K. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I 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.-
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, 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.-

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 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,

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 camelion;
Change shapes, with Proteus, for advantages,
And set the murd'rous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut! were it further off, I'll pluck it down. [Exit.
SCENE III-France. A room in the palace.
Flourish. Enter Lewis the French King, and
Lady Bona, attended; the king takes his state.
Then Enter Queen Margaret, Prince Edward
her son, and the Earl of Oxford.

'K. Lew. Fair queen of England, worthy Mar-
garet,
[Rising.

'Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state,
And birth, that thou should'st stand, while Lewis

doth sit.

* 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 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. 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

cares.

*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 my drooping thoughts,

*

*And give my tongue-tied 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;

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,-

I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown;* With this my son, prince Edward, Henry's heir,-
And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell,* Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid;

* Until my misshap'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 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.
(1) Encircled.

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 misled, * Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight, *And, as thou sec'st, ourselves in heavy plight. * K. Lew. Renowned queen, with patience calm

the storm,

While we bethink a means to break it off.

* Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe.

* K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour

thee.

* Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true

sorrow:

And now forthwith shall articles be drawn Touching the jointure that your king must make, *Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd: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 Mar-
garet:

But if your title to the crown be weak,-
As may appear by Edward's good success,—
*Then 'tis but reason, that I be releas'd

From giving aid, which late I promised. *Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand, dis-* That your estate requires, and mine can yield.

"Whom thou obey'dst thirty and six years,
And not bewray thy treason with a blush?
War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,*
Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree?
For shame, leave Henry, and call Edward king.
(1) Malice, or hatred.

Enter a Messenger.

K. Lew. And mine, with hers, and thine, and
Margaret's.

'Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolv'd,

you;

Sent from your brother marquis Montague.
These from our king unto your majesty.—
And, madam, these for you; from whom, I know 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 unhop'd joys.

War. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discon

tent.

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 hon-

esty.

War. King Lewis, I here protest,-inght of
heaven,

And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss,-
That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's;
No more my king, for he dishonours me;
But most himself, if he could see his shame.-
Did I forget, that by the house of York
My father came untimely to his death?
Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece?
Did I impale him with the regal crown?
Did I put Henry from his native right;

'And am I guerdon'd' at the last with shame?
* Shame on himself! for my desert is honour.
*And, to repair my honour lost for him,
* I here renounce him, and return to Henry:
My noble queen, let former grudges pass,
And henceforth I am thy true servitor;
I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona,
And replant Henry in his former state.

Q. Mar. Warwick, these words have turn'd
my hate to love;

'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 unfeigned
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 re-

veng'd,

But by thy help to this distressed queen
*Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor
Henry live,

*Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?
*Bona. My quarrel, and this English queen's,

You shall have aid.

* Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all at

once.

K. Lew. Then England's messenger, return in
post;
And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,-
That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride:

Thou seest what's past, go fear2 thy king withal.
Bona. Tell him, In hope he'll prove a widower
shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.

Q. Mar. Tell him, My mourning weeds are laid aside, And I am ready to put armour on.

War. Tell him from me, That he hath done me

wrong;

And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long.
There's thy reward: be gone.
[Exit Mess.
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
rhotion:-

'Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick;
'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,
'Shall 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 shall answer his demand.
Had he none else to make a stale,' but me?
Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.
I was the chief that raised him to the crown,
And I'll be chief to bring him down again:
Not that I pity Henry's misery,
But seek revenge on Edward's mockery.

ACT IV.

[Exit.

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

Of this new marriage with the lady Grey?

(3) A stalking-horse, a pretence.

* Glo. And his well-chosen bride.

Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think.
'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 Edvard, "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.

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?

Glo. Not I:

No; God forbid, that I should wish them sever'd Whom God hath join'd together: ay, and 'twere 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
'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 yet, methinks, your grace hath not 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 L'estow'd the heir1

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 maleontert? 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 majesty
To raise my state to title of a queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent,

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 ana with sorrow.
'K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their
frowns:

What danger, or what sorrow, can befall thee,
So long as Edward is thy constant friend,
And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they seek for hatred at my hands:
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
'Glo. I hear, yet say not much, but think the
[Aside.

more.

Enter a Messenger.

'K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters, 02 what news,

'Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in From France? charge,

Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

'K. Edw. What, if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd,

'By such invention as I can devise?

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

Would mcre have strengthen'd this our commonwealth,

'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 '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;

And, for this once, my will shall stand for law.

(1) The heiress of great estates were in the wardship of the king, who match'd them to his favourites.

'Mess. My sovereign liege, no letters; and few
words,

But such as I, without your special pardon,
Dare not relate.

'K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore,
in brief,

Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess
them.

'What answer makes king Lewis unto our letters?
Mess. At my depart, these were his very words:
Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king,—
That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? belike, he thinks
me Henry.

But what said lady Bona to my marriage?
Mess. These were her words, utter'd with mild
disdain ;

Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,
I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.

K. Edw. I blame not her, she could say little less
She had the wrong. But what said Henry's queen?
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?

'But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?
Mess. Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd
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, *For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter: *That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage I may not prove inferior to yourself.You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.

His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,
We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
Our scouts have found the adventure very easy:
That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede,

*With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents,
* And brought from thence the Thracian fatal
steeds;

*So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle,
*At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And seize himself, I say not-slaughter him,
For I intend but only to surprise him.-
You, that will follow me to this attempt,
'Applaud the name of Henry, with your leader.
[They all cry, Henry!
Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort:
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint
George!
[Exeunt.
SCENE III-Edward's camp, near Warwick.
Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the King's

tent.
[Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows.
* Glo. Not I:

* My thoughts aim at a further matter; I
*Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown. [Aside.
K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to
Warwick!

*Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen;
*And haste is needful in this desperate case.-
Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf
'Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
"They are already, or quickly will be landed:
'Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford.

But, ere I go, Hastings,-and Montague,-
'Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,
Are near to Warwick, by blood, and by alliance:
"Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me?
'If it be so, then both depart to him;

'I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends;
'But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
'Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
"That I may never have you in suspect.

Mont. So God help Montague, as he proves true!
Hast. And Hastings, as he favours Edward's

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.
Enter Clarence and Somerset.

But see, where Somerset and Clarence come ;-
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
Clar. Fear not that, my lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto
Warwick;

And welcome, Somerset:-I hold it cowardice,
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart
Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love;
Else might I think, that Clarence, Edward's brother,
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings:
But welcome, Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.
And now what rests, but, in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,

*1 Watch. Come on, my masters, each man
take his stand;

The king, by this, is set him down to sleep.
*2 Watch. What, will he not to-bed?

*1 Watch. Why, no: for he hath made a solemn

VOW

Never to lie and take his natural rest,

*Till Warwick, or himself, be quite suppress'd.
*2 Watch. To-morrow then, belike, shall be
the day,

* If Warwick be so near as men report.

*3 Watch But say, I pray, what nobleman is
that,

That with the king here resteth in his tent?
*1 Watch. 'Tis the lord Hastings, the king's

chiefest friend.

*3 Watch. O, 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? *2 Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous.

*3 Watch. Ay; but give me worship and quiet

ness,

* I like it better than a dangerous honour.
*If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
"Tis to be doubted, he would waken him.
*1 Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his
passage.

*2 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
his guard.

Courage, my masters: honour now, or never! 'But follow me, and Edward shall be ours. 1 Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.

[Warwick, and the rest, cry all-Warwick! Warwick! and set upon the guard; who fly, crying-Arm! Arm! Warwick, and the rest, following them.

The drum beating, and trumpets sounding. Reenter Warwick, and the rest, bringing the King out in a gown, silling 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.