tide, as her mother doth. Say, I will love her everlastingly. But how long shall that title 'ever' last? Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end. But how long fairly shall her sweet lie last? So long as heaven and nature lengthens it. So long as hell and Richard likes of it. Say, I, her sovereign, am her subject love. But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty. Be eloquent in my behalf to her. An honest tale speeds best being plainly told. Then in plain terms tell her my loving tale. Plain and not honest is too harsh a style. Your reasons are too shallow and too quick. O no, my reasons are too deep and dead; Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave. Harp not on that string, madam; that is past. Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break. Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown,-- Profaned, dishonour'd, and the third usurp'd. I swear-- By nothing; for this is no oath: The George, profaned, hath lost his holy honour; The garter, blemish'd, pawn'd his knightly virtue; The crown, usurp'd, disgraced his kingly glory. if something thou wilt swear to be believed, Swear then by something that thou hast not wrong'd. Now, by the world-- 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs. My father's death-- Thy life hath that dishonour'd. Then, by myself-- Thyself thyself misusest. Why then, by God-- God's wrong is most of all. If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him, The unity the king thy brother made Had not been broken, nor my brother slain: If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him, The imperial metal, circling now thy brow, Had graced the tender temples of my child, And both the princes had been breathing here, Which now, two tender playfellows to dust, Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms. What canst thou swear by now? The time to come. That thou hast wronged in the time o'erpast; For I myself have many tears to wash Hereafter time, for time past wrong'd by thee. The children live, whose parents thou hast slaughter'd, Ungovern'd youth, to wail it in their age; The parents live, whose children thou hast butcher'd, Old wither'd plants, to wail it with their age. Swear not by time to come; for that thou hast Misused ere used, by time misused o'erpast. As I intend to prosper and repent, So thrive I in my dangerous attempt Of hostile arms! myself myself confound! Heaven