1 And what God will, that let your king perform; London. A room in the Palace. Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, CLA- K. Ed, Brother of Gloster, at Saint Albans' field Gio. Your highness shall do well to grant her suit; K. Edo. It were no less, but yet I'll make a pause. Before the king will grant her humble suit. Glo. Silence! [Aside. Aside. K. Edu. Widow, we will consider of your suit; An if what pleases him shall pleasure you. [Aside. Glo. God forbid that! for he'll take vantages. [Aside. K. Edu. 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 [Aside. two. L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord. him. [Aside. K. Edw. Twere pity they should lose their father land. L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. K.Edw. Lords, give us leave; I'll try this widow's wit. Glo. Ay, good leave have you; for you will have 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 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. 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. Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt. the marble. [Aside. 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 I mean. L. Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege. K. Edo. 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. But now you partly may perceive my mind. L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive Your highness aims at, if I am aright. K. Ede. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. L. Edw. 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 Accords not with the sadness of my suit; L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end. brows. [Aside. Cla. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom. [Aside. K. Edw. [Aside.] Her looks do argue her replete with modesty; Her words do show her wit incomparable; All her perfections challenge sovereignty: And she shall be my love, or else my queen.- 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 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; 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 my daughters call thee mother. Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen. 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 sad. K. Edw. You'd think it strange, if I should marry her. Clar. To whom, my lord? 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 King Edward, Lady Grey, Clarence, 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! And yet, between my soul's desire, and me. (The lustful Edward's title buried,) Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. O, monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought! I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown; That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns; |