KING RICHARD III Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.
QUEEN ELIZABETH O no, my reasons are too deep and dead;
Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave.
KING RICHARD III Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break.
KING RICHARD III Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown,--
QUEEN ELIZABETH Profaned, dishonour'd, and the third usurp'd.
KING RICHARD III I swear--
QUEEN ELIZABETH By nothing; for this is no oath:
The George, profaned, hath lost his holy honour;
The garter, blemish'd, pawn'd his knightly virtue;
The crown, usurp'd, disgraced his kingly glory.
if something thou wilt swear to be believed,
Swear then by something that thou hast not wrong'd.
KING RICHARD III Now, by the world--
QUEEN ELIZABETH 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.
KING RICHARD III My father's death--
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thy life hath that dishonour'd.
KING RICHARD III Then, by myself--
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thyself thyself misusest.
KING RICHARD III Why then, by God--
QUEEN ELIZABETH God's wrong is most of all.
If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him,
The unity the king thy brother made
Had not been broken, nor my brother slain:
If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him,
The imperial metal, circling now thy brow,
Had graced the tender temples of my child,
And both the princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender playfellows to dust,
Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms.
Pages:
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113