Queen. Good my lord, you who
Have power to guide your queen, may make our presence
Or full or empty, as you please.
Dec. Then with
Your licence, madam, they may all withdraw.
Queen. Not with our licence. If your usurped greatness
Will banish all attendance from our person,
I must remain alone; but not a man
Stir hence with our good liking.
Dec. If your will
(Averse from sober counsel) would submit
To safe advice——
Queen. You have instructed it
To more obedience than I guess my birth
Did e'er intend. But pray, my lord, teach me
To know my fault, and I will find amendment,
If not repentance, for it.
Dec. Then, great madam,
I must acquaint you that the supreme law
Of princes is the people's safety, which
You have infring'd, and drawn thereby into
The inward parts of this great state a most
Contagious fever.
Queen. Pray, no metaphor.
Dec. You have invited war to interrupt,
With its rude noise, the music of our peace:
A foreign enemy gathers the fruit
The sweat and labour of your subjects planted:
In the cool shadow of the vine we prun'd
He wantonly lies down, and roughly bids
The owner press the grape, that with the juice
His blood may swell up to lascivious heats.
Queen. My lord, I answer not th' effects of war;
But I must pay Castile all thankful service
For his fair charity.
Dec. Do you then, madam,
Reckon on mischief as a charity?