Page 1124 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

RICHARD

I cannot tell; the world is grown so bad [70]
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.
Since every Jack became a gentleman
There’s many a gentle person made a jack.

ELIZABET H

Come, come: we know your meaning, brother Gloucester.
You envy my advancement, and my friends’. [75]
God grant we never may have need of you.

RICHARD

Meantime, God grants that we have need of you:
Our brother is imprison’d by your means,
Myself disgrac’d, and the nobility
Held in contempt, while great promotions [80]
Are daily given to ennoble those
That scarce some two days since were worth a noble.

ELIZABET H

By Him that rais’d me to this careful height
From that contented hap which I enjoy’d,
I never did incense his Majesty [85]
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.

RICHARD

You may deny that you were not the mean [90]
Of my Lord Hastings’ late imprisonment.

RIVERS

She may, my lord, for -

RICHARD

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, [95]
And then deny her aiding hand therein,