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 her, 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 ambassador,
But I return his sworn and mortal 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?
Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.
I was the chief that raised 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.

GLOU. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what

think you

Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey?
Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?
CLAR. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to
France;

How could he stay till Warwick made return? Soм. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king.

GLOU. And his well-chosen bride.

CLAR. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, attended; LADY GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others.

K. EDW. Now, brother of Clarence, how like

you our choice,

That you stand pensive, as half malcontent?

CLAR. As well as Lewis of France, or the Earl of Warwick,

Which are so weak of courage and in judgement That they'll take no offence at our abuse.

K. EDW. Suppose they take offence without a

cause,

They are but Lewis and Warwick: I am Edward, Your king and Warwick's, and must have my will. GLOU. And shall have your will, because our king : Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?

GLOU. Not I:

No, God forbid that I should wish them sever'd Whom God hath join'd together; ay, and 'twere pity To sunder them that yoke so well together.

K. EDW. Setting your scorns and your mislike aside,

Tell me some reason why the Lady Grey

Should not become my wife and England's queen. And you too, Somerset and Montague,

Speak freely what you think.

CLAR. Then this is mine opinion: that King Lewis Becomes your enemy, for mocking him

About the marriage of the Lady Bona.

GLOU. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge,

Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

K. EDW. What if both Lewis and Warwick be

appeased

By such invention as I can devise?

MONT. Yet, to have join'd with France in such alliance

Would more have strengthen'd this our common

wealth

'Gainst foreign storms than any

home-bred mar

riage.

HAST. Why, knows not Montague that of itself England is safe, if true within itself?

MONT. But the safer when 'tis back'd with

France.

HAST. 'Tis better using France than trusting
France:

Let us be back'd with God and with the seas
Which He hath given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps only defend ourselves;
In them and in ourselves our safety lies.

CLAR. For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves

To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will and

grant;

And for this once my will shall stand for law. GLOU. And yet methinks your grace hath not done well,

To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales
Unto the brother of your loving bride;

She better would have fitted me or Clarence:
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

CLAR. Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir

Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son, And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.

K. EDW. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee. CLAR. In choosing for yourself, you show'd your judgement,

Which being shallow, you shall give me leave

To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.
K. EDW. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king,
And not be tied unto his brother's will.

Q. ELIZ. My lords, before it pleased his majesty To raise my state to title of a queen,

Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent;

And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,

So your dislike, to whom I would be pleasing,
Doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.
K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their
frowns:

What danger or what sorrow can befall thee,
So long as Edward is thy constant friend,
And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they seek for hatred at my hands;
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
GLOU. I hear, yet say not much, but think the

more.

Enter a Post.

[Aside.

K. EDW. Now, messenger, what letters or what

news

From France?

POST. My sovereign liege, no letters; and few words,

But such as I, without your special pardon,
Dare not relate.