Queen Margaret’s Monologue from Richard III, Act 4, Scene 4: "I called thee then vain flourish of my fortune"

Synopsis

Queen Margaret confronts Queen Elizabeth, who is now suffering the same losses and humiliation Margaret endured after the fall of the Lancasters. In this monologue, Margaret recounts Elizabeth’s previous mockery and power, contrasting it with her present sorrow and isolation. She reflects on the cyclical nature of fortune and justice, as Elizabeth now experiences the same grief Margaret has borne. The monologue ends with Margaret relinquishing her bitterness, leaving England and its turmoil behind.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Elizabeth, grieving the death of her two sons and the loss of her power, meets Margaret. Their shared grief creates a moment of confrontation. Margaret, once a queen herself, takes this opportunity to highlight the parallels between her own suffering and Elizabeth’s current plight. She delivers this speech as a mix of condemnation, reflection, and farewell.

Original Text

*"I called thee then vain flourish of my fortune;
I called thee then, poor shadow, painted queen,
The presentation of but what I was,
The flattering index of a direful pageant,
One heaved a-high, to be hurled down below,
A mother only mocked with two fair babes,
A dream of what thou wast, a garish flag
To be the aim of every dangerous shot,
A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble,
A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.

Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers?
Where be thy two sons? Wherein dost thou joy?
Who sues, and kneels, and says, ‘God save the Queen’?
Where be the bending peers that flattered thee?
Where be the thronging troops that followed thee?
Decline all this, and see what now thou art:
For happy wife, a most distressed widow;
For joyful mother, one that wails the name;
For one being sued to, one that humbly sues;
For queen, a very caitiff crowned with care;
For she that scorned at me, now scorned of me;
For she being feared of all, now fearing one;
For she commanding all, obeyed of none.

Thus hath the course of justice whirled about
And left thee but a very prey to time,
Having no more but thought of what thou wast
To torture thee the more, being what thou art.
Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not
Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?
Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke,
From which, even here I slip my wearied head
And leave the burden of it all on thee.

Farewell, York’s wife, and queen of sad mischance.
These English woes shall make me smile in France."*

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language

*"I once called you a fleeting display of my former fortune,
A pale imitation, a painted queen,
A shadow of what I once was,
A pretty introduction to a tragic play,
Lifted high only to be thrown back down,
A mother mocked by her two beautiful children,
A fleeting dream of what you were,
A gaudy flag meant to attract every attack,
A fake show of power, a breath, a bubble,
A queen in name only, meant to play a role.

Where is your husband now? Where are your brothers?
Where are your two sons? What brings you joy now?
Who kneels before you and says, ‘God save the Queen’?
Where are the flattering nobles?
Where are the crowds of followers?
Look at what you have become:
From a happy wife to a miserable widow;
From a joyful mother to one who mourns the word ‘mother’;
From someone others begged, to someone who must now beg;
From a queen to a pitiful creature weighed down by sorrow;
From someone who scorned me, to someone I now scorn;
From someone feared by all, to someone afraid of one;
From a commander of all, to someone no one obeys.

This is the justice of the world spinning around,
Leaving you prey to time,
With nothing but memories of what you once were
To torment you as you realize what you are now.
You stole my place, and now you steal my sorrow too.
Your proud neck now carries part of my burden,
And I cast off the rest, leaving it all to you.

Goodbye, wife of York, queen of misfortune.
I’ll go to France, where your English misery will bring me joy."*

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words

  • Vain flourish: A fleeting, showy display.

  • Painted queen: A false or superficial queen.

  • Direful pageant: A tragic, theatrical display.

  • Caitiff: A wretched, miserable person.

  • Decline all this: Acknowledge the loss of everything you once had.

  • Proportion of my sorrow: The appropriate share of grief.

  • Burdened yoke: A metaphorical weight or responsibility.

Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing with Acting Notes

  1. "I called thee then vain flourish of my fortune; I called thee then, poor shadow, painted queen, The presentation of but what I was..."
    Acting Note: Begin with reflective disdain. Margaret is recounting her past perceptions of Elizabeth, so this section should feel almost nostalgic, but dripping with bitterness.

  2. "Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers? Where be thy two sons? Wherein dost thou joy?"
    Acting Note: Shift to pointed interrogation. These rapid-fire questions should feel like verbal daggers, attacking Elizabeth’s sense of loss and hopelessness.

  3. "Decline all this, and see what now thou art: For happy wife, a most distressed widow; For joyful mother, one that wails the name..."
    Acting Note: Deliver this with a crescendo of emotion. Margaret compares Elizabeth’s former joy with her current misery, relishing in the justice of her downfall.

  4. "Thus hath the course of justice whirled about And left thee but a very prey to time..."
    Acting Note: Take on an almost philosophical tone. Margaret reflects on the inevitability of fate and justice, showcasing her grim satisfaction.

  5. "Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?"
    Acting Note: This line is deeply personal. Play it with a mix of anger and triumph as Margaret accuses Elizabeth of stealing not just her throne but her grief.

  6. "Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke, From which, even here I slip my wearied head And leave the burden of it all on thee."
    Acting Note: Shift to a tone of release. Margaret is casting off her bitterness, relinquishing her burden to Elizabeth with finality.

  7. "Farewell, York’s wife, and queen of sad mischance. These English woes shall make me smile in France."
    Acting Note: End with cold triumph. Margaret’s farewell should feel victorious, as she finds closure in Elizabeth’s misery and her own departure from England.

Journey Keypoints

  • Hook: Margaret mocks Elizabeth’s former power and grandeur, drawing the audience into her cutting reflections.

  • Turning Point: She lists Elizabeth’s devastating losses, highlighting her fall from grace.

  • Climax: Margaret declares that justice has been served, leaving Elizabeth in the same misery Margaret once endured.

  • Resolution: She casts off her anger and sorrow, leaving England’s turmoil behind for France.

Famous or Notable Actors Who Have Played the Role

  • Peggy Ashcroft (Royal Shakespeare Company, 1964)

  • Judi Dench (BBC Television, 1980)

  • Vanessa Redgrave (National Theatre, 1985)

  • Josette Simon (RSC, 2017)

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