Rich. Thou didst love York, and I am son to York. And, having Francethy friend, thou shalt not dread [wast wont. Yet look to have them buz, to offend thine cars. War. They mock thee, Clifford ; swear as thou 5 First, will I see the coronation ; Rich. What, not an oath: nay, then the world And then to Britany I'll cross the sea, goc's hard, To effect this marriage, so it please my lord. [be ; When Cliford cannot spare his friends an oath :- Edw. Even as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it I know by that, he's dead; And, by my soul, For on thy shoulder do I build my seat; Would this right hand buy but an hour's life, 10 And never will I undertake the thing, 'That I in all despight might rail at him, Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting I'd chop it off; and with the issuing blood Richard, I will create thee duke of Gloster ;Stifle the villain, whose unstanched thirst And George, of Clarence;-Warwick, as ourself, York and young Rutland could not satisfy. [head, Shall do, and undo, as him pleaseth best. War. Ay, but he's dead: Off with the traitor's 15 Rich. Let me be duke of Clarence; George, And rear it in the place your father's stands. of Gloster; And now to London with triumphant march, For Gloster's dukedom is too ominous!, There to be crowned England's royal king. War. Tut, that's a foolish observation: From thence shall Warwick cut the seato France, Richard, be duke of Gloster: Now to London, And ask the lady Bona for thy queen: .0 To see these honours in possession. [Exeunt. So shalt thou sinew both these lands together; a SCENE I. 1301 K. Henry. Let me embrace these souradversities; A Wood in Lancashire. For wise men say, it is the wisest course. [him. Hum. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon Enter Sinklo, and Humphrey, with cross-bow's Sink. Forbear awhile; we'll hear a little more. in their hands. K. Henry. My queen, and son, are gone to Sink. UNDER this thick-grown brake we'1135 France for aid; And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick For through this' laund anon the deer will come; Is thither gone, to crave the French king's sister And in this covert will we make our stand, To wife for Edward: If this news be true, Culling the principal of all the deer. Poor queen, and son, your labour is but lost; Tum. I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. 40 For Warwick is a subile orator, Sink. That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. Will scare the herd, and so mny shoot is lost. By this account, then, Margaret may win him; Here stand we both, and aim we at the best : For she's a woman to be pity'd much: And, for the time shall not seem tedious, Her sighs will inake a battery in his breast; I'll tell thee what befel me on a day, 45 Uer tears will pierce into a marble heart; In this self place where now we mean to stand. The tyger will be mild, while she doth inourn; Hum. Hirecomes a man, let's stay till he be past. And Nero will be tainted with remorse, To hear, and sce, her plaints, her brinish tears. Enter King Henry, with a prayer-book. Ah, but she's come to beg; Warwich, to give : K. Henry. From Scotland am I stol’n, even of 50 she', on his left side, craving aid for Henry; Hle, on his right, asking a wife for Edward. To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. he weeps, and says-her Ilenry is depos'd; No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine; He smiles, and says-his Edward is installd; Thy place is fill'd, thy scepter wrung from thee, l'hat she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more; Thy balm wash'd off, wherewith thou wast anoint- 55 Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong, No bending knee will call thee Casar now, [ed : Inferreth arguments of mighty strength; No humble suitors press to speak for right, And, in conclusion, wins the king from her, No, not a man comes for redress to thee; With promise of his sister, and what else, For how can I help them, and not myself? [fee: To strengthen and support king Edward's place. Sink. Ay, here's a deer whose skin's a keeper's 60 Margaret, thus’twill be; and thou, poor soul, This is the quondamn king; let's seize upon him. Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn. Alluding, perhaps, (says Mr. Steevens,) to the deaths of Tho:nas of Woodstock, and Humphrey, dukes of Gloster. According to Hall and Holinshed, the name of the person who took King Henry was Cuntloze. ii. e. luwn. Hum. pure love, 2 a Hum. Say, what art thou, that talk'st of kings| Glo. Your highness shall do well to grant her suit; and queens? It were dishonour to deny it her. [pause. K. Henry. More than I seem, and less than I K. Edw. It were no less; but yet I'll make a was born to: Glo. Yca! is it so? [Aside. A man at least, for less I should not be; 5 I see the lady hath a thing to grant, And men may talk of kings, and why not I? Before the king will grant her humble suit. Hum. Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king. Clar, He knows the game; How true he keeps K. Henry. Why, so I am, in mind; and that's the wind ! [Aside. enough, Glo. Silence ! Hum. But, it thou be a king, where is thy crown: 10 K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit; K. Henry. My crown is in my heart, not on And come some other time, to know our mind. my head; Grey. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay: Not deck'd with diamonds, and Indian stones, May it please your highness to resolve me now; Nor to be seen: my crown is call'd, content; And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me. A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy, (tent, 15 Glo. [Aside. ] Ay, widow? then I'll warrant you Hur. Well, if you be a king crown'd with con all your lands, Your crown content, and you, must be contented An if what pleases him, shall pleasure you. To go along with us: for, as we think, Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow. You are the king, king Edward hath depos'd; Clur. [Aside.] I fear her not, unless she chance And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance, 20 to fall. [vantages. Will apprehend you as his enemy. [oath? Glo. [Aside.] God forbid that, for he'll take K. Henry.But did you never swear, and break an K.Edw. How many children hast thou, widow? Hum. No, never such an oath; nor will we now. tell me. (of her. K. Henry. Where did you dwell, when I was Clar. [.Aside.) I think, he means to beg a child king of England ( [main. 25 Glo. [Aside.] Nay, whip me then; he'll rather Hum. Here in this country, where we now re give her two. K. Henry. I was anointed king at nine months Grey. Three, my most gracious lord. My father and my grandfather were kings; [old; Glo. (Aside.) You shall have four, if you'll be And you were sworn true subjects unto me: rul'd by him. [ther's land. And, tell me then, have you not broke your oaths: 30 K. Edw. 'Twere pity they should lose their faSink. No; for we were subjects but while you Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. were king [a man: K. Edw. Lords, give us leave; I'll try this wiX. Henry. Why, am I dead? do I not breathe dow's wit. [leave, Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear. Glo. Ay,good leave have you; for you will have Look, as I blow this feather from my face, 35 "Till youth take leave and leaveyou to yourcrutch. And as the air blows it to me again, [Gloster and Clarence retire to the other side. Obeying with my wind when I do blow, K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love And yielding to another when it blows, your children? Cominanded always by the greater gust; Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. Such is the lightness of you common men. 40 K. Edw. And would you not do much. to do But do not break your oaths; for, of that sin them good? [harm. My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty. Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some Go where you will, the king shall be commanded; K. Edw. Then get your husband's lands to do And be you kings; command, and I'll obey. them good. Sink. We are true subjects to the king, king45 Grey, Therefore I came unto your majesty. Edward. K.Edw.I'lltell you how these lands are to be got. K. Henry. So would you be again to Henry, Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness' If he were seated as king Edward is. (the king's, service. (them? Sink. We charge you, in God's naine, and in K. Edre. What service wilt thou do me, if I give To go with us unto the officers. [he obey'd :150 Grey. What you command, that rests in metodo. K. Hen. In God's name, lead; your king's name K. Edze. But you will take exceptions to mý And what God will, that let your king perform; boon? And what he will, i humbly yield unto. [Exeunt. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it. K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to 55 (comınands, London, The Palace. Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace Enter King Educard, Gloster, Clarence, and Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears Lady Grey. the marble. [Aside. K.Edw. Brother of Gloster, at Saint Alban's field Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax inust This lady's husband, Sir John Grey, was slain, 60 melt. [.4side. His land then seiz'd on by the conqueror : Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear Her suit is now, to repossess those lands ; Which we in justice cannot well deny, K. Edw. An casy task: 'tis but to love a king. Because in quarrel of the house of York Grey. That's soon perform’d, because I ani a This noble gentleman did lose his life. subject. K. Edw. my task mean. [did. 15 K. Edw. Why then, thy husband's lands I freely Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen. give thee. Glo. The ghostly father now hath done his shrift. Grey. I take my leave, with many thousand [ Aside. thanks. [sv. Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for Glo. The match is made; she seals it with a curt - 5 shift. Aside. K. Edw. But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had. Grey. The fruits of love I incan, my loving liege. Glo. The widow likes it not, for she looks sad. K. Edw. Ay, but I fear me, in another sense. K. Edi.. You'd think it strange, if I should What love, thinkst thou, I sue so much to get? 10 Clar. To whom, my lord ? (marry her. Grey. My love 'till death, my humble thanks, K. Edw. Why, Clarence, to myself. my prayers; Glo.That would be tendavs'wonder at the least. That love, which virtue begs, and virtue grants. Clar. That's a day longer than a wonder lasts. K. Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean Glo. By so much is the wonder in extremes. such love. K. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you Her suit is granted for her husband's lands. (both, X. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my Enter a Nobleman. mind. Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe istaken, Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive And brought as prisoner to your palace gate. Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. 120 K. Edw. See that he be convey'd unto the K. Edw. To tellthee plain, I aim to lie with thee. Tower:Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, K. Ēdw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy To question of his apprehension.- [ably. husband's lands. [er; Widow, go you along :- Lords, use her honourGrey.Why, then mine honesty shall be my dow-125 [Exeunt King, Lady, Clarence, and Lords. For by that loss I will not purchase them. Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. K. Edw. Herein thou wrong'st thy children Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all, mightily. [and me. That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them To cross me from the golden time I look for! But, mighty lord, this merry inclination |30And yet, between my soul's desire and me, Accords not with the sadness of my suit; (The lustful Edward's title buried) Please you dismiss me, either with ay, or no. Is Clarence, Henry, and his young son Edward, K.Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say ay, to my request : And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies, No; if thou dost say no, to my demand. To take their rooms, ere I can place myself : Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end. 35 A cold premeditation for my purpose! Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her Why, then I do but dream on sovereignty ; brows. [Aside. Like one that stands upon a promontory, Clar. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom. And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, [ Aside. Wishing his foot were equal with his eye; K. Edw. [ Aside.) Her looks do argue her re- 40 And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, plete with modesty; saying-he'll lade it dry to have his way: Her words do shew her wit incomparable ; So do I wish the crown, being so far off'; All her perfections challenge sovereignty: And so I chide the means that keep me from it; One way, or other, she is for a king; and so I say I'll cut the causes off, And she shall be my love, or else my queen.- 45 Flattering me with impossibilities.Say, that king Edward take thee for his queen? Myeye'stoo quick, my heart o'erweens too much, Grey.'T'is better said than done, my gracious lord; Unless my hand and strength could equal them. I am a subject fit to jest withal, Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard ; But far unfit to be a sovereign. What other pleasure can the world atford ? And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. [call you—father. She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe Grey. "I will grieve your grace, my sons should To sbrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub; K. Edw. No more than when my daughters call To make an envious mountain on my back, thee mother. 60 Where sits deformity to mock my body; Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; To shape my legs of an unequal size; And, by God's mother, I, being but a batchelor, To disproportion me in every part, Have other some; why, 'tis a happy thing Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp, To be the father unto many solis. That carries no impression like the dam. And а our foe. And am I then a man to be belov'd; And sit thee by our side: yield not thy neck 0, monstrous fault to harbour such a thought! [Seats her by him Then, since this earth atfords no joy to me, To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind But to command, to check, to o'erbear such Still ride in triumph over all mischance. As are of better person than myself, 5 Be plain, queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown; It shall be cas'd, if France can yield relief. And, while I live, to account this world but hell, Queen. Those gracious words revive my droopUntil my mis-shap'd trunk that bears this head, ing thoughts, Be round impaled with a glorious crown, And give my tongue-ty'd sorrows leave to speak. And yet I know not how to get the crown, 10 Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis,– For many lives stand between me and home: That Henry, sole possessor of my love, And I, like one lost in a thorny wood, Is, of a king, become a banish'd man, That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns ; And forc'd to live in Scotland a forlorn; Seeking a way, and straying from the way; While proud ambitious Edward, duke of York, Not knowing how to find the open air, 15 Usurps the regal title, and the seat But toiling desperately to find it out, Of England's true-anointed lawful king. Torment myself to catch the English crown: This is the cause, that I, poor Margaret, And from that torment I will free myself, With this my son, prince Edward, Henry's heir, Or hew my way out with a bloody axe. Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid; Wby, I can smile, and murder while I smile; 20 And, if thou fail us, all our hope is done: And cry, content, to that which grieves my heart; Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help; And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, Our people and our peers are both mis-led, And frame my face to all occasions. Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight, I'll drown more sailors than the merinaid shall; And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight. l'il slay more gazers than the basilisk; 25 K. Lewis. Renowned queen, with patience calm I'll play the orator as well as Nestor, the storm, Deceive more slily than Ulysses could, While we bethink a means to break it off. And, like a Sinon, take another Troy: Queen. The more we stay, the stronger grow's I can add colours to the cameleon ; (thee. Change shapes, with Proteus, for advantages, 301 K.Lewis. The more I stay, the more I'll succour And set the murd'rous Machiavel to school. Queen.O,but impatience waiteth on true sorrow: Can I do this, and cannot get a crown? And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Tut! were it further off, I'll pluck it down. [Exit. Enter Warwick. 35] K. Lewis. What's he approacheth boldly to our presence? France. Queen. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest Flourish. Enter Lewis the French King, Lady friend, Bona, Bourbon, Queen Margaret, Prince Ed- K. Leruis. Welcome, brave Warwick! What ward her Son, and the Earl of Oxford. Lewis 40 brings thee to France? sits, and riseth up again. [He descends. She ariseth. K. Lewis. Fair queen of England, worthy Queen. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise: Margaret, For this is he, that moves both wind and tide. Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state, War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion, And birth, that thou shouldst stand, while Lewis 45 My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend, doth sit. I come,-in kindness and unfeigned love, Queen. No, mighty king of France; now Mar- First, to do greetings to thy royal person; garet And, then, to crave a league of amity; Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve, And, lastly, to confirm that amity Where kings command, I was, I must confess, 50 With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant Great Albion's queen in former golden days: That virtuous lady Bona, thy fair sister, But now mischance hath trod iny title down, To England's king in lawful marriage. And with dishonour laid me on the ground; Queen. If that go forward, Henry's hope is done. Where I must take like seat unto my fortune, War. And, gracious madarr., in our king's beAnd to my humble seat conform myself . 551 half, [Speaking to Bona. K. Lewis. Why say, fair queen, whence springs I am commanded, with your leave and favour, this deep despair? Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue Queen. From such à cause as fills mine eyes To tell ihe passion of my sovereign's heart; with tears, [cares. Where fame, late entering at his heedful ears, And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in 60 Hath plac'd thy beauty's image, and thy virtue. K. Lewis. 'Whate'er it be, be thou still like Queen. King Lewis, -and lady Bona, -hear me thyself, speak, Before you answer Warwick. His demand K. Lewis. But is he gracious in the people'seye? Springs not fromEdward's well-meant honest love, War. The more, that Henry was unfortunate. But from deceit, bred by necessity : K. Lewis. Then further,—all dissembling set For how can tyrants safely govern home, aside, Unless abroad they purchase great alliance ! 5 Tell me for truth the measure of his love To prove him tyrant, this reason may sutlice,- Unto our sister Bona. That Henry liveth still: but were he dead, War. Such it seems, Yet here prince Edward stands, king Henry's son. As may. beseem a monarch like himself. Look therefore, Lewis, that by this league and Myself have often heard him say, and swear,marriage 10That this his love was an eternal plant ; Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour: Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground, For though usurpers sway the rule a while, The leaves and fruit maintain’d with beauty's sun; Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs. Exempt from envy', but not from disdain, War. Injurious Margaret! Unless the lady Bona quit his pain. Prince. And why not queen? 15 K. Lewis. Now, sister, let us hcar your firm War. Because thy father Henry did usurp; resolve. And thou no more art prince, than she is queen. Bona. Yourgrant,oryourdenial,shall be mine:+ Oxf. Then Warwick disannuls great John of Yet I confess, that often ere this day, Gaunt, [Speaking to Warwick. Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain; 120 When I have heard your king's desert recounted, And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the fourth, Mine ear hath tempted judgement to desire. Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest; K. Lewis. Then, Warwick, this, -Our sister And, after that wise prince, Henry the fifth, shall be Edward's; Who by his prowess conquered all France : And now forthwith shall articles be drawn From these our Henry lineally descends. 25 Touching the jointure that your king must make, War. Oxford, how haps 'it, in this smooth Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd:discourse, Draw near, queen Margaret; and be a witness, You told not, how Henry the sixth hath lost That Bona shall be wife to the English king. All that which Henry the fifth had gotten? Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king. Methinks, these peers of France should smile at 30 Queen. Deceitful Warwick! it was tby device that. By this alliance to make void my suit ; But for the rest,-You tell a pedigree Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend. Of threescore and two years; a silly time K. Lewis. And still is friend to him and MarTo make prescription for a kingdom's worth. garet : Oxf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against|35 But if your title to the crown be weak,thy liege, As may appear by Edward's good success, Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years, Then 'tis but reason, that I be releas'd And not bewray thy treason with a blush? From giving aid, which late I promised. War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand, 0.xf. Call him my king, by whose injurious doom Where having nothing, nothing he can lose. Queen. Peaee, impudent and shameless War wick, peace; This arın upholds the house of Proud setter-up and puller down of kings! War. And I the house of York. I will not hence, 'till with my talk and tears, K.Lewis. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and 30 Both full of truth, I make king Lewis behold Oxford, Thy sly conveyance', and thy lord's false love; Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, (Post, blowing a horn within While I use further conference with Warwick. For both of you are birds of selt-same feather. Queen. Heaver:3 grant that Warwick's words K. Lewis. 'Warwick, this is some post to us, or bewitch him not! [They retire. 55 thee. K. Lewis. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon Enter a Post. thy conscience, Post. My lord ambassador, these letters are for Is Edward your true king? for I were loth, you; [To Warwick. To link with him that were not lawful chosen. Sent from your brother, marquis Montague.War. Thereon 1 pawn my credit and mine 60fThese from our king unto your majesty.honour. [lo king Lewis. Enoy in this place seems to be put for malice or hatred. 2 This seems to be spoken ironically; the poverty of Margaret's father being a very frequent topic of reproach. Conreyance is here put for artifice and fraud. And, this arm, 1 |
