K. Edw. But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean. 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. Why, then mine honesty shall be my For by that loss I will not purchase them. [dower; 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, K. Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say ay, to my request: L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end. Glo. 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 replete with Her words do show her wit incomparable; [modesty; All her perfections challenge sovereignty: One way, or other, she is for a king; And she shall be my love, or else my queen.- L. Grey. "Tis better said than done, my gracious I am a subject fit to jest withal, But far unfit to be a sovereign. [lord: K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my state, I swear to thee I speak no more than what my soul intends; 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. [thee mother. K. Edw. No more, than when thy daughters call 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. [Aside. Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for shift. [her. K. Edw. 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. L. Grey, Cla. 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, Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, 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; Enter WARWICK, attended. K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to our presence? [friend. Q. Mar. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France? [Descending from his State. Q. Margaret rises. With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant Q Mar. If that go forward, Henry's hope is done. Q. Mar. King Lewis,-and lady Bona,-hear me 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 more 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, Of threescore and two years; a silly time Oxf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy [liege, War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, Was done to death? and more than so, my father, War. And I the house of York. K. Lew. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, [Oxford, While I use further conference with Warwick. Q. Mar. Heaven 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 loath, |