Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, [Retiring with the PRINCE and OXFORD. K. Lew. Now Warwick tell me, even upon thy conscience, Is Edward your true King? for I were loath K. Lew. But is he gracious in the people's eye? As may beseem a monarch like himself. K. Lew. Now sister, let us hear your firm resolve. Bona. Your grant or your denial shall be mine: Yet I confess [to WARWICK.] that often ere this day, When I have heard your King's desert recounted, Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire. K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus :-our sister shall be Edward's: And now forthwith shall articles be drawn Touching the jointure that your King must make, Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised.— Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness That Bona shall be wife to the English King. Prince. To Edward, but not to the English King. Q. Mar. Deceitful Warwick, it was thy device By this alliance to make void my suit: Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend. K. Lew. And still is friend to him and Margaret: But if your title to the crown be weak, As may appear by Edward's good success, Then 't is but reason that I be released From giving aid, which late I promised. Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand That your estate requires, and mine can yield. War. Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease; Where, having nothing, nothing he can lose. And as for you yourself, our quondam Queen, You have a father able to maintain you: And better 't were you troubled him than France. Q. Mar. Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick, peace: Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings! I will not hence till with my talk and tears, K. Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us or thee. Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for you; Sent from your brother, Marquis Montague: not. [TO MARGARET.-They all read their letters. Oxf. I like it well that our fair Queen and mistress Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. Prince. Nay, mark how Lewis stamps as he were nettled: I hope all's for the best. K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news; and yours fair Queen? Q. Mar. Mine such as fill my heart with unhoped joys. War. Mine full of sorrow and heart's discontent. K. Lew. What! has your King married the Lady Grey; And now, to sooth your forgery and his, Sends me a paper to persuade me patience? Is this the alliance that he seeks with France: Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner? Q. Mar. I told your majesty as much before: This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty. War. King Lewis, I here protest in sight of Heaven, And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss, And I forgive and quite forget old faults; And joy that thou becom'st King Henry's friend. War. So much his friend, ay his unfeignéd friend, That if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us With some few bands of chosen soldiers, I'll undertake to land them on our coast, And force the tyrant from his seat by war. 'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him: And as for Clarence,-as my letters tell me, He's very likely now to fall from him, For matching more for wanton lust than honour, Or than for strength and safety of our country. Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged But by thy help to this distresséd Queen? Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live, Unless thou rescue him from foul despair? [one. Bona. My quarrel and this English Queen's are War. And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours. K. Lew. And mine with hers and thine and Margaret's: Therefore, at last I firmly am resolved You shall have aid. at once. Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all [in post; K. Lew. Then, England's messenger, return And tell false Edward, thy supposéd King, That Lewis of France is sending over maskers To revel it with him and his new bride. Thou seest what's past; go fear thy King withal. Bona. Tell him, in hope he 'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his sake. [aside, Q. Mar. Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid And I am ready to put armour on. [wrong, War. Tell him from me that he hath done me And therefore I'll uncrown him ere 't be long. There's thy reward; be gone. [Exit Messenger. K. Lew. But, Warwick, thou And Oxford, with five thousand men, Shall cross the seas and bid false Edward battle: And, as occasion serves, this noble Queen And Prince shall follow with a fresh supply. Yet ere thou go but answer me one doubt: What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty? War. This shall assure my constant loyalty: That if our Queen and this young Prince agree, 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 : 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, But seek revenge on Edward's mockery. [Exit. ACT IV. SCENE I.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MONTAGUE, and others. Glo. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey: How could he stay till Warwick made return? Som. My lords, forbear this talk here comes the King. Glo. And his well-chosen bride. Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, attended; LADY GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others. K. Edw. Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice, That you stand pensive, as half malcontent? Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the Earl of Warwick: Which are so weak of courage and in judgment, 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 shall have your will, because our King: Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well. K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too? Glo. Not I: No, God forbid that I should wish them severed Whom God hath joined together: ay and 't were pity To sunder them that yoke so well together. K. Edw. Setting your scorns and your mislike aside, Tell me some reason why the Lady Grey Cla. Then this is my opinion: that King Lewis 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 appeased By such invention as I can devise? Mont. Yet to have joined with France in such alliance, [wealth Would more have strengthened this our common'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred marriage. Hast. Why, knows not Montague that of itself England is safe, if true within itself? Mont. Yes; but the safer when it is backed with France. She better would have fitted me or Clarence. Clar. Or else you would not have bestowed the heir Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son, And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere. K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee. Clar. In choosing for yourself you shewed your judgment: Which being shallow, you shall give me leave K. Edw. Leave me or tarry, Edward will be King, And not be tied unto his brothers' will. Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleased his majesty What danger or what sorrow can befal thee more. Enter a Messenger. K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters or what news From France? Mess. My sovereign liege, no letters, and few words; Hast. 'Tis better using France than trusting But such as I, without your special pardon, K. Edw. I blame not her, she could less : She had the wrong. Queen? But what said Henry's For I have heard that she was there in place. Mess. "Tell him," quoth she, "my mourning weeds are done, And I am ready to put armour on." K. Edw. Belike she minds to play the Amazon. But what said Warwick to these injuries? Mess. He, more incensed against your majesty Than all the rest, discharged me with these words: "Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him ere 't be long." K. Edw. Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words? Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarned: They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption. But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret? Mess. Ay, gracious sovereign: they are so linked in friendship That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter. Clar. Belike the elder: Clarence will have the younger. Now, brother-King, farewell, and sit you fast, My thoughts aim at a further matter: I [Aside. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Yet am I armed against the worst can happen; [Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFord. But ere I go, Hastings and Montague, Mont. So God help Montague as he proves true. cause. | K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us? Glo. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you. K. Edw. Why so; then am I sure of victory. Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-A Plain in Warwickshire. Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French and other Forces. War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us. But see where Somerset and Clarence come! Speak suddenly, my lords; are we all friends? Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET. Clar. Fear not that, my lord. And welcome Somerset.-I hold it cowardice We may surprise and take him at our pleasure? With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus tents, SCENE III.-EDWARD's Camp near Warwick. Enter certain Watchmen to guard the KING's tent. 1st Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his stand: The King by this is set him down to sleep. 2nd Watch. What, will he not to bed? 1st Watch. Why, no: for he hath made a solemn vow Never to lie and take his natural rest Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed. 2nd Watch. To-morrow, then, belike shall be the day, If Warwick be so near as men report. 3rd Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is that That with the King here resteth in his tent? 1st Watch. "Tis the Lord Hastings, the King's chiefest friend. 3rd Watch. Oh is it so? But why commands the King That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, While he himself keepeth in the cold field? 2nd Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous. 3rd Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietness: I like it better than a dangerous honour. If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, 'Tis to be doubted he would waken him. 1st Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. 2nd Watch. Ay: wherefore else guard we his royal tent, But to defend his person from night-foes? Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and Forces. War. This is his tent; and see where stand Courage, my masters: honour now or never! 1st Watch. Who goes there? 2nd Watch. Stay or thou diest. [WARWICK and the rest cry all, "Warwick! Warwick!" and set upon the Guard; who fly, "Arm! arm!" crying, WARWICK and the rest following them. The drum beating and trumpets sounding, re-enter WARWICK and the rest, bringing the KING out in a gown, sitting in a chair: GLOSTER and HASTINGS fly. Som. What are they that fly there? War. Richard and Hastings: let them go: here's the duke. K. Edw. The duke! why, Warwick, when we parted last Thou call'dst me King. War. Ay, but the case is altered: Nor know not how to use your brothers brotherly; Nor how to study for the people's welfare: Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies? K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too? Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down. King: I'll follow you, and tell what answer It boots not to resist both wind and tide. War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have To free King Henry from imprisonment, SCENE IV. London.-A Room in the Palace. Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS. Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward? Riv. What, loss of some pitched battle against Warwick? Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal person. Riv. Then is my sovereign slain? Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner: Either betrayed by falsehood of his guard, Riv. These news I must confess are full of grief: Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may: Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day. |