Page:Richard II (1921) Yale.djvu/83

King Richard the Second, III. iv

What Eve, what serpent, hath suggested thee

To make a second fall of cursed man?

Why dost thou say King Richard is depos'd?

Dar'st thou, thou little better thing than earth,

Divine his downfall? Say, where, when, and how

Cam'st thou by these ill tidings? speak, thou wretch.

Gard. Pardon me, madam: little joy have I

To breathe these news, yet what I say is true.

King Richard, he is in the mighty hold

Of Bolingbroke; their fortunes both are weigh'd:

In your lord's scale is nothing but himself,

And some few vanities that make him light;

But in the balance of great Bolingbroke,

Besides himself, are all the English peers,

And with that odds he weighs King Richard down.

Post you to London and you'll find it so;

I speak no more than every one doth know.

Queen. Nimble mischance, that art so light of foot,

Doth not thy embassage belong to me,

And am I last that knows it? O! thou think'st

To serve me last, that I may longest keep

Thy sorrow in my breast. Come, ladies, go,

To meet at London London's king in woe.

What! was I born to this, that my sad look

Should grace the triumph of great Bolingbroke?

Gardener, for telling me these news of woe,

Pray God the plants thou graft'st may never grow.

Exeunt [Queen and Ladies].

Gard. Poor queen! so that thy state might be no worse,

I would my skill were subject to thy curse.

 75 suggested: tempted

79 Divine: prophesy

83 hold: grasp

93 embassage: errand

