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[She offers at his breast with his sword. But it was thy beauty that provoked me. Nay, now dispatch; 't was I that stabb'd young Edward,

[She again offers at his breast. But 't was thy heavenly face that set me on. [She lets fall the sword.

Take up the sword again, or take up me. Anne. Arise, dissembler: though I wish thy death,

I will not be thy executioner.

Glo. Then bid me kill myself, and 1 will
do it.
[Rises and takes up his sword.
Anne. I have already.
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 accessary.
Anne. I would I knew thy heart.

Glo. 'Tis figur'd in my tongue.
Anne. I fear me both are false.

Glo. Then never man was true.
Anne. Well, well, put up your sword.
Glo. Say, then, my peace is made.
Anne. That shalt thou know hereafter.
Glo. But shall I live in hope?
Anne. All men, I hope, live so.
Glo. Vouchsafe to wear this ring.
Anne. To take, is not to give.

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200

[She puts on the ring. Glo. Look, how this ring encompasseth thy finger,

Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart;

250

On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety?
On me, that halt, and am mis-shapen, thus?]
My dukedom to a beggarly denier,1
I do mistake my person all this while:
Upon my life, she finds, although I cannot,
Myself to be a marvellous proper? man.
I'll be at charges for3 a looking-glass;
And entertain a score or two of tailors
To study fashions to adorn my body:
Since I am crept in favour with myself,
I will maintain it with some little cost.
But first I'll turn yon fellow in3 his grave;
And then return lamenting to my love.-
Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass,
That I may see my shadow as I pass. [Exit.
SCENE III. The same. A room in the
palace.

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12

Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young; and his minority Is put unto the trust of Richard Gloster, A man that loves not me nor none of you. Rie. Is it concluded he shall be protector? Q. Eliz. It is determin'd, not concluded yet:7 But so it must be, if the king miscarry. Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and Stanley.

Enter BUCKINGHAM and STANLEY. Buck. Good time of day unto your royal grace! [Stan. God make your majesty joyful as you have been!

Q. Eliz. The Countess Richmond, good my Lord of Stanley,

20

To your good prayer will scarcely say amen. Yet, Stanley, notwithstanding she's your wife, And loves not me, be you, good lord, assur'd I hate not you for her proud arrogance.

Stan. I do beseech you, either not believe The envious slanders of her false accusers; Or, if she be accus'd on true report,

Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds

From wayward sickness, and no grounded; malice.]

Rie. Saw you the king to-day, my Lord of Stanley?

30

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 cheerfully.

Q. Eliz. God grant him health! Did you confer with him?

Buck. Ay, madam: he desires to make atonement9

Between the Duke of Gloster and your brothers,

And between them and my lord chamberlain; 10

And sent to warn them to his royal presence.

Determin'd, not concluded yet, resolved on, but not yet finally settled.

If the king miscarry, if ill befall the king, i.e. if the king die.

9 To make atonement, i.e. to bring about a reconciliation. 10 My lord chamberlain, i e. Hastings. 11 Warn, summon.

That wrens make 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 mean-
ing, brother Gloster;

You envy my advancement and my friends':
God grant we never may have need of you!
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 so
Are daily given to ennoble those

That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble.

Q. Eliz. By Him that rais'd me to this careful height1

From that contented hap2 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 in3 these vile suspects.1
Glo. You may deny that you were not the

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 condition,-
To be so baited, scorn'd, and stormed at:
[Enter Queen Margaret, behind.
Small joy have I in being England's queen.
[Q. Mar. [Aside] And lessen'd be that small,
God, I beseech him!

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5 Iwis, truly.

6 In Margaret's battle, on Margaret's side.