L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. K. Edic. To tell thee plain, I am to lie with thee. [in prison. L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands. [my dower. L, Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be For by that loss I will not purchase them. K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily. [them and me. L. Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both 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.

Gio. The widow likes him not, she knits her
brows.
[Aside.
Clar. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom.
[Aside.
K. Edw. [Aside. Her looks do argue her re-
plete with inodesty;

Her words do show 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.
Say, that king Edward take thee for his queen?
L. Grey. 'Tis better said than done, my gra-
I am a subject fit to jest withal, [cious lord;
But far unfit to be a sovereign. [to thee,
K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my state I swear
I speak no more than what my soul intends;
And that is, to enjoy thee for my love. [unto:
L. Gray. And that is more than I will yield
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.

K. Ela. No more than when my daughters call thee mother.

Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; And, by God's mother, I, being but a bachelor, Have other some: why, tis a happy thing To be the father unto many sons. Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen. Glo. The ghostly father now hath done his shrift. [Aside. Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for shift. [Aside. K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had. [very sad. Glo. The widow likes it not, for she looks K. Edw. You'd think it strange if I should Clar. To whom, my lord? [marry her. K. Edro. Why, Clarence, to myself. Glo. That would be ten days' wonder, at the least.

Clar. That's a day longer than a wonder lasts.
Glo. By so much is the wonder in extremes.
K. Edu. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell
you both,

Her suit is granted for her husband's lands.
Enter a Nobleman.

To cross me from the golden time I look for!
And yet, between my soul's desire and me
(The lustful Edward's title buried),

Is Clarence, Henry, and his young son, Edward,
And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies,
Te take their rooms, ere 1 can place myself;"
A cold premeditation for my purpose!
Why, then I do but dream on sovereignty
Like one that stands upon a promontory,
And spies a far-off shore where he would tread,
Wishing his foot were equal with his eye;
Andchides the sea that sunders him from thence,
Saying-he'll lade it dry to have his way.
So do I wish the crown, being so far off;
And so I chide the means that keep me from it;
And so I say-I'll cut the causes off,
Flattering me with impossibilities. [much,
My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too
Unless my hand and strength could equal them.
Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard;
What other pleasure can the world afford?
I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap,
And deck my body in gay ornaments, [looks.
And witch sweet ladies with my words and
O miserable thought! and more unlikely,
Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns!
Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb:
And, for I should not deal in her soft laws,
She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe
To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub;
To make an envious mountain on my back,
Where sits deformity to mock my body;
To shape my legs of an unequal size;
To disproportion me in every part,
Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp,
That carries no impression like the dam.
And am I then a man to be belov'd?
O, monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought!
Then, since this earth affords no joy to me,
But to command, to check, to o'erbear such
As are of better person than myself,
I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown;
And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell,
Until my misshap'd trunk that bears this head,
Be round impaled with a glorious crown.
And yet I know not how to get the crown,
For many lives stand between me and home:
And I, like one lost in a thorny wood,
That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns;
Seeking a way, and straying from the way;
Not knowing how to find the open air,
But toiling desperately to find it out,-
Torment myself to catch the English crown:
And from that torment I will free myself,
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder while I smile:
And cry, content, to that which grieves my heart;
And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
And frame my face to all occasions.
I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall;
I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk;
I'll play the orator as well as Nestor,
Deceive more slyly than Ulysses could,
And, like a Sinon, take another Troy;

I can add colours to the chameleon:
Change shapes, with Proteus, for advantages,
And set the murd'rous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut! were it further off, I'll pluck it down. [Exit.
SCENE III. France. A Room in the Palace.
Flourish. Enter LEWIS, the French King, and
LADY BONA, attended; the King takes his State.
Then enter QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE ED-
WARD her Son, and the EARL OF OXFORD.

K. Lew. Fair Queen of England, worthy Margaret,

Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state,
And birth, that thou should'st stand, while Lewis
doth sit.
[Margaret
Q. Mar. No, mighty King of France; now
Must strike her sail, and learn awhile to serve,
Where kings command. I was, I must confess,
Great Albion's queen in former golden days:
But now mischance hath trod my title down,
And with dishonour laid me on the ground;
Where I must take like seat unto my fortune,
And to my humble seat conform myself.

in cares.

K. Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? [with tears, Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd [self, K. Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyAnd sit thee by our side: yield not thy neck [Seats her by him. To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind Still ride in triumph over all mischance. Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; It shall be eas'd, if France can yield relief.

Q. Mar. Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts,

And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak.
Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis,
That, Henry, sole possessor of my love,
Is, of a king, become a banish'd man,
And forc'd to live in Scotland a forlorn;
While proud ambitious Edward, duke of York,
Usurps the regal title, and the seat

Of England's true anointed lawful king.
This is the cause, that I, poor Margaret,-
With this my son, Prince Edward, Henry's
heir,-

Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid;
And, if thou fail us, all our hope is done:
Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help:
Our people and our peers are both misled,
Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight,
And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight,
K. Lew. Renowned queen, with patience calm
the storm,

While we bethink a means to break it off.
Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger grows
our foe.

K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour thee. [sorrow: Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Enter WARWICK, attended. K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to our presence? [greatest friend. Q. Mar. Our Earl of Warwick, Edward's K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick; What brings thee to France?

[Descending from his State, QUEEN MARGARET rises. Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise;

For this is he that moves both wind and tide.

me speak,

son.

Before you answer Warwick. His demand
Springs not from Edward's well meant honest
But from deceit, bred by necessity; [love,
For how can tyrants safely govern home,
Unless abroad they purchase great alliance?
To prove him tyrant, this reason may suffice,-
That Henry liveth still: but were he dead,
Yet here Prince Edward stands, King Henry's
[marriage
Look therefore, Lewis, that by this league and
Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour:
For though usurpers sway the rule awhile,
Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth
War. Injurious Margaret!
[wrongs.
Prince.
And why not queen?
War. Because thy father Henry did usurp;
And thou no more art prince, than she is queen.
Oxf. Then Warwick disannuls great John of

Gaunt,

Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain. And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth. Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest; And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth, Who by his prowess conquered all France: From these our Henry lineally descends.

War. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse,

You told not, how Henry the Sixth hath lost
All that which Henry the Fifth had gotten?
Methinks, these peers of France should smile at
But for the rest,-You tell a pedigree [that.
Of threescore and two years; a silly time
To make prescription for a kingdom's worth.
Oxf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against
thy liege,

Whom thou obeyedst thirty and six years,
And not bewray thy treason with a blush?

War.Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,
Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree?
For shame, leave Henry, and call Edward king.
Oxf. Call him my king, by whose injurious
doom

My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere,
Was done to death? and more than so, my father,
Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.
War. And I the house of York.

K. Lew. Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford,

Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside. While I use further conference with Warwick. Q. Mar. Heaven grant, that Warwick's words bewitch him not!

[Retiring with the Prince and Oxford.

Exempt from envy, but not from disdain,
Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain.
K. Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm re-
[mine:

solve.

Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be Yet I confess, [To WAR.] that often ere this day, When I have heard your king's desert recounted, Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire. K Lew. Then, Warwick, thus,-Our sister shall be Edward's;

And now forthwith shall articles be drawn Touching the jointure that your king must make, Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd:Draw near, queen Margaret; and be a witness, That Bona shall be wife to the English king. Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king.

Q. Mar. Deceitful Warwick! it was thy device By this alliance to make void my suit; Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend. K. Lew. And still is friend to him and Margaret;

tent.

K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen? [hop'd joys. Q. Mar. Mine, such as fill my heart with unWar. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discon[Lady Grey? K. Lew. What! has your king married the And now, to sooth 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. [heaven,

War. King Lewis, I here protest,-in sight of 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 dishonours 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? 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 honour. And, to repair my honour 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,
And joy that thon becom'st King Henry's friend,
War. So much his friend, ay, 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 succour 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 honour,
Or than for strength and safety of our country.
Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be re-
veng'd,

wick, 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;
For both of you are birds of self-same feather.
[A Horn sounded within.
K. Let. Warwick, this is some post to us, or
thee.

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,

War. And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with
K. Lewo. And mine with hers, and thine, and
Margaret's.

Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolv'd,
You shall have aid.

Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all [in post;

at once.

K. Lew. Then England's messenger, return And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,That Lewis of France is sending over maskers, To revel it with him and his new bride: Thou seest what's past, go fear thy king withal. Bona. Tell him, În hope he'll prove a widower shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.

Q. Mar. Tell him, My mourning weeds are And I am ready to put armour on. [laid aside, 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. [Exit Mass.

K. Lew. But, Warwick, thou, And Oxford, with five thousand men, Shall crossthe seas, and bid false Edward battle. 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.

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? shall be levied,

These soldiers

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 rais'd 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.

Art Fourth.

[Exit.

SCENE I. London A Room in the Palace. Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MONTAGUE, and Others.

Gio. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what

think you

will.

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

K. Ed. Yea, brother Richard, are you ofGlo. Not I: [fended too?

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.

[Lewis
Clar. Then this is my opinion, that King
Becomes your enemy, for mocking him
About the marriage of the Lady Bona. [charge,
Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in
Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.
K. Edw. What, if both Lewis and Warwick
be appeas'd,

By such invention as I can devise? [alliance, Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in such Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth [marriage. 'Gainst foreign storms, than any homebred Hast. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself England is safe, if true within itself? Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis back'd with France. [France:

Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting 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. Glo. And yet methinks your grace hath not

done well,

Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son,
And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.
That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife
Clar. In choosing for yourself, you showed

Which being shallow, you shall give me leave
your judgment;
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 And not be tied unto his brother's will. [king,

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 dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,
Do 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,