RICHARD.
’Tis done by me, and ends in “Margaret”.
QUEEN ELIZABETH.
Thus have you breathed your curse against yourself.
QUEEN MARGARET.
Poor painted queen, vain flourish of my fortune,
Why strew’st thou sugar on that bottled spider,
Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about?
Fool, fool; thou whet’st a knife to kill thyself.
The day will come that thou shalt wish for me
To help thee curse this poisonous bunch-backed toad.
HASTINGS.
False-boding woman, end thy frantic curse,
Lest to thy harm thou move our patience.
QUEEN MARGARET.
Foul shame upon you, you have all moved mine.
RIVERS.
Were you well served, you would be taught your duty.
QUEEN MARGARET.
To serve me well, you all should do me duty:
Teach me to be your queen, and you my subjects.
O, serve me well, and teach yourselves that duty!
DORSET.
Dispute not with her; she is lunatic.
QUEEN MARGARET.
Peace, Master Marquess, you are malapert.
Your fire-new stamp of honour is scarce current.
O, that your young nobility could judge
What ’twere to lose it and be miserable!
They that stand high have many blasts to shake them,
And if they fall they dash themselves to pieces.
RICHARD.
Good counsel, marry. Learn it, learn it, Marquess.