And spurn upon thee, beggar, for thy boldness. For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell, Provokes this deluge most unnatural. O God, which this blood mad'st, revenge his death! Anne. Vouchsafe, diffus'd infection of a man, 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 No excuse current, but to hang thyself. [make Anne. And, by despairing, shalt thou stand excus'd; For doing worthy vengeance on thyself, Glo. By such despair, I should accuse myself. That didst unworthy slaughter upon others. Glo. Say, that I slew them not? Anne. Why then, they are not dead: Why, then he is alive. Glo. I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue, Glo. I grant ye. Anne. Dost grant me, hedge-hog? then, God grant me Thou may'st be damned for that wicked deed! O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous. [too, 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. Is not the causer of the timeless deaths Of these Plantagenets, Henry, and Edward, Anne. Thou wast the cause, and most accurs'd effect. Glo. Your beauty was the cause of that effect; Your beauty, which did haunt me in my sleep, To undertake the death of all the world, So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom. Anne. If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide, These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks. Glo. These eyes could 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. [life! To be reveng'd on him that loveth thee. Anne. His better doth not breathe upon the earth. Why, that was he. Glo. The self-same name, but one of better nature. Anne. Where is he? [spit at me? Glo. Here: [She spits at him] Why dost thou Anne. 'Would it were mortal poison, for thy sake! Glo. Never came poison from so sweet a place. Anne. Never hung poison on a fouler toad. Out of my sight! thou dost infect mine eyes. Glo. Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine. Anne. 'Would they were basilisks, to strike thee dead! Glo. I would they were, that I might die at once; For now they kill me with a living death. Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt tears, Sham'd their aspects with store of childish drops: These eyes, which never shed remorseful tear, And twenty times made pause, to sob, and weep, My tongue could never learn sweet soothing word; My proud heart sues, and prompts my tongue to speak. 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;- 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. [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 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 accessary. Glo. "Tis figur'd in My tongue. Anne. I fear me, both are false. Glo. Then men Were never true. Anne. Well, well, put up your sword. Glo. But shall I live in hope? Anne. All men, Hereafter. I hope, live so. Glo. Vouchsafe to wear this ring. Anne. To take, is not to give. [She puts on the Ring. But beg one favour at thy gracious hand, Glo. That it may please you leave these sad designs Anne. With all my heart! and much it joys me too, To see you are become so penitent. Tressel, and Berkley, go along with me. Glo. Bid me farewell, 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 Berkley. |