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Rich. I cannot tell; the world is grown so bad

That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch:

Since every Jack became a gentleman

There's many a gentle person made a Jack.

Q. Eliz. Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloucester;

You envy my advancement and my friends'.

God grant we never may have need of you!

Rich. Meantime, God grants that I have need of you:

Our brother is imprison'd by your means,

Myself disgrac'd, and the nobility

Held in contempt; while great promotions

Are daily given to ennoble those

That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble.

Q. Eliz. By him that rais'd me to this careful height

From that contented hap which I enjoy'd,

I never did incense his majesty

Against the Duke of Clarence, but have been

An earnest advocate to plead for him.

My lord, you do me shameful injury,

Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.

Rich. You may deny that you were not the mean

Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment.

Riv. She may, my lord; for—

Rich. She may, Lord Rivers! why, who knows not so?

She may do more, sir, than denying that:

She may help you to many fair preferments,

And then deny her aiding hand therein,

And lay those honours on your high desert.

 71 make prey: prey

77 have need of you: am in trouble because of you

82 noble: a coin, with quibble on the usual meaning

83 careful: full of cares

89 suspects: suspicions

90 mean: agent

95 preferments: promotions

