And, by that knot, looks proudly on the crown, Enter CATESBY. Cate. My lord, K. Rich. Good news or bad, that thou com'st in so bluntly? Cate. Bad news, my lord: Ely is fled to Richmond; And Buckingham, backed with the hardy Welsh men, Is in the field, and still his power increaseth. K. Rich. Ely with Richmond troubles me more near Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength. Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary: Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king! Come, muster men: my counsel is my shield; [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Before the Palace. Enter Queen Margaret. Q. Mar. So, now prosperity begins to mellow And will to France; hoping the consequence Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret: who comes here? Enter Queen ELIZABETH and the Duchess of YORK. Q. Eliz. Ah, my young princes! ah, my tender babes! My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets! Q. Mar. [Aside] Hover about her; say, that right for right Hath dimmed your infant morn to agéd night. Duch. So many miseries have crazed my voice, That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute. Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead? Q. Mar. [Aside] Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet, Edward for Edward pays a dying debt. Q. Eliz. Wilt Thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs, And throw them in the entrails of the wolf? my sweet son. Duch. Blind sight, dead life, poor mortal living ghost, Woe's scene, world's shame, grave's due by life. usurped, Brief abstract and record of tedious days, Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth, Unlawfully made drunk with innocents' blood! Q. Eliz. Ah, that thou wouldst as well afford a grave As thou canst yield a melancholy seat! Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here. Ah, who hath any cause to mourn but I? [Sitting down by her. Q. Mar. [Coming forward] If ancient sorrow be most reverend, Give mine the benefit of seniory, And let my griefs frown on the upper hand. [Sitting down with them. Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard killed him ; Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him. Duch. I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill him; I had a Rutland too, thou holp'st to kill him. From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan! Duch. O Harry's wife, triúmph not in my woes ! God witness with me, I have wept for thine. Q. Mar. Bear with me; I am hungry for revenge, The adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey, Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray, Q. Eliz. O, thou didst prophesy the time,would come That I should wish for thee to help me curse I called thee then poor shadow, painted queen; The flattering index of a direful pageant; To be the aim of every dangerous shot; Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke, Farewell, York's wife, and queen of sad mischance : These English woes will make me smile in France. Q. Eliz. O thou well skilled in curses, stay awhile, And teach me how to curse mine enemies! Q. Mar. Forbear to sleep the night, and fast the day; Compare dead happiness with living woe; Think that thy babes were fairer than they were, |