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myself。 ANNE。 Vouchsafe； diffus'd infection of a man； Of these known
evils but to give me leave By circumstance to accuse thy cursed self。
GLOUCESTER。 Fairer than tongue can name thee； let me have Some
patient leisure to excuse myself。 ANNE。 Fouler than heart can think thee；
thou canst make No excuse current but to hang thyself。 GLOUCESTER。
By such despair I should accuse myself。 ANNE。 And by despairing shalt
thou stand excused For doing worthy vengeance on thyself That didst
unworthy slaughter upon others。 GLOUCESTER。 Say that I slew them not？
ANNE。 Then say they were not slain。 But dead they are； and； devilish
slave； by thee。 GLOUCESTER。 I did not kill your husband。 ANNE。 Why；
then he is alive。 GLOUCESTER。 Nay； he is dead； and slain by Edward's
hands。 ANNE。 In thy foul throat thou liest： Queen Margaret saw Thy
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murd'rous falchion smoking in his blood； The which thou once didst bend
against her breast； But that thy brothers beat aside the point。
GLOUCESTER。 I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue That laid their
guilt upon my guiltless shoulders。 ANNE。 Thou wast provoked by thy
bloody mind； That never dream'st on aught but butcheries。 Didst thou not
kill this king？ GLOUCESTER。 I grant ye。 ANNE。 Dost grant me；
hedgehog？ Then； God grant me to Thou mayst be damned for that wicked
deed！ O； he was gentle； mild； and virtuous！ GLOUCESTER。 The better
for the King of Heaven； that hath him。 ANNE。 He is in heaven； where thou
shalt never come。 GLOUCESTER。 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。 GLOUCESTER。 Yes； one place else； if you
will hear me name it。 ANNE。 Some dungeon。 GLOUCESTER。 Your bed…
chamber。 ANNE。 Ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest！
GLOUCESTER。 So will it； madam； till I lie with you。 ANNE。 I hope so。
GLOUCESTER。 I know so。 But； gentle Lady Anne； To leave this keen
encounter of our wits； And fall something into a slower method… Is not the
causer of the timeless deaths Of these Plantagenets； Henry and Edward； As
blameful as the executioner？ ANNE。 Thou wast the cause and most
accurs'd effect。 GLOUCESTER。 Your beauty was the cause of that effect…
Your beauty that 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。 GLOUCESTER。 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。 ANNE。 Black night
o'ershade thy day； and death thy life！ GLOUCESTER。 Curse not thyself；
fair creature； thou art both。 ANNE。 I would I were； to be reveng'd on thee。
GLOUCESTER。 It is a quarrel most unnatural； To be reveng'd on him that
loveth thee。 ANNE。 It is a quarrel just and reasonable； To be reveng'd on
him that kill'd my husband。 GLOUCESTER。 He that bereft thee； lady； of
thy husband Did it to help thee to a better husband。 ANNE。 His better doth
not breathe upon the earth。 GLOUCESTER。 He lives that loves thee better
than he could。 ANNE。 Name him。 GLOUCESTER。 Plantagenet。 ANNE。
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Why； that was he。 GLOUCESTER。 The self…same name； but one of better
nature。 ANNE。 Where is he？ GLOUCESTER。 Here。 ＇She spits at him＇
Why dost thou spit at me？ ANNE。 Would it were mortal poison； for thy
sake！ GLOUCESTER。 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。 GLOUCESTER。 Thine eyes； sweet lady； have infected mine。
ANNE。 Would they were basilisks to strike thee dead！ GLOUCESTER。 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； No； when my father York and Edward wept To hear the
piteous moan that Rutland made When black…fac'd Clifford shook his
sword at him； Nor when thy warlike father； like a child； Told the sad story
of my father's death； And twenty times made pause to sob and weep That
all the standers…by had wet their cheeks Like trees bedash'd with rain…in
that sad time My manly eyes did scorn an humble tear； And what these
sorrows could not thence exhale Thy beauty hath； and made them blind
with weeping。 I never sued to friend nor enemy； My tongue could never
learn sweet smoothing word； But； now thy beauty is propos'd my fee； My
proud heart sues； and prompts my tongue to speak。 ＇She looks scornfully
at him＇ Teach not thy lip such scorn； for it was made For kissing； lady； not
for such contempt。 If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive； Lo here I lend
thee this sharp…pointed sword； Which if thou please to hide in this true
breast And let the soul forth that adoreth thee； 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… But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me。 Nay； now dispatch； 'twas I
that stabb'd young Edward… But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on。
＇She falls 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。
GLOUCESTER。 Then bid me kill myself； and I will do it； ANNE。 I have
already。 GLOUCESTER。 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。
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ANNE。 I would I knew thy heart。 GLOUCESTER。 'Tis figur'd in my
tongue。 ANNE。 I fear me both are false。 GLOUCESTER。 Then never was
man true。 ANNE。 well put up your sword。 GLOUCESTER。 Say； then； my
peace is made。 ANNE。 That shalt thou know