The which thou once didst bend against her breast,
But that thy brothers beat aside the point. 96
Rich. I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue,
That laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders.
Anne. Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind,
That never dreamt on aught but butcheries. 100
Didst thou not kill this king?
Rich. I grant ye.
Anne. Dost grant me, hedge-hog? Then, God grant me too
Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed! 104
O! he was gentle, mild, and virtuous!
Rich. The better for the King of heaven that hath him.
Anne. He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come.
Rich. Let him thank me, that holp to send him thither; 108
For he was fitter for that place than earth.
Anne. And thou unfit for any place but hell.
Rich. Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it.
Anne. Some dungeon.
Rich. Your bed-chamber. 112
Anne. Ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest!
Rich. So will it, madam, till I lie with you.
Anne. I hope so.
Rich. I know so. But, gentle Lady Anne,
To leave this keen encounter of our wits, 116
And fall something into a slower method,
Is not the causer of the timeless deaths
Of these Plantagenets, Henry and Edward.
As blameful as the executioner? 120
95 bend: direct, aim
103 hedge-hog; cf. n.
108 holp: helped
113 betide: befall
117 slower: more deliberate
118 timeless: untimely
