Commanded always by the greater gust ;
Such is the lightness of you common men.
But do not break your oaths ; for, of that sin
My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.
Go where you will, the king shall be commanded ;
And be you kings ; command, and I'll obey.

1 Keep. We are true subjects to the king,king Edward.

K.Hen. So would you be again to Henry, If he were seated as king Edward is. 1 Keep. We charge you, in God's name, and in the

king's, To go with us unto the officers. K.Hen. In God's name, lead ; your king's name be

obey'd : And what God will, then let your king perform ; And what he will, I humbly yield unto. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.
London. A Room in the Palace. Enter King Edward,

GLOSTER, CLARENCE, and Lady GREY.
K. Edw. Brother of Gloster, at Saint Albans' field
The lady's husband, sir John Grey, was slain,
His lands then seiz'd on by the conqueror :
Her suit is now, to repossess those lands ;
Which we in justice cannot well deny,
Because in quarrel of the house of York
The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

Glo. Your highness shall do well, to grant her suit ;
It were dishonour, to deny it her.

K. Edw. It were no less ; but yet I'll make a pause.

Glo. Yea! is it so ?
I see, the lady hath a thing to grant,
Before the king will grant her humble suit.
Clar. He knows the game ; How true he keeps the
wind?

[Aside. Glo. Silence !

Aside.
K.Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit ;
And come some other time, to know our mind.

L.Grey. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay :
May it please your highness to resolve me now;
And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me.

5] This is a very lively and spritely dialogue; the reciprocation is quick. er ihan is common in Shakspeare. JOHNS.

Glo. [Aside.] Ay, widow? then I'll warrant you all

your lands, An if what pleases him, shall pleasure you. Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow.

Clar. I fear her not, unless she chance to fall. [Aside. Glo. God forbid that! for he'll take vantages. [Aside. K.Edw. How many children hast thou, widow? tell me. Clar. I think, he means to beg a child of her. [Aside. Glo. Nay, whip me then; he'll rather give her two.

[Aside. L.Grey. Three, my most gracious lord. Glo. You shall have four, if you'll be rul’d by him. (Asi. K.Ed.'Twere pity, they should lose their father's lands. L.Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. K. Edtú. Lords, give us leave; I'll try this widow's wit. Glo. Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave, Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch.

[GLOSTER and CLARENCE retire to the other side. K.Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your

children ? L.Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. K.Edcu. And would you not do much, to do them good ? L.Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some harm. K.Ed. Then get your husband's lands, to do them good. ...Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty. K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. L.Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness' service. K.Edw. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them ? L.Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do. K.Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon. L..Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it. K.Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask. L.Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace com

mands. Glo. He plies her hard ; and much rain wears the marble.

[ Aside, Clar. As red as fire ! nay, then her wax must melt.

[Aside. L.Grey. Why stops my lord ? shall I not hear my task ? K.Edw. An easy task ; 'tis but to love a king. L.Grey. That's soon perform’d, because I am a subject. K.Ed.Why then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee. L.Grey. I take my leave with many thousand thanks. Glo. The match is made ; she seals it with a curt'sy. K. Edw. But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean.

上

1

Lady Grey, I know I am too mean to be your Queen ; and yet too good to be your concubine.

L.Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.

K.Edw. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense.
What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get ?
L.Grey. My love till death, my humble thanks, my

prayers ;
That love, which virtue begs, and virtue grants.

K.Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.
L.Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did.
K.Edw. But now you partly may perceive my mind.
L.Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive
Your highness aims at, if I aim aright.

K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.
L.Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.
K.Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's

lands.
L.Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower;
For by that loss I will not purchase them.

K.Édw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily.

L.Gre.Herein your highness wrongs both them and me.
But, mighty lord, this merry inclination
Accords not with the sadness of my suit ;
Please you dismiss me, either with ay, or no.

K. Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say Ay, to my request :
No ; if thou dost say No, to my demand.

L.Grey. Then, No, my lord. My suit is at an end.
Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her brows.
Cla. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom. [Asi.

K. Edw. Her looks do argue her replete with modesty;
Her words do shew her wit incomparable ;
All her perfections challenge sovereignty :
One way, or other, she is for a king ;
And she shall be my love, or else my queen.- [Aside.
Say, that king Edward take thee for his queen ?

L.Grey. 'Tis better said than done, my gracious lord :
I am a subject fit to jest withal,
But far unfit to be a sovereign.

K.Edw. Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee,
I speak no more than what my soul intends ;
And that is, to enjoy thee for my love.

L.Grey. And that is more than I will yield unto :
I know, I am too mean to be your queen ;
And yet too good to be your concubine.
K.Edw. You cavil, widow ; I did mean, my queen.
L.Grey. 'Twill grieve your grace, my sons should

call you-father.
21*

VOL. y.