SCENE changes to the Palace. Enter King Edward, Gloucester, Clarence, and Lady Gray. Rother of Glo'fter, at St. Alban's field K.Ed. This lady's husband, Sir John Gray, was flain, His land then feiz'd on by the Conqueror: Glo. Your Highness shall do well to grant her fuit : It were dishonour to deny it her. K. Edw. It were no lefs; but yet I'll make a pause. Glo. Yea! is it fo? I fee, the lady hath a thing to grant, Before the King will grant her humble fuit. Clar. He knows the game; how true he keeps the wind? K. Edw. Widow, we will confider of your fuit, Glo. Ay, widow ? then I'll warrant you all your lands, Glo. You fhall have four, if you'll be rul'd by him. K.E. 'Twere pity they should lofe their father's lands. Gray. Be pitiful, dread Lord, and grant it then. K. E. 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. K. E. Now tell me, Madam, do you love your children? Gray. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. K. E. And would you not do much to do them good? Gray. To do them good, I would fuftain fome harm. K.E.Then get your husband's lands, to do them good. Gray. Therefore I came unto your Majesty. K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. Gray. So fhall you bind me to your Highness' fervice. K. E. What fervice wilt thou do me, if I give them? Gray. What you command, that refts in me to do. K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon? Gray. No, gracious Lord, except I cannot do it. K. Edw. Ay, but thou canft do what I mean to afk. Gray. Why, then I will do what your Grace commands. Glo. He plies her hard, and much rain wears the marble. Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax muft melt. Gray. Why ftops my Lord? fhall I not hear my task? K. Edw. An eafy tafk, 'tis but to love a King. Gray. That's foon perform'd, because I am a fubject. K. E.Why then, thy hufband's lands I freely give thee. Gray. I take my leave with many thousand thanks. Glo. The match is made, fhe feals it with a curt'fy. K. Edw. But ftay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean. Gray. The fruits of love I mean, my loving Liege. K. Edw. Ay, but I fear me, in another fenfe. What love, think'st thou, I fue fo much to get? Gray. 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 fuch love. Gray. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did. K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my mind. Gray. 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. Gray. To tell you plain, I'd rather lie in prifon. K. E.Why,then thou shalt not have thy hufband's lands. Gray. Why, then mine honefty fhall be my dower; For by that lofs I will not purchase them.. K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'ft thy children mightily. Gray. Herein your Highness wrongs both them and me: But, But, mighty Lord, this merry inclination K. Edw. Ay, if thou wilt fay, Ay, to my requeft: No; if thou doft fay, no, to my demand. Gray. Then, no, my Lord; my fuit is at an end. All her perfections challenge fovereignty; And the fhall be my love, or elfe my Queen. But far unfit to be a Sovereign. K. Edw. Sweet Widow, by my ftate I fwear to thee, I speak no more than what my foul intends; And that is, to enjoy thee for my love. Gray. 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. Gray. "Twill grieve your Grace, my fons fhould call you father. K. Edw. No more than when my daughters call thee mother. Thou art a widow, and thou haft fome children; Anfwer no more, for thou fhalt be my Queen. Glo. The ghoftly father now hath done his fhrift. K. Edw. Why, Clarence, to myself. VOL. V. Gl. Glo. That would be ten days' wonder at the least. Clar. That's a day longer than a wonder lafts. Glo. By fo much is the wonder in extreams. K. Edw. Well, jeft on, Brothers; I can tell you both Her fuit is granted for her husband's lands. Enter a Nobleman. Nob. My gracious Lord, Henry your foe is taken, And brought your prifoner 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 queftion of his apprehenfion. Widow, go you along: Lords, use her honourably. Manet Gloucefter. [Exeunt. Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. 'Would he were wafted, 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 foul's defire and me, (The luftful Edward's Title buried) Is is Clarence, Henry, and his fon young Edward; way: Flatt'ring my mind with things impoffible. I'll I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap, And 'witch fweet ladies with my words and looks. Oh, monftrous fault, to harbour fuch a thought! I'll make my heav'n to dream upon the crown; That rends the thorns, and is rent with the thorns. Not knowing how to find the open air, But toiling defp'rately to find it out) Why, I can fmile, and murder while I fmile; And frame my face to all occafions: I'll drown more failors, than the mermaid fhall; G 2 |