And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth,
Who by his prowess conquered all France :
From these our Henry lineally descends.

War. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse,
You told not, how Henry the Sixth hath lost
All that which Henry the Fifth had gotten ?
Methinks, these peers of France should smile at that.
But for the rest, —You tell a pedigree
Of threescore and two years ; a silly time
To make prescription for a kingdom's worth.

Oxf.Why, Warwick,canst thou speak against thy liege,
Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years,
And not bewray thy treason with a blush ?

War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,
Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree?
For shame, leave Henry, and call Edward king.

Oxf. Call him my king, by whose injurious doom
My elder brother, the lord Aubrey Vere,
Was done to death! and more than so, my father,
Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no ; while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.

War. And I the house of York.

K.Lew. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and Oxford, Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, While I use further conference with Warwick. Q.Mar. Heaven grant, that Warwick's words bewitch

him not ! [Retiring with the Prince and OxF. K.Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy con

science, Is Edward your true king? for I were loth To link with him that were not lawful chosen.

War. 'Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour.
K. Lew. But is he gracious in the people's eye?
War. The more, that Henry was unfortunate. 1

K.Lew. Then further,-all dissembling set aside,
Tell me for truth the measure of his love
Unto our sister Bona.

War. Such it seems,
As may beseem a monarch like himself.
Myself have often heard him say, and swear,-
That this his love was an eternal plant ;

[1] He means, that Henry was unsuccessful in war, having lost his dominions in France, &c. MAL.

Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground,
The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun ;
Exempt from envy, but not from disdain, 2
Unless the lady Bona quit his pain.

K.Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve.

Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine :-
Yet I confess, [TO WAR.] that often ere this day,
When I have heard your king's desert recounted,
Mine ear have tempted judgment to desire.
K.Lew. Then, Warwick, thus, -Our sister shall be

Edward's ;
And now forth with shall articles be drawn
Touching the jointure that your king must make,
Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd :-
Draw near, queen Margaret ; and be a witness,
That Bona shall be wife to the English king.

Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king.

Q.Mar. Deceitful Warwick ! it was thy device
By this alliance to make void my suit ;
Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend.

K.Lew. And still is friend to him and Margaret :
But if your title to the crown be weak,-
As may appear by Edward's good success,
Then 'tis but reason, that I be releas'd
From giving aid, which late I promis’d.
Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand,
That your estate requires, and mine can yield.

War. Henry now lives in Scotland, at his ease ;
Where having nothing, nothing he can lose.
And as for you yourself, our quondam queen,-
You have a father able to maintain you ;
And better 'twere, you troubled him than France. 3
Q.Mar. Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick,

peace;
Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings;
I will not hence, till with my talk and tears,
Both full of truth, I make king Lewis behold,
Thy sly conveyance, 4 and thy lord's false love ;
For both of you are birds of self-same feather.

[A horn sounded within.

[2] I believe envy is in this place, as in many others, put for nalice or hatred. His situation places him above these, though it cannot secure him from female disclain, STEEV

[3] This seems ironical. The poverty of Margaret's father is a very fre. quent topick of reproach JOHNS. [4] Conveying is juggling, and thence is taken for artifice and frand.

JOHNS.

K.Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us, or thee.

Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for you ; Sent from your brother, marquis Montague.These from our king unto your majesty.And, madam, these for you ; from whom, I know not.

[TO MARGARET. They all read their Letters. Oxf. I like it well, that our fair queen and mistress Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. Prince. Nay, mark, how Lewis stamps as he were

nettled : I hope, all's for the best. K.Lew. Warwick, what are thy news ? and your's,

fair queen ? Q.Mar. Mine, such as fills my heart with unhop'd joys. War. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent.

K. Lew. What! has your king married the lady Grey ? And now, to sooth your forgery and his, Sends me a paper to persuade me patience ? Is this the alliance that he seeks with France ? Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?

Q.Mar. I told your majesty as much before : This proveth Edward's love, and Warwick's honesty.

War. King Lewis, I here protest, -in sight of heaven, And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss, That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's ; No more my king, for he dishonours me ; But most himself, if he could see his shame.Did I forget, that by the house of York My father came untimely to his death? Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece ?5 Did I impale him with the regal crown? Did I put Henry from his native right ; And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame? 6 Shame on himself ! for my desert is honour. And, to repair my honour lost for him, I here renounce him, and return to Henry : My noble queen, let former grudges pass, And henceforth I am thy true servitor ; I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona, And replant Henry in his former state.

[5] Whom, according to Holinshed, king Edward attempted in the earl of Warwick's house. STEEV. [6] Guerdon'd-i.e. rewarded. STEEV

22 VOL. y.

Q. Mar. Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate

to love ; And I forgive and quite forget old faults, And joy that thou becom’st king Henry's friend.

War. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend, That, if king Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us With some few bands of chosen soldiers, l'll undertake to land them on our coast, And force the tyrant from his seat by war. 'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him : And as for Clarence,

, -as my letters tell me,
He's very likely now to fall from him ;
For matching more for wanton lust than honour,
Or than for strength and safety of our country.

Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be reveng'd,
But by thy help to this distressed queen ?

Queen. Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live, Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?

Bona. My quarrel, and this English queen's, are one. War. And mine, fair lady Bona, joins with your's.

K. Lew.And mine, with her's and thine and Margaret's. Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolvid, You shall have aid.

Q.Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all at once.

Ř.Lew. Then England's messenger, return in post; And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,That Lewis of France is sending over maskers, To revel with him and his new bride : Thou seest what's past, go fear thy king withal.?

Bona. Tell him, In hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.

Q.Mar. Tell him, My mourning weeds are laid aside, And I am ready to put armour on.

War. Tell him from me,That he hath done me wrong;
And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long,
There's thy reward ; be gone. [Exit Messenger.

K.Lew. But, Warwick, thou,
And Oxford, with five thousand men,
Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle ;
And, as occasion serves, this noble queen
And prince shall follow with a fresh supply.
Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt ;-
What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty ?

War. This shall assure my constant loyalty :[7] That is go fright thy king, JOHNS.

That if our queen and this young prince agree,
I'll join mine eldest daughter, and my joy,
To him forth with in holy wedlock bands.

Q.Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion :
-Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick ;
And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable,
That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.

Prince. Yes, I accept lier, for she well deserves it ; And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand.

[He gives his hand to WARWICK. K.Lew. Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be

levied,
And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral,
Shall waft them over with our royal fleet.-
I long, till Edward fall by war's mischance,
For mocking marriage with a dame of France.

[Exeunt all but WARWICK,
War. I came from Edward as embassador,
But I return his sworn and inortal foe :
Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,
But dreadful war shall answer his demand.
Had he none else to make a stale, but me? 8
Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.
I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown,
And I'll be chief to bring him down again.
Not that I pity Henry's misery,
But seek revenge on Edward's mockery. [Exit.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter Glostek,
CLARENCE, Somerse'r, MONTAGUE, and Others.

Gloster.
NOW tell me, brother Clarence, what think you
Of this new marriage with the lady Grey ?
Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?

Cla. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France ; How could he stay till Warwick made return ?

Som. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king.