King Richard III | Page 9

some two days since, were worth a noble.
QUEEN ELIZABETH. 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 An earnest
advocate to plead for him. My lord, you do me shameful injury Falsely
to draw me in these vile suspects.
GLOSTER. You may deny that you were not the mean Of my Lord
Hastings' late imprisonment.
RIVERS. She may, my lord; for,--
GLOSTER. 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
honours on your high desert. What may she not? She may,--ay, marry,
may she,--
RIVERS. What, marry, may she?
GLOSTER. What, marry, may she! marry with a king, A bachelor, and
a handsome stripling too: I wis your grandam had a worser match.
QUEEN ELIZABETH. 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 that oft I have endur'd. I had
rather be a country servant-maid Than a great queen with this
condition,-- To be so baited, scorn'd, and stormed at.
[Enter old QUEEN MARGARET, behind.]
Small joy have I in being England's queen.
QUEEN MARGARET. And lessen'd be that small, God, I beseech Him!
Thy honour, state, and seat, is due to me.
GLOSTER. What! Threat you me with telling of the king? Tell him,
and spare not: look what I have said I will avouch in presence of the
king: I dare adventure to be sent to the Tower. 'Tis time to speak,--my
pains are quite forgot.
QUEEN MARGARET. Out, devil! I do remember them too well: Thou
kill'dst my husband Henry in the Tower, And Edward, my poor son, at
Tewksbury.
GLOSTER. Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king, I was a
pack-horse in his great affairs; A weeder-out of his proud adversaries,
A liberal rewarder of his friends; To royalize his blood I spilt mine
own.
QUEEN MARGARET. Ay, and much better blood than his or thine.
GLOSTER. 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. A murderous villain, and so still thou art.
GLOSTER. Poor Clarence did forsake his father, Warwick; Ay, and
forswore himself,--which Jesu pardon!--
QUEEN MARGARET. Which God revenge!
GLOSTER. To fight on Edward's party for the crown; And for his
meed, poor lord, he is mew'd 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. Hie thee to hell for shame and leave this world,
Thou cacodemon! there thy kingdom is.
RIVERS. My Lord of Gloster, in those busy days Which here you urge
to prove us enemies, We follow'd then our lord, our sovereign king: So
should we you, if you should be our king.

GLOSTER. If I should be!--I had rather be a pedler: 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 you may
suppose in me, That I enjoy, being the queen thereof.
QUEEN MARGARET. As little joy enjoys the queen thereof; For I am
she, and altogether joyless. I can no longer hold me patient.--
[Advancing.]
Hear me, you wrangling pirates, that fall out In sharing that which you
have pill'd 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 depos'd,
you quake like rebels? Ah, gentle villain, do not turn away!
GLOSTER. Foul wrinkled witch, what mak'st thou in my sight?
QUEEN MARGARET. But repetition of what thou hast marr'd, That
will I make before I let thee go.
GLOSTER. Wert thou not banished 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. A husband and a son thou
ow'st to me,-- And thou a kingdom,--all of you allegiance: This sorrow
that I have, by right is yours; And all the pleasures you usurp are mine.
GLOSTER. 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;