Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings! Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for 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. Orf. 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 discontent. K. Lew. What! has your king married the lady Grey? - And now, to soothe your forgery and his, I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona, Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be reveng'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, are one. Therefore at last, I firmly am resolv'd, 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, — 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. K. Lew. [Exit Mess. 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, And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral, Q. Mar. Warwick, these words have turn'd my Shall waft them over with our royal fleet. hate to love; And I forgive and quite forget old faults, 9 Juggling. SCENE I. ACT IV. - London. A Room in the Palace. Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well deserves Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MONTAGUE, To have the heir of the lord Hungerford. and others. Glo. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France; Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, attended; LADY GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others. 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? K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will, and And, for this once, my will shall stand for law. To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife, Clar. In choosing for yourself, you show'd your judgment; Which being shallow, you shall give me leave Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the earl of To play the broker in mine own behalf; Warwick; Which are so weak of courage, and in judgment, K. Edw. Suppose they take offence without a cause, Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well. And, to that end, I shortly mind to leave you. K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king, Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleas'd his majesty K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing, too? Glo. Not I: No; God forbid, that I should wish them sever'd K. Edw. Setting your scorns, and your mislike, Tell me some reason, why the lady Grey Clar. Then this is my opinion, that king Lewis Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge, 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 more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth 'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred marriage. Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis back'd with Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting Let us be back'd with heaven, and with the seas, Do cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow. What danger, or what sorrow can befal thee, more. Tell him. in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, 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? Mess. He, more incens'd against your majesty Than all the rest, discharg'd 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 forewarn'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, My thoughts aim at a further matter; I Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; [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; 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. Enter CLARENCE and Somerset. But, sce, 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, 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! Thou call'dst me king. War. Ay, but the case is alter'd: When you disgrac'd me in my embassade, Then I degraded you from being king, And come now to create you duke of York. Alas! how should you govern any kingdom, That know not how to use ambassadors; Nor how to be contented with one wife; Nor 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. When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows, It boots not to resist both wind and tide. with him. 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 pitch'd 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 betray'd by falsehood of his guard, 4. c. In his mind; as far as his own mind goes. Or by his foe surpriz'd at unawares : And I the rather wean me from despair, Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then become? To set the crown once more on Henry's head: Guess thou the rest; king Edward's friends must down. But to prevent the tyrant's violence, (For trust not him that hath once, broken faith,) A Park near Middleham Castle in Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, SIR WILLIAM STANLEY, and others. Glo. Now, my lord Hastings, and sir William Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither, Thus stands the case: You know, our king, my brother, Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands Enter KING EDWARD, and a Huntsman. Hunt. This way, my lord; for this way lies the game. K. Edw. Nay, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen stand. Now, brother of Gloster, lord Hastings, and the rest, Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer? Glo. Brother, the time and case requireth haste; Your horse stands ready at the park corner. K. Edw. But whither shall we then? Hast. To Lynn, my lord, and ship from thence to Flanders. Glo. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning. K. Edw. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness. Glo. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk. K. Edw. Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along. SCENE VI. A Room in the Tower. Enter KING HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SO- K. Hen. Master lieutenant, now that God and Have shaken Edward from the regal seat; Lieut. Subjects may challenge nothing of their But, if an humble prayer may prevail, I then crave pardon of your majesty. K. Hen. For what, lieutenant? for well using me? To Henry's body, and supply his place; Clar. What else? and that succession be deter- War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part. K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief Let me entreat, (for I command no more,) Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all K. Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is that, Of whom you seem to have so tender care? Som. My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Rich mond. powers, K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope: If secret War. What news, my friend? Mess. That Edward is escaped from your brother, War. Your grace hath still been fam'd for vir- And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. tuous; 6 And now may seem as wise as virtuous, War. And I choose Clarence only for protector. Now join your hands, and with your hands, your hearts, That no dissension hinder government: War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent; For on thy fortune I repose myself. War. Unsavoury news: But how made he escape? Mess. He was convey'd by Richard duke of And the lord Hastings, who attended him War. My brother was too careless of his charge.- [Exeunt KING HENRY, WAR., CLAR., Lieut., Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of Ed- For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help; Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Rich mond; So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts Orf. Ay; for, if Edward repossess the crown, War. Why then, though loath, yet must I be 'Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down. content: |