Heard you not what a humble suppliant
Lord Hastings was for her delivery?
Rich. Humbly complaining to her deity 76
Got my lord chamberlain his liberty.
I'll tell you what; I think it is our way,
If we will keep in favour with the king,
To be her men and wear her livery: 80
The jealous o'erworn widow and herself,
Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen,
Are mighty gossips in our monarchy.
Brak. I beseech your Graces both to pardon me; 84
His majesty hath straitly given in charge
That no man shall have private conference,
Of what degree soever, with your brother.
Rich. Even so; an 't please your worship, Brakenbury, 88
You may partake of anything we say:
We speak no treason, man: we say the king
Is wise and virtuous, and his noble queen
Well struck in years, fair, and not jealous; 92
We say that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot,
A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue;
And that the queen's kindred are made gentlefolks.
How say you, sir? can you deny all this? 96
Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do.
Rich. Naught to do with Mistress Shore! I tell thee, fellow,
He that doth naught with her, excepting one,
Were best to do it secretly, alone. 100
75 her delivery: her deliverance of him; cf. n.
78 way: course
81 o'erworn: faded; cf. n.
82 dubb'd: i.e. invested them with the position of
83 gossips: meddlesome cronies
85 straitly: strictly
87 degree: rank
88 an 't; cf. n.
92 Well struck: advanced; cf. n. on 81 above
94 bonny: pleasant, comely
passing: exceedingly
99 naught: wickedness
