Page:Richard III (1927) Yale.djvu/24

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Anne. Villain, thou know'st nor law of God nor man:

No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity.

Rich. But I know none, and therefore am no beast.

Anne. O, wonderful, when devils tell the truth!

Rich. More wonderful when angels are so angry.

Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman,

Of these supposed crimes, to give me leave,

By circumstance, but to acquit myself.

Anne. Vouchsafe, diffus'd infection of man,

Of these known evils, but to give me leave,

By circumstance, to curse thy cursed self.

Rich. Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have

Some patient leisure to excuse myself.

Anne. Fouler than heart can think thee, thou canst make

No excuse current, but to hang thyself.

Rich. By such despair I should accuse myself.

Anne. And by despairing shalt thou stand excus'd

For doing worthy vengeance on thyself,

That didst unworthy slaughter upon others.

Rich. Say that I slew them not.

Anne. Then say they were not slain:

But dead they are, and, devilish slave, by thee.

Rich. I did not kill your husband.

Anne. Why, then he is alive.

Rich. Nay, he is dead; and slain by Edward's hand.

Anne. In thy foul throat thou liest: Queen Margaret saw

Thy murd'rous falchion smoking in his blood;

 70 nor nor: neither  nor

71 touch: sensation, feeling

76 crimes; cf. n.

77 circumstance: circumstantial evidence

but: only

78 diffus'd: disorderly (?); cf. n.

79 Of; ''cf. n.''

82 patient: tranquil

84 current: sterling, genuine

92 Edward's hand; cf. n.

94 falchion: curved sword

