Obeying with my wind when I do blow, 1 Keep. We are true subjects to the king, king Edward. If he were seated as king Edward is. 1 Keep. We charge you, in God's name, and 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. SCENE II. London. A Room in the Palace. [Exeunt. Enter King Edward, Gloster, CLARENCE, and Lady GREY. 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. [Aside. 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. Glo. 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. [Aside. 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 then, whip me; 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. [Aside. K. Edw. "T were pity, they should lose their father's lands. 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 stand apart. K. Edw. Now tell me, Madam, do you love your children? Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. L. Grey. K. Edw. L. Grey. K. Edw. L. Grey. K. Edw. L. Grey. L. Grey. And would you not do much, to do them good? I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. K. Edw. L. Grey. L. Grey. Why then, I will do what your grace commands. Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble. [Aside. Clar. As red as fire! nay then, her wax must melt. [Aside. K. Edw. L. Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject. 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. L. Grey. K. Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love. K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. 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 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. [Aside. [Aside. 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 lord: 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. L. Grey. You cavil, widow: I did mean, my queen. 'T will grieve your grace, my sons should call you father. K. Edw. 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, 't is 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, 't was for shift. [Aside. K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had. K. Edw. You'd think it strange if I should marry her. 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 honourably. [Exeunt King EDWARD, Lady GREY, CLARence, Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, So do I wish the crown, being so far off, And so I chide the means that keep me from it; Flattering me with impossibilities. My eye 's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap, |