And with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable,
That only Warwick's daughter thali be thine.
Prince. Yes, I accept her, for the well deferves it:
And here to pledge my vow, I give my hand,

[He gives his hand to Warwick.
K. Leru. Why ftay we now? thefe foldiers fhall be levy'd,
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. Manet Warwick.

War. I came from Edward as ambassador,
But I return his fworn and mortal foe:
Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,
But dreadful war fhall anfwer his demand.
Had he none else to make a ftale, but me?
Then none but I fhall turn his jeft to forrow.
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 mifery,

But feek revenge on Edward's mockery.

[Exit.

ACT IV.

SCENE, the Palace in England.

Enter Gloucefter, Clarence, Somerset and Montague.

N

GLOUCESTER.

OW tell me, brother Clarence, what think you
Of this new marriage with the Lady Gray?

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?

Som. My Lords, forbear this talk: here comes the King,

Flourish. Enter King Edward, Lady Gray as Queen, Pembroke, Stafford, and Haftings: Four ftand on one fide, and four on the other.

Glo. And his well chofen bride.

Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think.

K. Edw. Now, brother Clarence,how like you our choice, That you ftand penfive, as half malecontent?

Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or th' Earl ofWarwick, Which are fo weak of courage, and in judgment, That they'll take no offence at our abuse.

K. Edw. Suppose, they take offence without a cause. They are but Lewis and Warwick, and I am Edward, Your King and Warwick's, and muft have my will.

Glo. And you shall have your will, because our King. Yet hafty marriage feldom proveth well.

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too? Glo. Not I; no: God forbid, that 1 fhould wish Them fevered whom God hath join'd together: Pity, to funder them, that yoke fo well.

K. Edw. Setting your fcorns and your mislike aside,
Tell me some reason, why the Lady Gray

Should not become my wife, and England's Queen?
And you too, Somerfet and Montague,

Speak freely what you think.

Clar. Then this is my opinion; that King Lewis Becomes your enemy, for mocking him

About the marriage of the Lady Bona.

Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge, Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

K. Edw. What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd, By fuch invention as I can devise?

Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in fuch alliance,
Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth
'Gainft foreign ftorms, than any home-bred marriage.
Haft. Why knows not Montague, that of itself
England is fafe, if true within itself?

Mont. Yes; but the fafer, when 'tis back'd with France.
Haft. 'Tis better using France, than trufting France.

Let

Let us be back'd with God, and with the feas,
Which he hath given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps alone defend ourselves:
In them, and in ourselves, our fafety lies.

Clar. For this one fpeech, Lord Haftings well deferves To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? is was my will and grant, And for this once my will fhall ftand for law.

Glo. 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 elfe you would not have bestow'd the heir
Of the Lord Bonvill on your new wife's fon,
And leave your brothers to go fpeed elsewhere.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife
That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee.
Clar. In chufing for yourfelf, you fhew'd your judgment;
Which being fhallow, you fhall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And, to that end, I fhortly mind to leave you.

K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be King, And not be ty'd unto his brother's will.

Queen. My Lords, before it pleas'd his Majefty
To raise my ftate to title of a Queen,

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

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

So your diflikes, to whom I would be pleafing,

Do cloud my joys with danger and with forrow.

K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns ; What danger, or what forrow, can befal thee,

So long as Edward is thy conftant friend,
And their true Sov'reign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they feek for hatred at my hands:
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe ;

And

And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
Glo. I hear, yet fay not much, but think the more.

Enter a Poft

K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters or what news from France ?

Poft. My Sovereign Liege, no letters, and few words; But fuch as I (without your fpecial pardon)

Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee:

very

words;

So tell their words, as near as thou canft guess them.
What answer makes King Lewis to our letters?
Poft. At my depart, these were his
Go tell falfe Edward, thy fuppofed King,
That Lewis of France is fending over maskers
To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Ed. Is Levis fo brave? belike, he thinks me Henry.

But what faid Lady Bona to my marriage?

Poft. Thefe were her words, utter'd with mild difdain; Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his fake.

K. Edw. I blame not her, she could fay little less; She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's Queen ? For fo I heard, that he was there in place.

Poft. Tell him, (quoth fhe) my mourning weeds are done; And I am ready to put armour on.

K. Edw. Belike, fhe minds to play the Amazon. But what faid Warwick to these injuries?

Poft. He, more incens'd against your Majefty Than all the reft, difcharg'd me with these words; Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong; And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.

K.Edw. Ha! durft the traitor breathe out fo proud words? Well, I will arm me, being thus fore-warn'd: They fhall have wars, and pay for their prefumption. But fay, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

Poft. Ay, gracious Sov'reign, they're fo link'd in friendship,

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter. Clar.

Clar. Belike, the younger; Clarence will have the elder. (18)

Now, brother King, farewel, and fit you faft, For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter; That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage I may not prove inferior to yourself.

You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.

[Exit Clarence; and Somerfet follows. Glo. Not I; my thoughts aim at a further matter : I ftay not for love of Edward, but the crown.

[Afide. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick? Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; And hafte is needful in this defp'rate cafe: Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf Go levy men, and make prepare for war; They are already, or will foon be landed; Myfelf in perfon will straight follow you.

[Ex. Pembroke and Stafford.

But ere I go, Haftings and Montague,
Refolve doubt: you
my
twain, of all the reft,
Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance;
Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me ?
If it be fo, then both depart to him:

I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends.
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me afsurance with fome friendly vow,
That I may never have you in fufpect.

Mon. So God help Montague, as he proves true!
Haft. And Haftings, as he favours Edward's caufe!
K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you ftand by us?
Glo. Ay, in defpight of all that fhall withstand you.
K. Edw. Why fo, then am I fure of victory.
Now therefore let us hence, and lofe no hour,
'Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

[Exe.

(18) Belike, the elder; Clarence will have the younger.] I have ventur'd to make elder and younger change places in this line, against the authority of all the printed copies. The reason of it will be obvious to every one, from the proofs in my note preceding this.