K. Hen. Sad-hearted men, much overgone with care, Here sits a king more woeful than you are. Alarums: Excursions. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE OF WALES, and EXETER. Rich. A deadly groan, like life and death's departing Rich. Revoke that doom of mercy, for 't is Clifford ; Prince. Fly, father, fly! for all your friends are fled, In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth, And Warwick rages like a chafed bull: Q. Mar. Mount you, my lord; towards Berwick post amain: Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds And bloody steel grasp'd in their ireful hands, Exe. Away! for vengeance comes along with them: K. Hen. Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Exeter; Not that I fear to stay, but love to go Whither the queen intends. Forward; away! [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-The same. A loud Alarum. Enter CLIFFORD, wounded. [He faints. Alarum and retreat. Enter EDWARD, GEORGE, RICHARD, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Soldiers. Edw. Now breathe we, lords; good fortune bids us pause, And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks. But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them? [CLIFFORD groans, and dies. Edo. Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? But set nis murthering knife unto the root From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring, I mean, our princely father, duke of York. War. From off the gates of York fetch down the head, Your father's head, which Clifford placed there: Measure for measure must be answered. Edw. Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house That nothing sung but death to us and ours: Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound, And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak. [Attendants bring the body forward War. I think his understanding is bereft :Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee ?-Dark cloudy death o'ershades his beams of life, And he nor sees, nor hears us what we say. Rich. O, would he did! and so, perhaps, he doth; "T is but his policy to counterfeit, Because he would avoid such bitter taunts Geo. If so thou think'st, vex him with eager words. This hand should chop it off; and with the issuing blood War. Ay, but he 's dead: Off with the traitor's head, From whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France So shalt thou sinew both these lands together; And then to Brittany I'll cross the sea, To effect this marriage, so it please my lord. Edw. Even as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be: For on thy shoulder do I build my seat; And never will I undertake the thing Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting. Richard, I will create thee duke of Gloster; And George, of Clarence; Warwick, as ourself, Shall do, and undo, as him pleasech best. Rich. Let me be duke of Clarence; George, of Glozter; For Gloster's dukedom is too ominous. War. Tut! that's a foolish observation; 'Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I-A Chace in the North of England. Enter Two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands. 1 Keep. Under this thick-grown brake we 'll shroud ourselves; For through this launda anon the deer will come: 2 Keep. I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. 1 Keep. That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. Here stand we both, and aim we at the best: And, for the time shall not seem tedious, I'll tell thee what befell me on a day, In this self-place where now we mean to stand. 2 Keep. Here comes a man, let's stay till he be past. Thy place is fill'd, thy sceptre wrung from thee, 1 Keep. Ay, here's a deer whose skin 's a keeper's fee: This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him. K. Hen. Let me embrace these sour adversities: For wise men say it is the wisest course. 2 Keep. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him. And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn. 2 Keep. Say, what art thou that talk'st of kings and queens? K. Hen. More than I seem, and less than I was born to: A man at least, for less I should not be: And men may talk of kings, and why Lot I? 2 Keep. Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king. K. Hen. Why, so I am, in mind; and that 's enough. 2 Keep. But if thou be a king, where is thy crown? Laund (the same as lawn) is, according to Camden, "a plain among trees." K. Hen. My crown is in my heart, nct on my head; Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones, Nor to be seen: my crown is call'd content; A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. 2 Keep. Well, if you be a king crown'd with content, Your crown content and you must be contented To go along with us: for, as we think, You are the king king Edward hath depos'd; And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance, Will apprehend you as his enemy. K. Hen. But did you never swear and break an oath! 2 Keep. No, never such an oath; nor will not now K. Hen. Where did you dwell when I was king d England? 2 Keep. Here in this country where we now remain. K. Hen. I was anointed king at nine months old; My father, and my grandfather, were kings; And you were sworn true subjects unto me: And, tell me then, have you not broke your oaths? 1 Keep. No; For we were subjects but while you were king. K. Hen. Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man` Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear. Look, as I blow this feather from my face, And as the air blows it to me again, Obeying with my wind when I do blow, And yielding to another when it blows, 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, that 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 Alban's field This 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 just, 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! Glo. Silence! [Asid. 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. Glo. [Aside.] Ay, widow? then I'll warrant you all your lands, An if what pleases him shall pleasure you. Clar. I think he means to beg a child of her. [Aside. L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. K. Edw. 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. Edw. And would you not do much to do them good? L. Grey. To do them good I would sustain some harm. K. Edo. Then get your husband's lands, to do them good. L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty. K. Edwo. 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? Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble. Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt. [Aside. [Aside. L. Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my task? K. Edo. An easy task; 't is but to love a king. L. Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject. K. Edio. Why, then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee. L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand thanks. That love which virtue begs and virtue grants. 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. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower; For by that loss I will not purchase them. K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily. L. Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and me. But, mighty lord, this merry inclination L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end. Clar. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom. [Aside. [Aside. K. Edw. [Aside.] Her looks do argue her replete with modesty; Her words do show her wit incomparable. I am a subject fit to jest withal, K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee, 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. "T will grieve your grace my son should call you father. K. Edw. No more than when my daughters call thee mother. Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; Clar. When he was made a shriver, 't was for shift. [Aside. [Aside. K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had. Glo. The widow likes it not, for she looks very sad. K. Edw. You'd think it strange if I should marry her. Clar. To whom, my lord? K. Edw. 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. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you both Her suit is granted for her husband's lands. Enter a Nobleman. Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, And brought your prisoner to your palace gate. K. Edw. See that he be convey'd unto the Tower: And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, To question of his apprehension. Widow, go you along;-Lords, use her honourable. [Exeunt K. EDW., LADY GREY, CLARENCE, and Lord Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all, That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, 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 son young Edward, And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies, To take their rooms, ere I can place myself: A cold premeditation for my purpose! Sadness-seriousness. Why, then I do but dream on sovereignty; Flattering me with impossibilities. My eye 's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. O, monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought! I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown; That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns, I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; Must strike her sail, and learn awhile to serve, K. Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears, And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. K. Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself, And 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. Is, of a king, become a banish'd man, Of England's true-anointed lawful king. 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 Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow : And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Enter WARWICK, attended. K. Lew. What's he approacheth boldly to our pre sence? Q. Mar. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend. K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick What brings thee to France? [Descending from his state. QUEEN MARGARET rises. War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion, 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 EDWARD her son, and the EARL OF OXFORD. K. Lew. Fair queen of England, worthy Margaret, [Rising. Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state Q. Mar. If that go forward Henry's hope is done. War. And, gracious madam [to BONA], in our king's behalf, I am commanded, with your leave and favour, Q. Mar. King Lewis, and lady Bona, hear me speak. Before you answer Warwick. His demand Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest tove, For how can tyrants safely govern home, Yet here prince Edward stands, king Henry's son. Yet Heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs. Prince. And why not queen? War. Because thy father Henry did usurp; And thou no inore art prince than she is queen. Orf. 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 that. But for the rest, you tell a pedigree Of threescore and two years; a silly time To make prescription for a kingdom's worth. K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus,-Our sister shall be And now forthwith shall articles be drawn Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king. And better 't were you troubled him than France. 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; Orf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy For both of you are birds of self-same feather. liege, Whom thou obeyedst thirty and six years, War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, 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. Heavens grant that Warwick's words bewitch him not! [Retiring with the PRINCE and OXFORD. K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience, Is Edward your true king? for I were loth War. Such it seems As may beseem a monarch like himself. Myself have often heard him say, and swear, That this his love was an eternal plant, K. Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. [A horn sounded within. K. Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us, or thee. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for you; Sent from your brother, marquis Montague;These from our king unto your majesty ;And, madam, these for you; from whom-I know not. To MARGARET. They all read their letters. Orf. 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. K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen? Q. Mar. Mine, such as fill my heart with unhop'd 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: I here renounce him, and return to Henry: * Conveyance-juggling-artifice. |