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*K. Hen. Let me embrace these our adversities; *For wise men say, it is the wisest course.

*2 Keep. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him.

*

1 Keep. Forbear awhile; we'll hear a little more. K. Hen. My queen and son are gone to France for aid;

And, as I hear, the great, commanding Warwick
Is thither gone, to crave the French king's sister
To wife for Edward. If this news be true,
'Poor queen, and, son, your labor is but lost;
• For Warwick is a subtle orator,

*

And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words.
By this account, then, Margaret may win him;
For she's a woman to be pitied much;

* Her sighs will make a battery in his breast;
* Her tears will pierce into a marble heart;
The tiger will be mild, while she doth mourn;
* And Nero will be tainted with remorse,
*To hear, and see, her plaints, her brinish tears.
Ay, but she's come to beg; Warwick, to give;
She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry;
He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward.
She weeps, and says-her Henry is deposed;
He smiles, and says-his Edward is installed;
*That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more;
*Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong,
*Inferreth arguments of mighty strength;

*

And, in conclusion, wins the king from her, *With promise of his sister, and what else, *To strengthen and support king Edward's place. *O, Margaret, thus 'twill be; and thou, poor soul, *Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn.

2 Keep. Say, what art thou, that talk'st of kings and queens?

K. Hen. More than I seem, and less than I was

born to;

A man at least, for less I should not be;

And men may talk of kings, and why not I?

2 Keep. Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king

VOL. IV.

61

K. Hen. Why, so I am, in mind; and that's

enough.

2 Keep. But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown? K. Hen. My crown is in my heart, not on my head: *Not decked with diamonds, and Indian stones, *Nor to be seen: my crown is called content; A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy.

2 Keep. Well, if you be a king crowned with

content,

Your crown content, and you, must be contented
To go along with us; for, as we think,

You are the king; king Edward hath deposed,
And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance,
Will apprehend you as his enemy.

*K. Hen. But did you never swear, and break an oath?

*

2 Keep. No, never such an oath, nor will not now. *K Hen. Where did you dwell, when I was king

of England?

*2 Keep. Here in this country, where we now remain.

* K. Hen. I was anointed king at nine months old; *My father and my grandfather were kings;

* And you were sworn true subjects unto me; *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 commanded; * And be you kings; command, and I'll obey.

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