Which we in justice cannot well deny, It were dishonour to deny it her. K. Edw. It were no less; but yet I'll make a Glo. Yea! is it so? I see, the lady hath a thing to grant, [pause. Before the king will grant her humble suit. Clar. He knows the game; How true he keeps the wind? Glo. Silence! [Aside. 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, And if what pleases him, shall pleasure you. Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow. 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, whip me then; he'll rather give her two. [Aside. L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord. [Aside. K. Edw. "Twere pity, they should lose their father's land. [then. L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it widow's wit. Glo. Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave, Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch. [GLO. and CLAR. 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. Edw. Then get your husband's lands, to do them good. L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty. K. Edw. 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? L. Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do. K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon. [do it. L. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask. 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 [Aside. melt. L. Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my task? K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king. L. Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject, K. Edw. Why then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee. L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand thanks. Glo. The match is made; she seals it with a curt'sy. K. Edw. But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love 1 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. [perceive L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands. 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 an end. Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her brows. Clar. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom. [Aside. [Aside. K. Edw. [Aside.] Her looks do argue her re plete with modesty ; Her words do show her wit incomparable; And she shall be my love, or else my queen.- I am a subject fit to jest withal, 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: K. Edw. You cavil, widow; I did mean, my queen. L. Grey. Twill grieve your grace, my sons should call you-father. K. Edw. No more than when thy daughters call thee mother. Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; shrift. [Aside. Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for shift. [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. 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, CLAR. 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! Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, Flattering me with impossibilities. My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, Unless my hand and strength could equal them. And deck my body in gay ornaments, And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. O miserable thought! and more unlikely, |