HENRY VI

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 com-
manded;

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, then 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. Ed. Brother of Gloster, at Saint Al-
ban's fleld

The lady's husband, Sir John Grey, was slain;
His lands then seized 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 pause.

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!

[Aside.
[Aside.

Lords, give us leave; I'll try this
widow's wit.

Glo. Ay, good leave have you; for you will
bave 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. Edw. Then get your husband's land, 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 high-
ness' 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.

L. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.

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
[Aside.
the marble.
Clar. As red as fire! Nay, then her wax must
[Aside
melt.

L. Grey. Why stops my lord? Shall I not
1
hear my task?

K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king.
L. Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I ain
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 [Aside. 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.

K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get?

[Aside. [Aside.

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 am 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;

Glo. Nay, whip me then; he'll rather give For by that loss I will not purchase them.

ber two.

L. Grey. Three, my most gracions lord.
Glo. You shall have four, if you'll be rul'd
[Aside.

by bim.

L. Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and me.

K. Edw. 'Twere pity, they should lose their But, mighty lord, this merry inclination,

father's land.

L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it

then.

• This phrase implies readiness of ascent.

Accords not with the sadness of my suit;
Please you disiniss me, either with ay of no.
K. Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say ay to my re-

quest:

No; if thou dost say no to my demand.

L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is an end.

at

Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her
brows.
[Aside.

To take their rooms, cre I can place myself:
A cold premeditation for my purpose!
Why, then I do but dream on sovereiguty;
Like one that stands upon a promontory,
And spies a far-off shore where he would tread,
Wishing his foot were equal with his eye;
Aud chides the sea that sunders him from
thence,

Saying-he'll lade it dry to have his way:
Clar. He is the bluntest wooer in Christen-So do I wish the crown being so far off;
dom.
And so I chide the means that keep me from it;
And so I say-I'll cut the causes off,
Flattering me with impossibilities.—

[Aside. K. Edw. [Aside.] Her looks do argue her replete with modesty ;

Her words do show her wit incomparable;
All her perfections challenge sovereignty;
One way, or other, she is for a king;
And she shall be my love, or else my queen.-
Say, that king Edward take thee for his queen ?
L. Grey. 'Tis better said thau doue, iny gra-

cious lord:

I am a subject fit to jest withal,
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. 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;
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,
Glo. The ghostly father now hath done his
shrift.
[Aside.
Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for
[Aside.
K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two
have had.

shift.

Glo. The widow likes it not, for she looks 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 teu 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: 1 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.-

My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too
much,

Unless my hand and strength could equal them.
Well, say there is no kingdom theu for Richard;
What other pleasure can the world afford?
I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap,
And deck my body in gay ornaments,
And witch sweet ladies with any words and
looks.

O miserable thought! and more unlikely,
Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns!
Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb:
And, for I should not deal in her soft laws,
She did corrupt frail nature with a bribe
To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub;
To make an envious mountain on my back,
Where sits deformity to mock my body;
To shape my legs of an unequal size;
To disproportion me in every part,
Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp,
That carries no impression like the dam.
And am I then a man to be belov❜d ↑
O monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought!
Then, since this earth affords no joy to me,
But to command, to check, to o'erbear such
As are of better person than myself,

I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown ;
And, whiles I live, to account this world but
hell,
Until my missbap'd trunk that bears this head,
Be round impaled with a glorious crown.
And yet I know not how to get the crown,
For many lives stand between me and home:
And I, like one lost in a thorny wood,
That rents the thorns, and is reat with the
thorus ;

Seeking a way, and straying from the way;
Not knowing how to find the open air,
But toiling desperately to find it out,
Torment myself to catch the English crown:
And from that torment I will free myself,
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder while I smile;
And cry content, to that which grieves my
heart;

And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
Aud frame my face to all occasions.
I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall ;
I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk;
I'll play the orator as well as Nestor,
Deceive more slily than Ulysses could,
And, like a Sinon, take another Troy:
can add colours to the cameleon ;
Change shapes with Proteus, for advantages,
And set the murd'rous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?

Widow, go you along; -Lords, use her honour-Tut! were it further off, I'll pluck it down. able.

[Exeunt King EDWARD, Lady GREY, CLARENCE, and Lords.

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, Heury, and his son young Edward,
And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies,

The seriousness.

[Exit.

Scene III. THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI.

And birth, that thou should'st stand, while
Lewis doth sit. 1663 07

Q. Mar. No, mighty king of France; now
Margaret

Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve,
Where kings command. I was, I must con-
fess,

Great Albion's queen in former golden days:
But now mischance hath trod my title down,
And with dishonour laid me on the ground;
Where I must take like seat unto my fortune,
And to my humble seat conform myself.

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

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
drooping thoughts,

And give my tongue-tied sorrows
speak

And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow.

Enter WARWICK, attended.

K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to
our presence?

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.

Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to

rise;
For this is he, that moves both wind and tide.
War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion,
My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend,
I come, in kindness and unfeigned love,-
First, to do greetings to thy royal person;
And, then, to crave a league of amity;
And, lastly, to confirm that amity

With nuptial knot, if thon vouchsafe to grant
That virtuous lady Bona, thy fair sister,
To England's king in lawful marriage.

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,
Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue
To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart;

533

Where fame, late entering at his heedful ears,
Hath plac'd thy beauty's image, and thy virtue.
Q. Mar. King Lewis,-and lady Bona,-hear
hear me speak,
sen

Before you answer Warwick. His demand A
Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest
love,

But from deceit, bred by necessity;
For how can tyrants safely govern home,
Unless abroad they purchase great alliance?
To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice,
That Henry liveth still; but were he dead,
Yet here prince Edward stands, king Henry's

KING HENRY VI

I'll join mine eldest daughter, and my joy,
To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands.

Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for
your motion :-

Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
Therefore delay not, give thy hand to War-
wick;

And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable,
That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.
Prince. Yes, I accept her, for she well de-
serves it;

And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand.
He gives his hand to WARWICK.
K. Lew. Why stay we now? These soldiers
shall be levied,

And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral,
Shalt waft them over with our royal fleet.-
I long, till Edward fall by war's mischance,
For mocking marriage with a dame of France.
[Exeunt all but WARWICK.
War. I came from Edward as ambassador,
But I return his sworn and mortal foe:
Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,
But dreadful war shail answer his demand.
Had be none else to make a stale, but me?
Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.
I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown,
And I'll be chief to bring him down again
Not that I pity Heury's misery,

But seek revenge on Edward's mockery.

ACT IV.

[Exit.

SCENE 1.-London.-A Room in the Palace.
Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MON-
TAGUE, and others.

Glo. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what
think you

of this new marriage with the lady Grey?
Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?
Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to

France;

How could he stay till Warwick made return?
Som. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes
the king.

Flourish. Enter King EDWARD, attended;
Lady GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAF
VORD, HASTINGS, and others.
Glo. And his well-chosen bride.

Clar. 1 miud to tell him plainly what 1
think.

K. Edw. Now brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,

That you stand pensive, as half malecontent? Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the earl of Warwick;

Which are so weak of courage, and in judg

That they'll take no offence at our abuse.
K. Edw. Suppose they take offence without a

cause.

They are but Lewis and Warwick; I am Edward,

Your king and Warwick's, and must have my

will.

Glo. And you shall have your will, because our king;

Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

me some reason, why the lady Grey
Should not become my wife, and England's
queen :-

And you too, Somerset and Montague,
Speak freely what you think.

Clar. Then this is my opinion,-that king
Lewis

Becomes your enemy, for mocking him
About the marriage of the lady Bona.

Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in
charge,

Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.
K. Edw. What, if both Lewis and Warwick
be appeas'd,

But such invention as I can devise ?

Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in such
alliance,

Would more have strengthen'd this our common-
wealth

'Gainst foreign storms, than any
marriage.

home-bred

Hast, Why, knows not Montague, that of

itself

England is safe, if true within itself!

Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis back'd

with France.

Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting
France,

Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas,
Which he hath given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps only defend ourselves;
In them and in ourselves, our safety lies.

Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well
deserves

To have the heir of the lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will,

and grant;

Glo. And yet, methinks, your grace hath not And, for this once, my will shall stand for law. done well,

To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales
Unto the brother of your loving bride;
She better would have fitted me or Clarence:
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.
Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd
the heir +

Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's sou
to go speed else-
And leave your brothers
where.

K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a
wife,

That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee.

Clar. In choosing for yourself you

show'd

your judgment:
Which, being shallow, you shall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And, to that end, I shortly mind to leave you.
K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be

king,

And not be tied unto his brother's will.
Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleas'd his ma-
jesty

To raise my state to title of a queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of desceut,
And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,
So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with sor-

row.

K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns:

K. Ed. Yea, brother Richard, are you of What danger, or what sorrow can befall thee