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, and thy lord's false

love;

160

For both of you are birds of selfsame feather. [Post blows a horn within.

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

Enter a Post.

Post. [To War.] My lord ambassador, these letters are for you,

Sent from your brother, Marquess Montague: [To Lewis] These from our king unto your majesty:

[To Margaret] And, madam, these for you; from whom I know not.

[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.

170

K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news? and yours,

fair queen?

Q. Mar. Mine, such as fill my heart with unhoped

joys.

War. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent. K. Lew. What! has your king married the Lady

Grey?

And now, to soothe 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.

180

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 dishonors 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?
Did I impale him with the regal crown?

190

Did I put Henry from his native right?
And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame?
Shame on himself! for my desert is honor:

And to repair my honor 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.

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

hate to love;

And I forgive and quite forget old faults, 200 And joy that thou becomest King Henry's friend.

War. So much his friend, aye, his unfeigned friend,

That, if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us
With some few bands of chosen soldiers,
I 'll undertake to land them on our coast,
And force the tyrant from his seat by war.
'Tis not his new-made bride shall succor 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

honor,

210

Or than for strength and safety of our country. Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged But by thy help to this distressed queen? Q. Mar. 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 yours. K. Lew. And mine with hers, and thine, and Mar

garet's.

Therefore at last I firmly am resolved
You shall have aid.

220

Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all at once. K. Lew. Then, England's messenger, return in

post,

And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,
That Lewis of France is sending over masquers,
To revel it 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,

230

And I am ready to put armor 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.

K. Lew.

[Exit Post.

But, Warwick,

Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men,

228. "I'll," Capell (from Qq); Ff. read "I.”—I. G. 233, 234. "But, Warwick, Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men"; Theobald, "But, Warwick, Thyself and mer, "But Warwick, thou Thyself and Warwick, thou And

And

Lord

•

men"; Hanmen"; Steevens, "But, men"; Collier MS., "But, Warwick, thou

warlike men"; Keightley, "But, Warwick, Thou and men"; Anon. conj. "But, Warwick, thou And

men of mine." Perhaps, as an anonymous scholar has suggested, the line should be read as an Alexandrine.-I. G.

Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward bat

tle;

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

240

Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your mo

tion.

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.

250

[He gives his hand to Warwick.

K. Lew. Why stay we now? These soldiers shall

be levied,

And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high admiral,
Shalt 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.