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field。 Exeunt
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KING RICHARD III
SCENE 4。
London。 Before the palace
Enter old QUEEN MARGARET
QUEEN MARGARET。 So now prosperity begins to mellow And
drop into the rotten mouth of death。 Here in these confines slily have I
lurk'd To watch the waning of mine enemies。 A dire induction am I witness
to； And will to France； hoping the consequence Will prove as bitter； black；
and tragical。 Withdraw thee； wretched Margaret。 Who comes here？
＇Retires＇
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the DUCHESS OF YORK
QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Ah； my poor princes！ ah； my tender babes！
My unblown flowers； new…appearing sweets！ If yet your gentle souls fly in
the air And be not fix'd in doom perpetual； Hover about me with your airy
wings And hear your mother's lamentation。 QUEEN MARGARET。 Hover
about her； say that right for right Hath dimm'd your infant morn to aged
night。 DUCHESS。 So many miseries have craz'd my voice That my woe…
wearied tongue is still and mute。 Edward Plantagenet； why art thou dead？
QUEEN MARGARET。 Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet； Edward for
Edward pays a dying debt。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Wilt thou； O God； fly
from such gentle lambs And throw them in the entrails of the wolf？ When
didst thou sleep when such a deed was done？ QUEEN MARGARET。
When holy Harry died； and my sweet son。 DUCHESS。 Dead life； blind
sight； poor mortal living ghost； Woe's scene； world's shame； grave's due by
life usurp'd； Brief abstract and record of tedious days； Rest thy unrest on
England's lawful earth； ＇Sitting down＇ Unlawfully made drunk with
innocent blood。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Ah； that thou wouldst as soon
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 we？
＇Sitting down by her＇ QUEEN MARGARET。 ＇Coming forward＇ If ancient
sorrow be most reverend； Give mine the benefit of seniory； And let my
griefs frown on the upper hand。 If sorrow can admit society； ＇Sitting down
with them＇ Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine。 I had an Edward；
till a Richard kill'd him； I had a husband； till a Richard kill'd him： Thou
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KING RICHARD III
hadst an Edward； till a Richard kill'd him； Thou hadst a Richard； till a
Richard kill'd him。 DUCHESS。 I had a Richard too； and thou didst kill
him； I had a Rutland too； thou holp'st to kill him。 QUEEN MARGARET。
Thou hadst a Clarence too； and Richard kill'd him。 From forth the kennel
of thy womb hath crept A hell…hound that doth hunt us all to death。 That
dog； that had his teeth before his eyes To worry lambs and lap their gentle
blood； That foul defacer of God's handiwork； That excellent grand tyrant
of the earth That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls； Thy womb let
loose to chase us to our graves。 O upright； just； and true…disposing God；
How do I thank thee that this carnal cur Preys on the issue of his mother's
body And makes her pew…fellow with others' moan！ DUCHESS。 O Harry's
wife； triumph not in my woes！ God witness with me； I have wept for thine。
QUEEN MARGARET。 Bear with me； I am hungry for revenge； And now
I cloy me with beholding it。 Thy Edward he is dead； that kill'd my Edward；
The other Edward dead； to quit my Edward； Young York he is but boot；
because both they Match'd not the high perfection of my loss。 Thy
Clarence he is dead that stabb'd my Edward； And the beholders of this
frantic play； Th' adulterate Hastings； Rivers； Vaughan； Grey； Untimely
smother'd in their dusky graves。 Richard yet lives； hell's black
intelligencer； Only reserv'd their factor to buy souls And send them thither。
But at hand； at hand； Ensues his piteous and unpitied end。 Earth gapes；
hell burns； fiends roar； saints pray； To have him suddenly convey'd from
hence。 Cancel his bond of life； dear God； I pray； That I may live and say
'The dog is dead。' QUEEN ELIZABETH。 O； thou didst prophesy the time
would come That I should wish for thee to help me curse That bottled
spider； that foul bunch…back'd toad！ QUEEN MARGARET。 I Call'd thee
then vain flourish of my fortune； I call'd thee then poor shadow； painted
queen； The presentation of but what I was； The flattering index of a direful
pageant； One heav'd a…high to be hurl'd down below； A mother only
mock'd with two fair babes； A dream of what thou wast； a garish flag To
be the aim of every dangerous shot； A sign of dignity； a breath； a bubble； A
queen in jest； only to fill the scene。 Where is thy husband now？ Where be
thy brothers？ Where be thy two sons？ Wherein dost thou joy？ Who sues；
and kneels； and says 'God save the Queen'？ Where be the bending peers
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that flattered thee？ Where be the thronging troops that followed thee？
Decline an this； and see what now thou art： For happy wife； a most
distressed widow； For joyful mother； one that wails the name； For one
being su'd to； one that humbly sues； For Queen； a very caitiff crown'd with
care； For she that scorn'd at me； now scorn'd of me； For she being fear'd of
all； now fearing one； For she commanding all； obey'd of none。 Thus hath
the course of justice whirl'd about And left thee but a very prey to time；
Having no more but thought of what thou wast To torture thee the more；
being what thou art。 Thou didst usurp my place； and dost thou not Usurp
the just proportion of my sorrow？ Now thy proud neck bears half my
burden'd yoke； From which even here I slip my weary head And leave the
burden of it all on thee。 Farewell； York's wife； and queen of sad mischance；
These English woes shall make me smile in France。 QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 O thou well skill'd in curses； stay awhile And teach me how
to curse mine enemies！ QUEEN MARGARET。 Forbear to sleep the nights；
and fast the days； Compare dead happiness with living woe； Think that thy
babes were sweeter than they were； And he that slew them fouler than he
is。 Bett'ring thy loss makes the bad…causer worse； Revolving this will
teach thee how to curse。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 My words are dull； O；