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, Lady, CLARENCE, and Lords. Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. 'Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all, That from his loins nò 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, Henry, and his son young Edward,
And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies,
To take their rooms, ere I can place myself:
A cold premeditation for my purpose!
Why, then I do but dream on sovereignty;
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;

And chides the sea that sunders him from thence,
Saying-he'll lade it dry to have his way:

So do I wish the crown, being so far off;
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.

230

240

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 then 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 my 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 some 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 thoughtl
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,

250

260

I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown;
And, while I live, to account this world but hell, 270
Until my mis-shap'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 rends the thorns, and is rent with the thorns;
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.

280

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,

And 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:
I 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?

290

Tut! were it further off, I'll pluck it down. [Exit.

SCENE III.

France. Flourish. Enter LEWIS the French King, Lady BONA, BOURBON, Queen MARGARET, Prince EDWARD her Son, and the Earl of OXFORD. LEWIS sits, and riseth up again.

K. Lewis. Fair queen of England, worthy Mar

garet,

Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state,

And

And birth, that thou shouldst stand, while Lewis doth

sit.

299

Queen. No, mighty king of France; now Margaret Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve, Where kings command. I was, I must confess, 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. Lewis. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair?

Queen. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with

tears,

And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in

cares.

310

K. Lewis. 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.

Queen. Those gracious words revive my drooping

thoughts,

And give my tongue-ty'd sorrows leave to speak.
Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis-
That Henry, sole possessor of my love,
Is, of a king, become a banish'd man,
And forc'd to live in Scotland a forlorn;

Giij

320

While

While proud ambitious Edward, duke of York,
Usurps the regal title, and the seat

Of England's true anointed lawful king.
This is the cause, that I, poor Margaret—
With this my son, prince Edward, Henry's heir-
Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid;
And, if thou fail us, all our hope is done :
Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help;
Our people and our peers are both mis-led,
Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight,
And, as thou see'st, ourselves in heavy plight.
K. Lew. Renowned queen, with patience calm the
storm,

While we bethink a means to break it off.

330

Queen. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe.

K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour thee. Queen. O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow : And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow.

Enter WARWICK.

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

340 Queen. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend.

K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings

thee to France ? [He descends. She ariseth. Queen. 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