I hope he is, but mothers get to have their doubts.
YORK
Now, by my troth, if I had been remembered,
I could have given my uncle's grace a flout
25
To touch his growth nearer than he touched mine.
YORK
Hey, if I'd remembered something about him, I could have had a good comeback for my uncle, touching on his growth worse than he touched on mine.
DUCHESS
How, my pretty York? I prithee let me hear it.
DUCHESS
What would you have said, my young York? Do tell.
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.
30
Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.
YORK
Indeed, they say my uncle grew so fast that he could gnaw on a crust of bread when he was two hours old. It took me two years before I had a single tooth. Grandmother, this would have been a biting joke.
DUCHESS
I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this?
DUCHESS
Pretty York, who told you about his teeth?
YORK
Grandam, his nurse.
YORK
His nurse, grandmother.
DUCHESS
His nurse? Why, she was dead ere thou wast born.
DUCHESS
His nurse? Why, she was dead before you were even born.
YORK
If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.
YORK
Well, if it wasn't her, I don't know.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
35
A parlous boy! Go to, you are too shrewd.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
A mischievous child. Come, come, you are too clever for your own good.
DUCHESS
Good madam, be not angry with the child.
DUCHESS
Good lady, don't be angry with the child.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Pitchers have ears.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Little pitchers have big ears.
Enter a MESSENGER
A MESSENGER enters.
ARCHBISHOP
Here comes a messenger. —What news?
ARCHBISHOP
Here comes a messenger. What's the news?
MESSENGER
Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report.
MESSENGER
My lord, it's news I wish I didn't have to report.
