Page:Richard III (1927) Yale.djvu/69

Richard the Third, II. iv

I could have given my uncle's grace a flout,

To touch his growth nearer than he touch'd mine.

Duch. How, my young York? I prithee, let me hear it

York. Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast,

That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old:

'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.

Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.

Duch. I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this?

York. Grandam, his nurse.

Duch. His nurse! why, she was dead ere thou wast born.

York. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

Q. Eliz. A parlous boy: go to, you are too shrewd.

Duch. Good madam, be net angry with the child.

Q. Eliz. Pitchers have ears.

Arch. Here comes a messenger. What news?

Mess. Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report.

Q. Eliz. How doth the prince?

Mess. Well, madam, and in health.

Duch. What is thy news?

Mess. Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,

With them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

Duch. Who hath committed them?

Mess. The mighty dukes,

Gloucester and Buckingham.

Arch. For what offence?

Mess. The sum of all I can I nave disclos'd:

Why, or for what, the nobles were committed

Is all unknown to me, my gracious lord.

 28 Cf. n.

35 parlous: clever, keen

37 Pitchers; cf. n.

S. d. Cf. n.

