My lord, you do me shameful injury,
Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.
GLOUCESTER You may deny that you were not the cause
Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment.
RIVERS She may, my lord, for--
GLOUCESTER 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 deserts.
What may she not? She may, yea, marry, may she--
RIVERS What, marry, may she?
GLOUCESTER 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:
By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty
With those gross taunts I often have endured.
I had rather be a country servant-maid
Than a great queen, with this condition,
To be thus taunted, scorn'd, and baited at:
[Enter QUEEN MARGARET, behind]
Small joy have I in being England's queen.
QUEEN MARGARET And lessen'd be that small, God, I beseech thee!
Thy honour, state and seat is due to me.
GLOUCESTER 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.
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