my Lord Chamberlain,
40 And sent to warn them to his royal presence.

BUCKINGHAM

Ay, madam. He desires to make atonement
Betwixt the duke of Gloucester and your brothers,
And betwixt them and my Lord Chamberlain,
And sent to warn them to his royal presence.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Would all were well—but that will never be.
I fear our happiness is at the height.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Would all were well—but that will never be.
I fear our happiness is at the height.
Enter RICHARD , Duke of Gloucester, and HASTINGS
Enter RICHARD , Duke of Gloucester, and HASTINGS

RICHARD

They do me wrong, and I will not endure it!
Who is it that complains unto the king
45 That I, forsooth, am stern and love them not?
By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly
That fill his ears with such dissentious rumors.
Because I cannot flatter and look fair,
Smile in men’s faces, smooth, deceive and cog,
50 Duck with French nods and apish courtesy,
I must be held a rancorous enemy.
Cannot a plain man live and think no harm,
But thus his simple truth must be abused
With silken, sly, insinuating jacks?

RICHARD

They do me wrong, and I will not endure it!
Who is it that complains unto the king
That I, forsooth, am stern and love them not?
By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly
That fill his ears with such dissentious rumors.
Because I cannot flatter and look fair,
Smile in men’s faces, smooth, deceive and cog,
Duck with French nods and apish courtesy,
I must be held a rancorous enemy.
Cannot a plain man live and think no harm,
But thus his simple truth must be abused
With silken, sly, insinuating jacks?

RIVERS

55 To whom in all this presence speaks your Grace?

RIVERS

To whom in all this presence speaks your Grace?

RICHARD

To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace.
When have I injured thee? When done thee wrong?—
Or thee?—Or thee? Or any of your faction?
A plague upon you all! His royal grace,
60 Whom God preserve better than you would wish,
Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing while
But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.

RICHARD

To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace.
When have I injured thee? When done thee wrong?—
Or thee?—Or thee? Or any of your faction?
A plague upon you all! His royal grace,
Whom God preserve better than you would wish,
Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing while
But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Brother of Gloucester, you mistake the matter.
The king, on his own royal disposition,
65 And not provoked by any suitor else,
Aiming belike at your interior hatred
That in your outward actions shows itself
Against my children, brothers, and myself,
Makes him to send, that he may learn the ground.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Brother of Gloucester, you mistake the matter.
The king, on his own royal disposition,
And not provoked by any suitor else,
Aiming belike at your interior hatred
That in your outward actions shows itself
Against my children, brothers, and myself,
Makes him to send, that he may learn the ground.

RICHARD

70 I cannot tell. The world is grown so bad
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.
Since every jack became a gentleman,
There’s many a gentle person made a jack.

RICHARD

I cannot tell. The world is grown so bad
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.
Since every jack became a gentleman,
There’s many a gentle person made a jack.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloucester.
75 You envy my advancement, and my friends'.
God grant we never may have need of you.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloucester.
You envy my advancement, and my friends'.
God grant we never may have need of you.

RICHARD

Meantime God grants that we have need of you.
Our brother is imprisoned by your means,
Myself disgraced, and the nobility
80 Held in contempt, while great promotions
Are daily given to ennoble those
That scarce some two days since were worth a noble.

RICHARD

Meantime God grants that we have need of you.
Our brother is imprisoned by your means,
Myself disgraced, 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.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

By Him that raised me to this careful height
From that contented hap which I enjoyed,
85 I never did incense his majesty
Against the duke of Clarence, but have been
An earnest advocate to plead for him.
My lord, you do me shameful injury
Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

By Him that raised me to this careful height
From that contented hap which I enjoyed,
I never did incense his majesty
Against the duke of Clarence, but have been
An earnest advocate to plead for him.
My lord, you do me shameful injury
Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.

RICHARD

90 You may deny that you were not the mean
Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment.

RICHARD

You may deny that you were not the mean
Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment.

RIVERS

She may, my lord, for—

RIVERS

She may, my lord, for—

RICHARD

She may, Lord Rivers. Why, who knows not so?
She may do more, sir, than denying that.
95 She may help you to many fair preferments
And then deny her aiding hand therein,
And lay those honors on your high desert.
What may she not? She may, ay, marry, may she—

RICHARD

She may, Lord Rivers. Why, who knows not so?
She 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 honors on your high desert.
What may she not? She may, ay, marry, may she—

RIVERS

What, marry, may she?

RIVERS

What, marry, may she?

RICHARD

100 What, marry, may she? Marry with a king,
A bachelor, a handsome stripling too.
I wis, your grandam had a worser match.

RICHARD

What, marry, may she? Marry with a king,
A bachelor, a handsome stripling too.
I wis, your grandam had a worser match.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

My Lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne
Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs.
105 By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty
With those gross taunts that oft I have endured.
I had rather be a country servant-maid
Than a great queen with this condition,
To be so baited, scorned, and stormèd at.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

My Lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne
Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs.
By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty
With those gross taunts that oft I have endured.
I had rather be a country servant-maid
Than a great queen with this condition,
To be so baited, scorned, and stormèd at.
Enter old QUEEN MARGARET , apart from others
Enter old QUEEN MARGARET , apart from others
110 Small joy have I in being England’s queen.
Small joy have I in being England’s queen.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) And lessened be that small, God I beseech Him!
Thy honor, state, and seat is due to me.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) And lessened be that small, God I beseech Him!
Thy honor, state, and seat is due to me.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) What, threat you me with telling of the king?
Tell him, and spare not. Look, what I have said,
115 I will avouch ’t in presence of the king;
I dare adventure to be sent to th' Tower.
'Tis time to speak. My pains are quite forgot.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) What, threat you me with telling of the king?
Tell him, and spare not. Look, what I have said,
I will avouch ’t in presence of the king;
I dare adventure to be sent to th' Tower.
'Tis time to speak. My pains are quite forgot.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Out, devil! I do remember them too well:
Thou killed’st my husband Henry in the Tower,
120 And Edward, my poor son, at Tewkesbury.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Out, devil! I do remember them too well:
Thou killed’st my husband Henry in the Tower,
And Edward, my poor son, at Tewkesbury.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king,
I was a packhorse in his great affairs,
A weeder-out of his proud adversaries,
A liberal rewarder of his friends.
125 To royalize his blood, I spent mine own.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king,
I was a packhorse in his great affairs,
A weeder-out of his proud adversaries,
A liberal rewarder of his friends.
To royalize his blood, I spent mine own.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Ay, and much better blood than his or thine.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Ay, and much better blood than his or thine.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) 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
130 In Margaret’s battle at Saint Albans slain?
Let me put in your minds, if you forget,
What you have been ere this, and what you are;
Withal, what I have been, and what I am.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) 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
In Margaret’s battle at Saint Albans slain?
Let me put in your minds, if you forget,
What you have been ere this, and what you are;
Withal, what I have been, and what I am.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) A murd'rous villain, and so still thou art.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) A murd'rous villain, and so still thou art.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Poor Clarence did forsake his father Warwick,
Ay, and forswore himself—which Jesu pardon!—

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Poor Clarence did forsake his father Warwick,
Ay, and forswore himself—which Jesu pardon!—

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Which God revenge!

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Which God revenge!

RICHARD

To fight on Edward’s party for the crown;
And for his meed, poor lord, he is mewed up.
140 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.

RICHARD

To fight on Edward’s party for the crown;
And for his meed, poor lord, he is mewed 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.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave the world,
Thou cacodemon! There thy kingdom is.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave the world,
Thou cacodemon! There thy kingdom is.

RIVERS

145 My Lord of Gloucester, in those busy days
Which here you urge to prove us enemies,
We followed then our lord, our sovereign king.
So should we you, if you should be our king.

RIVERS

My Lord of Gloucester, in those busy days
Which here you urge to prove us enemies,
We followed then our lord, our sovereign king.
So should we you, if you should be our king.

RICHARD

If I should be? I had rather be a peddler.
150 Far be it from my heart, the thought thereof.

RICHARD

If I should be? I had rather be a peddler.
Far be it from my heart, the thought thereof.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

As little joy, my lord, as you suppose
You should enjoy were you this country’s king,
As little joy may you suppose in me
That I enjoy, being the queen thereof.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

As little joy, my lord, as you suppose
You should enjoy were you this country’s king,
As little joy may you suppose in me
That I enjoy, being the queen thereof.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) As little joy enjoys the queen thereof,
For I am she, and altogether joyless.
I can no longer hold me patient.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) As little joy enjoys the queen thereof,
For I am she, and altogether joyless.
I can no longer hold me patient.
She steps forward
She steps forward
Hear me, you wrangling pirates, that fall out
In sharing that which you have pilled from me!
160 Which of you trembles not that looks on me?
If not, that I am queen, you bow like subjects,
Yet that, by you deposed, you quake like rebels.—
Ah, gentle villain, do not turn away.
Hear me, you wrangling pirates, that fall out
In sharing that which you have pilled from me!
Which of you trembles not that looks on me?
If not, that I am queen, you bow like subjects,
Yet that, by you deposed, you quake like rebels.—
Ah, gentle villain, do not turn away.

RICHARD

Foul, wrinkled witch, what mak’st thou in my sight?

RICHARD

Foul, wrinkled witch, what mak’st thou in my sight?

QUEEN MARGARET

165 But repetition of what thou hast marred.
That will I make before I let thee go.

QUEEN MARGARET

But repetition of what thou hast marred.
That will I make before I let thee go.

RICHARD

Wert thou not banishèd on pain of death?

RICHARD

Wert thou not banishèd on pain of death?

QUEEN MARGARET

I was, but I do find more pain in banishment
Than death can yield me here by my abode.
170 A husband and a son thou ow’st to me;
(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
And thou a kingdom; —all of you, allegiance.
The sorrow that I have by right is yours,
And all the pleasures you usurp are mine.

QUEEN MARGARET

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;
(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
And thou a kingdom; —all of you, allegiance.
The sorrow that I have by right is yours,
And all the pleasures you usurp are mine.

RICHARD

175 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,
And then, to dry them, gav’st the duke a clout
Steeped in the faultless blood of pretty Rutland—
180 His curses then, from bitterness of soul
Denounced against thee, are all fall'n upon thee,
And God, not we, hath plagued thy bloody deed.

RICHARD

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,
And then, to dry them, gav’st the duke a clout
Steeped in the faultless blood of pretty Rutland—
His curses then, from bitterness of soul
Denounced against thee, are all fall'n upon thee,
And God, not we, hath plagued thy bloody deed.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

So just is God to right the innocent.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

So just is God to right the innocent.

HASTINGS

O, ’twas the foulest deed to slay that babe,
185 And the most merciless that e'er was heard of!

HASTINGS

O, ’twas the foulest deed to slay that babe,
And the most merciless that e'er was heard of!

RIVERS

Tyrants themselves wept when it was reported.

RIVERS

Tyrants themselves wept when it was reported.

DORSET

No man but prophesied revenge for it.

DORSET

No man but prophesied revenge for it.

BUCKINGHAM

Northumberland, then present, wept to see it.

BUCKINGHAM

Northumberland, then present, wept to see it.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, were you snarling all before I came,
190 Ready to catch each other by the throat,
And turn you all your hatred now on me?
Did York’s dread curse prevail so much with heaven
That Henry’s death, my Lovelly Edward’s death,
Their kingdom’s loss, my woeful banishment,
195 Could all but answer for that peevish brat?
Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven?
Why then, give way, dull clouds, to my quick curses!
Though not by war, by surfeit die your king,
As ours by murder to make him a king.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, were you snarling all before I came,
Ready to catch each other by the throat,
And turn you all your hatred now on me?
Did York’s dread curse prevail so much with heaven
That Henry’s death, my Lovelly Edward’s death,
Their kingdom’s loss, my woeful banishment,
Could all but answer for that peevish brat?
Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven?
Why then, give way, dull clouds, to my quick curses!
Though not by war, by surfeit die your king,
As ours by murder to make him a king.

QUEEN MARGARET

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
Edward thy son, that now is Prince of Wales,
For Edward our son, that was Prince of Wales,
Die in his youth by like untimely violence.
Thyself a queen, for me that was a queen,
205 Outlive thy glory, like my wretched self.
Long mayst thou live to wail thy children’s death
And see another, as I see thee now,
Decked in thy rights, as thou art stalled in mine.
Long die thy happy days before thy death,
210 And, after many lengthened hours of grief,
Die neither mother, wife, nor England’s queen.—
Rivers and Dorset, you were standers-by,
And so wast thou, Lord Hastings, when my son
Was stabbed with bloody daggers. God I pray Him
215 That none of you may live his natural age,
But by some unlooked accident cut off.

QUEEN MARGARET

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
Edward thy son, that now is Prince of Wales,
For Edward our son, that was Prince of Wales,
Die in his youth by like untimely violence.
Thyself a queen, for me that was a queen,
Outlive thy glory, like my wretched self.
Long mayst thou live to wail thy children’s death
And see another, as I see thee now,
Decked in thy rights, as thou art stalled in mine.
Long die thy happy days before thy death,
And, after many lengthened hours of grief,
Die neither mother, wife, nor England’s queen.—
Rivers and Dorset, you were standers-by,
And so wast thou, Lord Hastings, when my son
Was stabbed with bloody daggers. God I pray Him
That none of you may live his natural age,
But by some unlooked accident cut off.

RICHARD

Have done thy charm, thou hateful, withered hag.

RICHARD

Have done thy charm, thou hateful, withered hag.

QUEEN MARGARET

And leave out thee? Stay, dog, for thou shalt hear me.
If heaven have any grievous plague in store
220 Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee,
O, let them keep it till thy sins be ripe
And then hurl down their indignation
On thee, the troubler of the poor world’s peace.
The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul.
225 Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv’st,
And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends.
No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine,
Unless it be while some tormenting dream
Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils.

QUEEN MARGARET

And leave out thee? Stay, dog, for thou shalt hear me.
If heaven have any grievous plague in store
Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee,
O, let them keep it till thy sins be ripe
And then hurl down their indignation
On thee, the troubler of the poor world’s peace.
The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul.
Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv’st,
And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends.
No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine,
Unless it be while some tormenting dream
Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils.

QUEEN MARGARET

230 Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog,
Thou that wast sealed in thy nativity
The slave of nature and the son of hell,
Thou slander of thy heavy mother’s womb,
Thou loathèd issue of thy father’s loins,
235 Thou rag of honor, thou detested—

QUEEN MARGARET

Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog,
Thou that wast sealed in thy nativity
The slave of nature and the son of hell,
Thou slander of thy heavy mother’s womb,
Thou loathèd issue of thy father’s loins,
Thou rag of honor, thou detested—

RICHARD

     Margaret.

RICHARD

     Margaret.

QUEEN MARGARET

Richard!

QUEEN MARGARET

Richard!

RICHARD

   Ha?

RICHARD

   Ha?

QUEEN MARGARET

I call thee not.

QUEEN MARGARET

I call thee not.

RICHARD

I cry thee mercy, then, for I did think
That thou hadst called me all these bitter names.

RICHARD

I cry thee mercy, then, for I did think
That thou hadst called me all these bitter names.

QUEEN MARGARET

240 Why, so I did, but looked for no reply.
O, let me make the period to my curse!

QUEEN MARGARET

Why, so I did, but looked for no reply.
O, let me make the period to my curse!

RICHARD

'Tis done by me, and ends in “Margaret.”

RICHARD

'Tis done by me, and ends in “Margaret.”

QUEEN ELIZABETH

(to QUEEN MARGARET)
Thus have you breathed your curse against yourself.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

(to QUEEN MARGARET)
Thus have you breathed your curse against yourself.

QUEEN MARGARET

245 Poor painted queen, vain flourish of my fortune,
Why strew’st thou sugar on that bottled spider,
Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about?
Fool, fool, thou whet’st a knife to kill thyself.
The day will come that thou shalt wish for me
250 To help thee curse that poisonous bunch-backed toad.

QUEEN MARGARET

Poor painted queen, vain flourish of my fortune,
Why strew’st thou sugar on that bottled spider,
Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about?
Fool, fool, thou whet’st a knife to kill thyself.
The day will come that thou shalt wish for me
To help thee curse that poisonous bunch-backed toad.

HASTINGS

False-boding woman, end thy frantic curse,
Lest to thy harm thou move our patience.

HASTINGS

False-boding woman, end thy frantic curse,
Lest to thy harm thou move our patience.

QUEEN MARGARET

Foul shame upon you, you have all moved mine.

QUEEN MARGARET

Foul shame upon you, you have all moved mine.

RIVERS

Were you well served, you would be taught your duty.

RIVERS

Were you well served, you would be taught your duty.

QUEEN MARGARET

255 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!

QUEEN MARGARET

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!

DORSET

(to RIVERS) Dispute not with her; she is lunatic.

DORSET

(to RIVERS) Dispute not with her; she is lunatic.

QUEEN MARGARET

Peace, Master Marquess, you are malapert.
260 Your fire-new stamp of honor 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.

QUEEN MARGARET

Peace, Master Marquess, you are malapert.
Your fire-new stamp of honor 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.

RICHARD

265 Good counsel, marry. —Learn it, learn it, marquess.

RICHARD

Good counsel, marry. —Learn it, learn it, marquess.

DORSET

It touches you, my lord, as much as me.

DORSET

It touches you, my lord, as much as me.

RICHARD

Ay, and much more; but I was born so high.
Our aerie buildeth in the cedar’s top,
And dallies with the wind and scorns the sun.

RICHARD

Ay, and much more; but I was born so high.
Our aerie buildeth in the cedar’s top,
And dallies with the wind and scorns the sun.

QUEEN MARGARET

270 And turns the sun to shade. Alas, alas,
Witness my son, now in the shade of death,
Whose bright out-shining beams thy cloudy wrath
Hath in eternal darkness folded up.
Your aerie buildeth in our aerie’s nest.
275 O God, that seest it, do not suffer it!
As it was won with blood, lost be it so.

QUEEN MARGARET

And turns the sun to shade. Alas, alas,
Witness my son, now in the shade of death,
Whose bright out-shining beams thy cloudy wrath
Hath in eternal darkness folded up.
Your aerie buildeth in our aerie’s nest.
O God, that seest it, do not suffer it!
As it was won with blood, lost be it so.

BUCKINGHAM

Peace, peace, for shame, if not for charity.

BUCKINGHAM

Peace, peace, for shame, if not for charity.

QUEEN MARGARET

Urge neither charity nor shame to me.
(addressing the others)
280 Uncharitably with me have you dealt,
And shamefully my hopes by you are butchered.
My charity is outrage, life my shame,
And in that shame still live my sorrows' rage.

QUEEN MARGARET

Urge neither charity nor shame to me.
(addressing the others)
Uncharitably with me have you dealt,
And shamefully my hopes by you are butchered.
My charity is outrage, life my shame,
And in that shame still live my sorrows' rage.

BUCKINGHAM

Have done, have done.

BUCKINGHAM

Have done, have done.

QUEEN MARGARET

285 O princely Buckingham, I’ll kiss thy hand
In sign of league and amity with thee.
Now fair befall thee and thy noble house!
Thy garments are not spotted with our blood,
Nor thou within the compass of my curse.

QUEEN MARGARET

O princely Buckingham, I’ll kiss thy hand
In sign of league and amity with thee.
Now fair befall thee and thy noble house!
Thy garments are not spotted with our blood,
Nor thou within the compass of my curse.

BUCKINGHAM

290 Nor no one here, for curses never pass
The lips of those that breathe them in the air.

BUCKINGHAM

Nor no one here, for curses never pass
The lips of those that breathe them in the air.

QUEEN MARGARET

I will not think but they ascend the sky,
And there awake God’s gentle-sleeping peace.
(aside to BUCKINGHAM)
295 O Buckingham, take heed of yonder dog!
Look when he fawns, he bites; and when he bites,
His venom tooth will rankle to the death.
Have not to do with him. Beware of him.
Sin, death, and hell have set their marks on him,
300 And all their ministers attend on him.

QUEEN MARGARET

I will not think but they ascend the sky,
And there awake God’s gentle-sleeping peace.
(aside to BUCKINGHAM)
O Buckingham, take heed of yonder dog!
Look when he fawns, he bites; and when he bites,
His venom tooth will rankle to the death.
Have not to do with him. Beware of him.
Sin, death, and hell have set their marks on him,
And all their ministers attend on him.

RICHARD

What doth she say, my lord of Buckingham?

RICHARD

What doth she say, my lord of Buckingham?

BUCKINGHAM

Nothing that I respect, my gracious lord.

BUCKINGHAM

Nothing that I respect, my gracious lord.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, dost thou scorn me for my gentle counsel,
And soothe the devil that I warn thee from?
305 O, but remember this another day,
When he shall split thy very heart with sorrow,
And say poor Margaret was a prophetess.—
Live each of you the subjects to his hate,
And he to yours, and all of you to God’s.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, dost thou scorn me for my gentle counsel,
And soothe the devil that I warn thee from?
O, but remember this another day,
When he shall split thy very heart with sorrow,
And say poor Margaret was a prophetess.—
Live each of you the subjects to his hate,
And he to yours, and all of you to God’s.
Exit
Exit

HASTINGS

310 My hair doth stand an end to hear her curses.

HASTINGS

My hair doth stand an end to hear her curses.

RIVERS

And so doth mine. I muse why she’s at liberty.

RIVERS

And so doth mine. I muse why she’s at liberty.

RICHARD

I cannot blame her. By God’s holy mother,
She hath had too much wrong, and I repent
My part thereof that I have done to her.

RICHARD

I cannot blame her. By God’s holy mother,
She hath had too much wrong, and I repent
My part thereof that I have done to her.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

315 I never did her any, to my knowledge.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

I never did her any, to my knowledge.

RICHARD

Yet you have all the vantage of her wrong.
I was too hot to do somebody good
That is too cold in thinking of it now.
Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid;
320 He is franked up to fatting for his pains.
God pardon them that are the cause thereof.

RICHARD

Yet you have all the vantage of her wrong.
I was too hot to do somebody good
That is too cold in thinking of it now.
Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid;
He is franked up to fatting for his pains.
God pardon them that are the cause thereof.

RIVERS

A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion
To pray for them that have done scathe to us.

RIVERS

A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion
To pray for them that have done scathe to us.

RICHARD

So do I ever (aside) being well-advised,
325 For had I cursed now, I had cursed myself.

RICHARD

So do I ever (aside) being well-advised,
For had I cursed now, I had cursed myself.
Enter CATESBY
Enter CATESBY

CATESBY

Madam, his majesty doth call for you,—
And for your Grace, —and yours, my gracious lords.

CATESBY

Madam, his majesty doth call for you,—
And for your Grace, —and yours, my gracious lords.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Catesby, I come. —Lords, will you go with me?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Catesby, I come. —Lords, will you go with me?

RIVERS

We wait upon your Grace.

RIVERS

We wait upon your Grace.
Exeunt all but RICHARD , Duke of Gloucester
Exeunt all but RICHARD , Duke of Gloucester

RICHARD

330 I do the wrong, and first begin to brawl.
The secret mischiefs that I set abroach
I lay unto the grievous charge of others.
Clarence, whom I indeed have cast in darkness,
I do beweep to many simple gulls,
335 Namely, to Derby, Hastings, Buckingham,
And tell them ’tis the queen and her allies
That stir the king against the duke my brother.
Now they believe it and withal whet me
To be revenged on Rivers, Dorset, Grey;
340 But then I sigh and, with a piece of scripture,
Tell them that God bids us do good for evil;
And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With odd old ends stolen out of Holy Writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.

RICHARD

I do the wrong, and first begin to brawl.
The secret mischiefs that I set abroach
I lay unto the grievous charge of others.
Clarence, whom I indeed have cast in darkness,
I do beweep to many simple gulls,
Namely, to Derby, Hastings, Buckingham,
And tell them ’tis the queen and her allies
That stir the king against the duke my brother.
Now they believe it and withal whet me
To be revenged on Rivers, Dorset, Grey;
But then I sigh and, with a piece of scripture,
Tell them that God bids us do good for evil;
And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With odd old ends stolen out of Holy Writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.
Enter two MURDERERS
Enter two MURDERERS
345 But, soft! here come my executioners.—
How now, my hardy, stout, resolvèd mates?
Are you now going to dispatch this thing?
But, soft! here come my executioners.—
How now, my hardy, stout, resolvèd mates?
Are you now going to dispatch this thing?

FIRST MURDERER

We are, my lord, and come to have the warrant
That we may be admitted where he is.

FIRST MURDERER

We are, my lord, and come to have the warrant
That we may be admitted where he is.

RICHARD

350 Well thought upon. I have it here about me.
He gives a paper
When you have done, repair to Crosby Place.
But, sirs, be sudden in the execution,
Withal obdurate; do not hear him plead,
355 For Clarence is well-spoken and perhaps
May move your hearts to pity if you mark him.

RICHARD

Well thought upon. I have it here about me.
He gives a paper
When you have done, repair to Crosby Place.
But, sirs, be sudden in the execution,
Withal obdurate; do not hear him plead,
For Clarence is well-spoken and perhaps
May move your hearts to pity if you mark him.

FIRST MURDERER

Tut, tut, my lord, we will not stand to prate.
Talkers are no good doers. Be assured
We go to use our hands and not our tongues.

FIRST MURDERER

Tut, tut, my lord, we will not stand to prate.
Talkers are no good doers. Be assured
We go to use our hands and not our tongues.

RICHARD

360 Your eyes drop millstones, when fools' eyes drop tears.
I like you lads. About your business straight.
Go, go, dispatch.

RICHARD

Your eyes drop millstones, when fools' eyes drop tears.
I like you lads. About your business straight.
Go, go, dispatch.

MURDERERS

We will, my noble lord.

MURDERERS

We will, my noble lord.
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH , Lord Marquess of DORSET , Lord RIVERS, and Lord GREY
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH , Lord Marquess of DORSET , Lord RIVERS, and Lord GREY

RIVERS

Have patience, madam. There’s no doubt his majesty
Will soon recover his accustomed health.

RIVERS

Have patience, madam. There’s no doubt his majesty
Will soon recover his accustomed health.

GREY

In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse.
Therefore, for God’s sake, entertain good comfort
5 And cheer his grace with quick and merry eyes.

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.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

If he were dead, what would betide on me?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

If he were dead, what would betide on me?

RIVERS

No other harm but loss of such a lord.

RIVERS

No other harm but loss of such a lord.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

The loss of such a lord includes all harms.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

The loss of such a lord includes all harms.

GREY

The heavens have blessed you with a goodly son
10 To be your comforter when he is gone.

GREY

The heavens have blessed you with a goodly son
To be your comforter when he is gone.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

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.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

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.

RIVERS

Is it concluded that he shall be Protector?

RIVERS

Is it concluded that he shall be Protector?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

15 It is determined, not concluded yet;
But so it must be if the king miscarry.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

It is determined, not concluded yet;
But so it must be if the king miscarry.
Enter BUCKINGHAM and Lord STANLEY , Earl of Derby
Enter BUCKINGHAM and Lord STANLEY , Earl of Derby

GREY

Here comes the lord of Buckingham, and Derby.

GREY

Here comes the lord of Buckingham, and Derby.

BUCKINGHAM

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Good time of day unto your royal Grace.

BUCKINGHAM

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Good time of day unto your royal Grace.

STANLEY

20 God make your Majesty joyful, as you have been.

STANLEY

God make your Majesty joyful, as you have been.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

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, assured
25 I hate not you for her proud arrogance.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

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, assured
I hate not you for her proud arrogance.

STANLEY

I do beseech you either not believe
The envious slanders of her false accusers,
Or if she be accused in true report,
Bear with her weakness, which I think proceeds
30 From wayward sickness and no grounded malice.

STANLEY

I do beseech you either not believe
The envious slanders of her false accusers,
Or if she be accused in true report,
Bear with her weakness, which I think proceeds
From wayward sickness and no grounded malice.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Saw you the king today, my lord of Derby?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Saw you the king today, my lord of Derby?

STANLEY

But now the duke of Buckingham and I
Are come from visiting his majesty.

STANLEY

But now the duke of Buckingham and I
Are come from visiting his majesty.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What likelihood of his amendment, lords?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

What likelihood of his amendment, lords?

BUCKINGHAM

35 Madam, good hope. His grace speaks cheerfully.

BUCKINGHAM

Madam, good hope. His grace speaks cheerfully.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

God grant him health. Did you confer with him?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

God grant him health. Did you confer with him?

BUCKINGHAM

Ay, madam. He desires to make atonement
Betwixt the duke of Gloucester and your brothers,
And betwixt them and my Lord Chamberlain,
40 And sent to warn them to his royal presence.

BUCKINGHAM

Ay, madam. He desires to make atonement
Betwixt the duke of Gloucester and your brothers,
And betwixt them and my Lord Chamberlain,
And sent to warn them to his royal presence.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Would all were well—but that will never be.
I fear our happiness is at the height.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Would all were well—but that will never be.
I fear our happiness is at the height.
Enter RICHARD , Duke of Gloucester, and HASTINGS
Enter RICHARD , Duke of Gloucester, and HASTINGS

RICHARD

They do me wrong, and I will not endure it!
Who is it that complains unto the king
45 That I, forsooth, am stern and love them not?
By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly
That fill his ears with such dissentious rumors.
Because I cannot flatter and look fair,
Smile in men’s faces, smooth, deceive and cog,
50 Duck with French nods and apish courtesy,
I must be held a rancorous enemy.
Cannot a plain man live and think no harm,
But thus his simple truth must be abused
With silken, sly, insinuating jacks?

RICHARD

They do me wrong, and I will not endure it!
Who is it that complains unto the king
That I, forsooth, am stern and love them not?
By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly
That fill his ears with such dissentious rumors.
Because I cannot flatter and look fair,
Smile in men’s faces, smooth, deceive and cog,
Duck with French nods and apish courtesy,
I must be held a rancorous enemy.
Cannot a plain man live and think no harm,
But thus his simple truth must be abused
With silken, sly, insinuating jacks?

RIVERS

55 To whom in all this presence speaks your Grace?

RIVERS

To whom in all this presence speaks your Grace?

RICHARD

To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace.
When have I injured thee? When done thee wrong?—
Or thee?—Or thee? Or any of your faction?
A plague upon you all! His royal grace,
60 Whom God preserve better than you would wish,
Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing while
But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.

RICHARD

To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace.
When have I injured thee? When done thee wrong?—
Or thee?—Or thee? Or any of your faction?
A plague upon you all! His royal grace,
Whom God preserve better than you would wish,
Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing while
But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Brother of Gloucester, you mistake the matter.
The king, on his own royal disposition,
65 And not provoked by any suitor else,
Aiming belike at your interior hatred
That in your outward actions shows itself
Against my children, brothers, and myself,
Makes him to send, that he may learn the ground.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Brother of Gloucester, you mistake the matter.
The king, on his own royal disposition,
And not provoked by any suitor else,
Aiming belike at your interior hatred
That in your outward actions shows itself
Against my children, brothers, and myself,
Makes him to send, that he may learn the ground.

RICHARD

70 I cannot tell. The world is grown so bad
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.
Since every jack became a gentleman,
There’s many a gentle person made a jack.

RICHARD

I cannot tell. The world is grown so bad
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.
Since every jack became a gentleman,
There’s many a gentle person made a jack.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloucester.
75 You envy my advancement, and my friends'.
God grant we never may have need of you.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloucester.
You envy my advancement, and my friends'.
God grant we never may have need of you.

RICHARD

Meantime God grants that we have need of you.
Our brother is imprisoned by your means,
Myself disgraced, and the nobility
80 Held in contempt, while great promotions
Are daily given to ennoble those
That scarce some two days since were worth a noble.

RICHARD

Meantime God grants that we have need of you.
Our brother is imprisoned by your means,
Myself disgraced, 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.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

By Him that raised me to this careful height
From that contented hap which I enjoyed,
85 I never did incense his majesty
Against the duke of Clarence, but have been
An earnest advocate to plead for him.
My lord, you do me shameful injury
Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

By Him that raised me to this careful height
From that contented hap which I enjoyed,
I never did incense his majesty
Against the duke of Clarence, but have been
An earnest advocate to plead for him.
My lord, you do me shameful injury
Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.

RICHARD

90 You may deny that you were not the mean
Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment.

RICHARD

You may deny that you were not the mean
Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment.

RIVERS

She may, my lord, for—

RIVERS

She may, my lord, for—

RICHARD

She may, Lord Rivers. Why, who knows not so?
She may do more, sir, than denying that.
95 She may help you to many fair preferments
And then deny her aiding hand therein,
And lay those honors on your high desert.
What may she not? She may, ay, marry, may she—

RICHARD

She may, Lord Rivers. Why, who knows not so?
She 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 honors on your high desert.
What may she not? She may, ay, marry, may she—

RIVERS

What, marry, may she?

RIVERS

What, marry, may she?

RICHARD

100 What, marry, may she? Marry with a king,
A bachelor, a handsome stripling too.
I wis, your grandam had a worser match.

RICHARD

What, marry, may she? Marry with a king,
A bachelor, a handsome stripling too.
I wis, your grandam had a worser match.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

My Lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne
Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs.
105 By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty
With those gross taunts that oft I have endured.
I had rather be a country servant-maid
Than a great queen with this condition,
To be so baited, scorned, and stormèd at.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

My Lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne
Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs.
By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty
With those gross taunts that oft I have endured.
I had rather be a country servant-maid
Than a great queen with this condition,
To be so baited, scorned, and stormèd at.
Enter old QUEEN MARGARET , apart from others
Enter old QUEEN MARGARET , apart from others
110 Small joy have I in being England’s queen.
Small joy have I in being England’s queen.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) And lessened be that small, God I beseech Him!
Thy honor, state, and seat is due to me.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) And lessened be that small, God I beseech Him!
Thy honor, state, and seat is due to me.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) What, threat you me with telling of the king?
Tell him, and spare not. Look, what I have said,
115 I will avouch ’t in presence of the king;
I dare adventure to be sent to th' Tower.
'Tis time to speak. My pains are quite forgot.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) What, threat you me with telling of the king?
Tell him, and spare not. Look, what I have said,
I will avouch ’t in presence of the king;
I dare adventure to be sent to th' Tower.
'Tis time to speak. My pains are quite forgot.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Out, devil! I do remember them too well:
Thou killed’st my husband Henry in the Tower,
120 And Edward, my poor son, at Tewkesbury.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Out, devil! I do remember them too well:
Thou killed’st my husband Henry in the Tower,
And Edward, my poor son, at Tewkesbury.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king,
I was a packhorse in his great affairs,
A weeder-out of his proud adversaries,
A liberal rewarder of his friends.
125 To royalize his blood, I spent mine own.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king,
I was a packhorse in his great affairs,
A weeder-out of his proud adversaries,
A liberal rewarder of his friends.
To royalize his blood, I spent mine own.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Ay, and much better blood than his or thine.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Ay, and much better blood than his or thine.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) 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
130 In Margaret’s battle at Saint Albans slain?
Let me put in your minds, if you forget,
What you have been ere this, and what you are;
Withal, what I have been, and what I am.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) 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
In Margaret’s battle at Saint Albans slain?
Let me put in your minds, if you forget,
What you have been ere this, and what you are;
Withal, what I have been, and what I am.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) A murd'rous villain, and so still thou art.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) A murd'rous villain, and so still thou art.

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Poor Clarence did forsake his father Warwick,
Ay, and forswore himself—which Jesu pardon!—

RICHARD

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH) Poor Clarence did forsake his father Warwick,
Ay, and forswore himself—which Jesu pardon!—

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Which God revenge!

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Which God revenge!

RICHARD

To fight on Edward’s party for the crown;
And for his meed, poor lord, he is mewed up.
140 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.

RICHARD

To fight on Edward’s party for the crown;
And for his meed, poor lord, he is mewed 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.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave the world,
Thou cacodemon! There thy kingdom is.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave the world,
Thou cacodemon! There thy kingdom is.

RIVERS

145 My Lord of Gloucester, in those busy days
Which here you urge to prove us enemies,
We followed then our lord, our sovereign king.
So should we you, if you should be our king.

RIVERS

My Lord of Gloucester, in those busy days
Which here you urge to prove us enemies,
We followed then our lord, our sovereign king.
So should we you, if you should be our king.

RICHARD

If I should be? I had rather be a peddler.
150 Far be it from my heart, the thought thereof.

RICHARD

If I should be? I had rather be a peddler.
Far be it from my heart, the thought thereof.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

As little joy, my lord, as you suppose
You should enjoy were you this country’s king,
As little joy may you suppose in me
That I enjoy, being the queen thereof.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

As little joy, my lord, as you suppose
You should enjoy were you this country’s king,
As little joy may you suppose in me
That I enjoy, being the queen thereof.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) As little joy enjoys the queen thereof,
For I am she, and altogether joyless.
I can no longer hold me patient.

QUEEN MARGARET

(aside) As little joy enjoys the queen thereof,
For I am she, and altogether joyless.
I can no longer hold me patient.
She steps forward
She steps forward
Hear me, you wrangling pirates, that fall out
In sharing that which you have pilled from me!
160 Which of you trembles not that looks on me?
If not, that I am queen, you bow like subjects,
Yet that, by you deposed, you quake like rebels.—
Ah, gentle villain, do not turn away.
Hear me, you wrangling pirates, that fall out
In sharing that which you have pilled from me!
Which of you trembles not that looks on me?
If not, that I am queen, you bow like subjects,
Yet that, by you deposed, you quake like rebels.—
Ah, gentle villain, do not turn away.

RICHARD

Foul, wrinkled witch, what mak’st thou in my sight?

RICHARD

Foul, wrinkled witch, what mak’st thou in my sight?

QUEEN MARGARET

165 But repetition of what thou hast marred.
That will I make before I let thee go.

QUEEN MARGARET

But repetition of what thou hast marred.
That will I make before I let thee go.

RICHARD

Wert thou not banishèd on pain of death?

RICHARD

Wert thou not banishèd on pain of death?

QUEEN MARGARET

I was, but I do find more pain in banishment
Than death can yield me here by my abode.
170 A husband and a son thou ow’st to me;
(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
And thou a kingdom; —all of you, allegiance.
The sorrow that I have by right is yours,
And all the pleasures you usurp are mine.

QUEEN MARGARET

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;
(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
And thou a kingdom; —all of you, allegiance.
The sorrow that I have by right is yours,
And all the pleasures you usurp are mine.

RICHARD

175 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,
And then, to dry them, gav’st the duke a clout
Steeped in the faultless blood of pretty Rutland—
180 His curses then, from bitterness of soul
Denounced against thee, are all fall'n upon thee,
And God, not we, hath plagued thy bloody deed.

RICHARD

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,
And then, to dry them, gav’st the duke a clout
Steeped in the faultless blood of pretty Rutland—
His curses then, from bitterness of soul
Denounced against thee, are all fall'n upon thee,
And God, not we, hath plagued thy bloody deed.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

So just is God to right the innocent.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

So just is God to right the innocent.

HASTINGS

O, ’twas the foulest deed to slay that babe,
185 And the most merciless that e'er was heard of!

HASTINGS

O, ’twas the foulest deed to slay that babe,
And the most merciless that e'er was heard of!

RIVERS

Tyrants themselves wept when it was reported.

RIVERS

Tyrants themselves wept when it was reported.

DORSET

No man but prophesied revenge for it.

DORSET

No man but prophesied revenge for it.

BUCKINGHAM

Northumberland, then present, wept to see it.

BUCKINGHAM

Northumberland, then present, wept to see it.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, were you snarling all before I came,
190 Ready to catch each other by the throat,
And turn you all your hatred now on me?
Did York’s dread curse prevail so much with heaven
That Henry’s death, my Lovelly Edward’s death,
Their kingdom’s loss, my woeful banishment,
195 Could all but answer for that peevish brat?
Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven?
Why then, give way, dull clouds, to my quick curses!
Though not by war, by surfeit die your king,
As ours by murder to make him a king.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, were you snarling all before I came,
Ready to catch each other by the throat,
And turn you all your hatred now on me?
Did York’s dread curse prevail so much with heaven
That Henry’s death, my Lovelly Edward’s death,
Their kingdom’s loss, my woeful banishment,
Could all but answer for that peevish brat?
Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven?
Why then, give way, dull clouds, to my quick curses!
Though not by war, by surfeit die your king,
As ours by murder to make him a king.

QUEEN MARGARET

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
Edward thy son, that now is Prince of Wales,
For Edward our son, that was Prince of Wales,
Die in his youth by like untimely violence.
Thyself a queen, for me that was a queen,
205 Outlive thy glory, like my wretched self.
Long mayst thou live to wail thy children’s death
And see another, as I see thee now,
Decked in thy rights, as thou art stalled in mine.
Long die thy happy days before thy death,
210 And, after many lengthened hours of grief,
Die neither mother, wife, nor England’s queen.—
Rivers and Dorset, you were standers-by,
And so wast thou, Lord Hastings, when my son
Was stabbed with bloody daggers. God I pray Him
215 That none of you may live his natural age,
But by some unlooked accident cut off.

QUEEN MARGARET

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
Edward thy son, that now is Prince of Wales,
For Edward our son, that was Prince of Wales,
Die in his youth by like untimely violence.
Thyself a queen, for me that was a queen,
Outlive thy glory, like my wretched self.
Long mayst thou live to wail thy children’s death
And see another, as I see thee now,
Decked in thy rights, as thou art stalled in mine.
Long die thy happy days before thy death,
And, after many lengthened hours of grief,
Die neither mother, wife, nor England’s queen.—
Rivers and Dorset, you were standers-by,
And so wast thou, Lord Hastings, when my son
Was stabbed with bloody daggers. God I pray Him
That none of you may live his natural age,
But by some unlooked accident cut off.

RICHARD

Have done thy charm, thou hateful, withered hag.

RICHARD

Have done thy charm, thou hateful, withered hag.

QUEEN MARGARET

And leave out thee? Stay, dog, for thou shalt hear me.
If heaven have any grievous plague in store
220 Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee,
O, let them keep it till thy sins be ripe
And then hurl down their indignation
On thee, the troubler of the poor world’s peace.
The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul.
225 Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv’st,
And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends.
No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine,
Unless it be while some tormenting dream
Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils.

QUEEN MARGARET

And leave out thee? Stay, dog, for thou shalt hear me.
If heaven have any grievous plague in store
Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee,
O, let them keep it till thy sins be ripe
And then hurl down their indignation
On thee, the troubler of the poor world’s peace.
The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul.
Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv’st,
And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends.
No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine,
Unless it be while some tormenting dream
Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils.

QUEEN MARGARET

230 Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog,
Thou that wast sealed in thy nativity
The slave of nature and the son of hell,
Thou slander of thy heavy mother’s womb,
Thou loathèd issue of thy father’s loins,
235 Thou rag of honor, thou detested—

QUEEN MARGARET

Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog,
Thou that wast sealed in thy nativity
The slave of nature and the son of hell,
Thou slander of thy heavy mother’s womb,
Thou loathèd issue of thy father’s loins,
Thou rag of honor, thou detested—

RICHARD

     Margaret.

RICHARD

     Margaret.

QUEEN MARGARET

Richard!

QUEEN MARGARET

Richard!

RICHARD

   Ha?

RICHARD

   Ha?

QUEEN MARGARET

I call thee not.

QUEEN MARGARET

I call thee not.

RICHARD

I cry thee mercy, then, for I did think
That thou hadst called me all these bitter names.

RICHARD

I cry thee mercy, then, for I did think
That thou hadst called me all these bitter names.

QUEEN MARGARET

240 Why, so I did, but looked for no reply.
O, let me make the period to my curse!

QUEEN MARGARET

Why, so I did, but looked for no reply.
O, let me make the period to my curse!

RICHARD

'Tis done by me, and ends in “Margaret.”

RICHARD

'Tis done by me, and ends in “Margaret.”

QUEEN ELIZABETH

(to QUEEN MARGARET)
Thus have you breathed your curse against yourself.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

(to QUEEN MARGARET)
Thus have you breathed your curse against yourself.

QUEEN MARGARET

245 Poor painted queen, vain flourish of my fortune,
Why strew’st thou sugar on that bottled spider,
Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about?
Fool, fool, thou whet’st a knife to kill thyself.
The day will come that thou shalt wish for me
250 To help thee curse that poisonous bunch-backed toad.

QUEEN MARGARET

Poor painted queen, vain flourish of my fortune,
Why strew’st thou sugar on that bottled spider,
Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about?
Fool, fool, thou whet’st a knife to kill thyself.
The day will come that thou shalt wish for me
To help thee curse that poisonous bunch-backed toad.

HASTINGS

False-boding woman, end thy frantic curse,
Lest to thy harm thou move our patience.

HASTINGS

False-boding woman, end thy frantic curse,
Lest to thy harm thou move our patience.

QUEEN MARGARET

Foul shame upon you, you have all moved mine.

QUEEN MARGARET

Foul shame upon you, you have all moved mine.

RIVERS

Were you well served, you would be taught your duty.

RIVERS

Were you well served, you would be taught your duty.

QUEEN MARGARET

255 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!

QUEEN MARGARET

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!

DORSET

(to RIVERS) Dispute not with her; she is lunatic.

DORSET

(to RIVERS) Dispute not with her; she is lunatic.

QUEEN MARGARET

Peace, Master Marquess, you are malapert.
260 Your fire-new stamp of honor 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.

QUEEN MARGARET

Peace, Master Marquess, you are malapert.
Your fire-new stamp of honor 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.

RICHARD

265 Good counsel, marry. —Learn it, learn it, marquess.

RICHARD

Good counsel, marry. —Learn it, learn it, marquess.

DORSET

It touches you, my lord, as much as me.

DORSET

It touches you, my lord, as much as me.

RICHARD

Ay, and much more; but I was born so high.
Our aerie buildeth in the cedar’s top,
And dallies with the wind and scorns the sun.

RICHARD

Ay, and much more; but I was born so high.
Our aerie buildeth in the cedar’s top,
And dallies with the wind and scorns the sun.

QUEEN MARGARET

270 And turns the sun to shade. Alas, alas,
Witness my son, now in the shade of death,
Whose bright out-shining beams thy cloudy wrath
Hath in eternal darkness folded up.
Your aerie buildeth in our aerie’s nest.
275 O God, that seest it, do not suffer it!
As it was won with blood, lost be it so.

QUEEN MARGARET

And turns the sun to shade. Alas, alas,
Witness my son, now in the shade of death,
Whose bright out-shining beams thy cloudy wrath
Hath in eternal darkness folded up.
Your aerie buildeth in our aerie’s nest.
O God, that seest it, do not suffer it!
As it was won with blood, lost be it so.

BUCKINGHAM

Peace, peace, for shame, if not for charity.

BUCKINGHAM

Peace, peace, for shame, if not for charity.

QUEEN MARGARET

Urge neither charity nor shame to me.
(addressing the others)
280 Uncharitably with me have you dealt,
And shamefully my hopes by you are butchered.
My charity is outrage, life my shame,
And in that shame still live my sorrows' rage.

QUEEN MARGARET

Urge neither charity nor shame to me.
(addressing the others)
Uncharitably with me have you dealt,
And shamefully my hopes by you are butchered.
My charity is outrage, life my shame,
And in that shame still live my sorrows' rage.

BUCKINGHAM

Have done, have done.

BUCKINGHAM

Have done, have done.

QUEEN MARGARET

285 O princely Buckingham, I’ll kiss thy hand
In sign of league and amity with thee.
Now fair befall thee and thy noble house!
Thy garments are not spotted with our blood,
Nor thou within the compass of my curse.

QUEEN MARGARET

O princely Buckingham, I’ll kiss thy hand
In sign of league and amity with thee.
Now fair befall thee and thy noble house!
Thy garments are not spotted with our blood,
Nor thou within the compass of my curse.

BUCKINGHAM

290 Nor no one here, for curses never pass
The lips of those that breathe them in the air.

BUCKINGHAM

Nor no one here, for curses never pass
The lips of those that breathe them in the air.

QUEEN MARGARET

I will not think but they ascend the sky,
And there awake God’s gentle-sleeping peace.
(aside to BUCKINGHAM)
295 O Buckingham, take heed of yonder dog!
Look when he fawns, he bites; and when he bites,
His venom tooth will rankle to the death.
Have not to do with him. Beware of him.
Sin, death, and hell have set their marks on him,
300 And all their ministers attend on him.

QUEEN MARGARET

I will not think but they ascend the sky,
And there awake God’s gentle-sleeping peace.
(aside to BUCKINGHAM)
O Buckingham, take heed of yonder dog!
Look when he fawns, he bites; and when he bites,
His venom tooth will rankle to the death.
Have not to do with him. Beware of him.
Sin, death, and hell have set their marks on him,
And all their ministers attend on him.

RICHARD

What doth she say, my lord of Buckingham?

RICHARD

What doth she say, my lord of Buckingham?

BUCKINGHAM

Nothing that I respect, my gracious lord.

BUCKINGHAM

Nothing that I respect, my gracious lord.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, dost thou scorn me for my gentle counsel,
And soothe the devil that I warn thee from?
305 O, but remember this another day,
When he shall split thy very heart with sorrow,
And say poor Margaret was a prophetess.—
Live each of you the subjects to his hate,
And he to yours, and all of you to God’s.

QUEEN MARGARET

What, dost thou scorn me for my gentle counsel,
And soothe the devil that I warn thee from?
O, but remember this another day,
When he shall split thy very heart with sorrow,
And say poor Margaret was a prophetess.—
Live each of you the subjects to his hate,
And he to yours, and all of you to God’s.
Exit
Exit

HASTINGS

310 My hair doth stand an end to hear her curses.

HASTINGS

My hair doth stand an end to hear her curses.

RIVERS

And so doth mine. I muse why she’s at liberty.

RIVERS

And so doth mine. I muse why she’s at liberty.

RICHARD

I cannot blame her. By God’s holy mother,
She hath had too much wrong, and I repent
My part thereof that I have done to her.

RICHARD

I cannot blame her. By God’s holy mother,
She hath had too much wrong, and I repent
My part thereof that I have done to her.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

315 I never did her any, to my knowledge.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

I never did her any, to my knowledge.

RICHARD

Yet you have all the vantage of her wrong.
I was too hot to do somebody good
That is too cold in thinking of it now.
Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid;
320 He is franked up to fatting for his pains.
God pardon them that are the cause thereof.

RICHARD

Yet you have all the vantage of her wrong.
I was too hot to do somebody good
That is too cold in thinking of it now.
Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid;
He is franked up to fatting for his pains.
God pardon them that are the cause thereof.

RIVERS

A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion
To pray for them that have done scathe to us.

RIVERS

A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion
To pray for them that have done scathe to us.

RICHARD

So do I ever (aside) being well-advised,
325 For had I cursed now, I had cursed myself.

RICHARD

So do I ever (aside) being well-advised,
For had I cursed now, I had cursed myself.
Enter CATESBY
Enter CATESBY

CATESBY

Madam, his majesty doth call for you,—
And for your Grace, —and yours, my gracious lords.

CATESBY

Madam, his majesty doth call for you,—
And for your Grace, —and yours, my gracious lords.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Catesby, I come. —Lords, will you go with me?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Catesby, I come. —Lords, will you go with me?

RIVERS

We wait upon your Grace.

RIVERS

We wait upon your Grace.
Exeunt all but RICHARD , Duke of Gloucester
Exeunt all but RICHARD , Duke of Gloucester

RICHARD

330 I do the wrong, and first begin to brawl.
The secret mischiefs that I set abroach
I lay unto the grievous charge of others.
Clarence, whom I indeed have cast in darkness,
I do beweep to many simple gulls,
335 Namely, to Derby, Hastings, Buckingham,
And tell them ’tis the queen and her allies
That stir the king against the duke my brother.
Now they believe it and withal whet me
To be revenged on Rivers, Dorset, Grey;
340 But then I sigh and, with a piece of scripture,
Tell them that God bids us do good for evil;
And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With odd old ends stolen out of Holy Writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.

RICHARD

I do the wrong, and first begin to brawl.
The secret mischiefs that I set abroach
I lay unto the grievous charge of others.
Clarence, whom I indeed have cast in darkness,
I do beweep to many simple gulls,
Namely, to Derby, Hastings, Buckingham,
And tell them ’tis the queen and her allies
That stir the king against the duke my brother.
Now they believe it and withal whet me
To be revenged on Rivers, Dorset, Grey;
But then I sigh and, with a piece of scripture,
Tell them that God bids us do good for evil;
And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With odd old ends stolen out of Holy Writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.
Enter two MURDERERS
Enter two MURDERERS
345 But, soft! here come my executioners.—
How now, my hardy, stout, resolvèd mates?
Are you now going to dispatch this thing?
But, soft! here come my executioners.—
How now, my hardy, stout, resolvèd mates?
Are you now going to dispatch this thing?

FIRST MURDERER

We are, my lord, and come to have the warrant
That we may be admitted where he is.

FIRST MURDERER

We are, my lord, and come to have the warrant
That we may be admitted where he is.

RICHARD

350 Well thought upon. I have it here about me.
He gives a paper
When you have done, repair to Crosby Place.
But, sirs, be sudden in the execution,
Withal obdurate; do not hear him plead,
355 For Clarence is well-spoken and perhaps
May move your hearts to pity if you mark him.

RICHARD

Well thought upon. I have it here about me.
He gives a paper
When you have done, repair to Crosby Place.
But, sirs, be sudden in the execution,
Withal obdurate; do not hear him plead,
For Clarence is well-spoken and perhaps
May move your hearts to pity if you mark him.

FIRST MURDERER

Tut, tut, my lord, we will not stand to prate.
Talkers are no good doers. Be assured
We go to use our hands and not our tongues.

FIRST MURDERER

Tut, tut, my lord, we will not stand to prate.
Talkers are no good doers. Be assured
We go to use our hands and not our tongues.

RICHARD

360 Your eyes drop millstones, when fools' eyes drop tears.
I like you lads. About your business straight.
Go, go, dispatch.

RICHARD

Your eyes drop millstones, when fools' eyes drop tears.
I like you lads. About your business straight.
Go, go, dispatch.

MURDERERS

We will, my noble lord.

MURDERERS

We will, my noble lord.
Exeunt
Exeunt
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