What may she not? She may,—ay, marry, may she,—
Riv. What, marry, may she?
Rich. What, marry, may she! marry with a king, 100
A bachelor and a handsome stripling too.
I wis your grandam had a worser match.
Q. Eliz. My Lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne
Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs; 104
By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty
Of those gross taunts that oft I have endur'd.
I had rather be a country servant-maid
Than a great queen, with this condition, 108
To be so baited, scorn'd, and stormed at:
Small joy have I in being England's queen.
Enter old Queen Margaret.
Q. Mar. [Aside.] And lessen'd be that small, God, I beseech him!
Thy honour, state, and seat is due to me. 112
Rich. What! threat you me with telling of the king?
[Tell him, and spare not: look, what I have said]
I will avouch 't in presence of the king:
I dare adventure to be sent to the Tower. 116
'Tis time to speak; my pains are quite forgot.
Q. Mar. [Aside.] Out, devil! I do remember them too well:
Thou kill'dst my husband Henry in the Tower,
And Edward, my poor son, at Tewkesbury. 120
Rich. Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king,
I was a pack-horse in his great affairs,
A weeder-out of his proud adversaries,
A liberal rewarder of his friends; 124
To royalize his blood I spent mine own.
109 baited: harassed
114–116 Cf. n.
115 avouch: maintain
116 adventure: venture
117 pains: labors
121 Ere . . . king; cf. n.
125 royalize: make royal
