Cursed the blood that let this blood from hence! 16
More direful hap betide that hated wretch,
That makes us wretched by the death of thee,
Than I can wish to wolves, to spiders, toads,
Or any creeping venom'd thing that lives! 20
If ever he have child, abortive be it,
Prodigious, and untimely brought to light,
Whose ugly and unnatural aspect
May fright the hopeful mother at the view; 24
And that be heir to his unhappiness!
If ever he have wife, let her be made
More miserable by the death of him
Than I am made by my young lord and thee! 28
Come, now towards Chertsey with your holy load,
Taken from Paul's to be interred there;
And still, as you are weary of this weight,
Rest you, whiles I lament King Henry's corse. 32
Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester.
Rich. Stay, you that bear the corse, and set it down.
Anne. What black magician conjures up this fiend,
To stop devoted charitable deeds?
Rich. Villains! set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul, 36
I'll make a corse of him that disobeys.
[First] Gent. My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass.
Rich. Unmanner'd dog! stand'st thou when I command?
Advance thy halberd higher than my breast, 40
17 hap: fortune
19 wolves; cf. n.
22 Prodigious: abnormal, monstrous
25 unhappiness: disposition to mischief
29 Chertsey; cf. n.
34 black magician: i.e. one in league with the devil
35 devoted: devout
40 halberd: a spear with a cutting blade
