With all the warmth of friendship; dwelt with Her wounds scarce closed, shall Edward open pleasure On every princely virtue, that adorns Your noble heart; she listened with attention, And echoed back your praises. Edw. Was not that A kind propitious omen? Hoping to find it, I called in the powers Of England's monarch sighing at her feet, Edw. Not heavier, Suffolk, than it sits on mine : My throne is irksome to me; who would wish To be a sovereign, when Elizabeth Prefers a subject? Then the impetuous Warwick, And break with France, Warwick will take the alarm; If once offended, he's inexorable. Suf. I know him well-Believe me, sir, the high And haughty spirit, when it meets rebuke, Edw. No; Ambition fires His noble breast, love triumphs over mine: Suf. Heroes are but men ; I have some cause to think so-but of that We'll talk another time: meanwhile, my liege, I think lord Warwick is a useful friend. Edw. Aye, and a dangerous foe; the people To adoration love him; if he falls them, And bid them bleed afresh? believe me, Suffolk, I would not be the cause of new divisions Amongst my people, for a thousand kingdoms. Suf. 'Tis nobly said, and may thy grateful subjects Revere thy virtues, and reward thy love! Edw. O! Suffolk, did they know but half the cares, That wait on royalty, they would not grudge know not; But were I worthy to advise, my liege, Edw. No more; my heart is fixed bound In cords of tenderest friendship round my heart, I dread his presence here. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My liege, the earl Of Warwick is arrived. Edw. Ha! when? how? where? Would he were buried in the rapid waves That brought him hither! comes he here to-night? Mess. My liege, ere now he might have reach ed the palace, But that the shouting multitudes press hard On every side, and seem to worship him. [Evil. Suf. Such adoration But ill befits the idol, that receives it. Edw. What's to be done? I camot, must not Meet Warwick there, and urge a sovereign's right, To please himself in that, which should concern Himself alone-firm Buckingham and I - Will plead your cause against the haughty Warwick, Whom I would treat with cold civility, I will compose my troubled thoughts to rest: ACT II. SCENE I. Enter WARWICK, speaking to an Officer. Warw. 'Tis well: I shall attend his highness' pleasure. [Comes forward. Meet me i' th' council! Warwick might have claimed A private audience-After all my toils, My perils in his service, 'tis a cold, Unkind reception: some base whisperer, Some needy sycophant, perhaps, hath poisoned My royal master's ear-or, do I judge Too rashly? As my embassy concerns The public welfare, he would honour me With public thanks-Elizabeth will chide me For this unkind delay-but honour calls, And duty to my king: that task performed, I haste, my love, to happiness and thee. [Exit. SCENE IL-The Council-Chamber. Enter King EDWARD, Dukes of CLARENCE and BUCKINGHAM, Earls of SUFFOLK, PEMBROKE, &c. Edw. Good Buckingham, I thank thee for thy counsel, Nor blame thy honest warmth; I love this freedom; It is the birthright of an Englishman, Or my good fearful lord of Suffolk here, What France will do hereafter: yet I think, I know not how in honour you can swerve Hark! the hero comes; [Shouting. These shouts proclaim him near: the joyful people Will usher in their great deliverer, As he deserves. Enter WARWICK. Edw. Thrice welcome, noble Warwick! Welcome to all! [To CLAR. PEM. &c. Edw. What says our cousin France? He greets you well, and hopes, in closer ties At length, thank Heaven! the iron gates of war If any doubt my faith, my honest zeal But England's honour, and my sovereign's glory! Edw. Mistake me not, good Warwick; well I know Thy spotless truth, thy honour, and thy love; As fame and fortune with their smiles can make me, And all I wish for now is-to be happy. Edw. Kings, my lord, are born With passions, feelings, hearts-like other men; Nor see I yet, why Edward's happiness Must fall a sacrifice to Warwick's honour. Warw. My honour, sir, is yours; my cause your own: Who sent me, and whose image did I bear? Warw. That too, my liege, hath been thy War- From injured France contempt, with deep re wick's care: Happy thou shalt be, if the fairest form, Edu. Beauty, good my lord, Is all ideal; 'tis the wayward child Warw. Such charms would fix A science of affection, guide the heart, And teach it where to fix? impossible! 'Tis strange philosophy. [Rises and comes forward. My lord of Warwick, And cannot be recalled; but three days since Is branded 'midst the nations of the earth sentment For broken faith, and enmity eternal. Edw. Eternal be it then! for, as I prize My inward peace beyond the pomp of state, And all the tinsel glare of fond ambition, I will not wed her.- Gracious Heaven! what am I? The meanest peasant in my realm may choose Unchecked by reason, and the powerful voice Of flatterers, that sooth his darling vices, Suff. My lord, we thank you for the kind sug gestion, Howe'er ill-founded; and when next we meet, To give our voice in aught, that may concern The public weal, no doubt shall ask your leave, Ere we proceed Pemb. My lord of Suffolk, speak But for yourself; Warwick hath too much cause To be offended: in my poor opinion, Edw. You'll pardon me, my lord; I thought it Whate'er you courtiers think, the best support Of England's throne are equity and truth; Buck. It becomes Edw. Good my lords, Let us have no dissentions here; we meet [The council break up and disperse. Edw. [Comes to WARW.] Lord Warwick, keep In narrower bounds that proud impetuous tem per; It may be fatal: there are private reasons- 'Tis well, 'tis very well: I have deserved it; Ha! who's here? The captive queen! if she has aught to ask Enter MARGARET of ANJOU. name, And lives but in idea; once, indeed, Marg. Whose name was-Edward; And penetrating judgment: 'tis too true, Marg. The feast, perhaps, you have provided, Marg. Alas! my lord, Had you been chastened in affliction's school, Warw. Was it like a friend, Marg. Hold, hold, my lord, Be not too rash: who fights in darkness oft Murg. But as fame reports; Of peerless beauty and transcendent charms, Wart. Amazement! no: it must not, cannot be: Elizabeth! he could not, dare not do it! Confusion! I shall soon discover all. [Aside. But what have I to do with Edward's choice, Whoe'er she be, if he refuses mine? Marg. Dissimulation sits but ill, my lord, On minds like yours: I am a poor weak woman, And so, it seems, you think me; but suppose That same all-knowing spirit, which you raised, Who condescends so kindly to instruct me, Should whisper-Warwick knows the power of love As well as Edward; that Elizabeth Warw. Margaret, you might; for 'tis in vain to hide A thought from thee; it might have told you too, To offer her a share in Edward's throne. Warw. Which she refused: did she not, Margaret? Say She did! Marg. I know not that, my lord; but crowns Are dazzling meteors in a woman's eye; Such strong temptations, few of us, I fear, Have virtue to resist. Warw. Elizabeth Has every virtue! I will not doubt her faith. Think'st thou he knew my fond attachment there? Marg. O, passing well, my lord; and when How deeply it would affect you, swore by Heaven, had been A subject still-and-may be so-hereafter. Thou smil'st at my misfortunes. Marg. I must smile, When I behold a subtle statesman thus One should have thought, the reach of years so green As Edward's, to dispatch the weeping lover, Marg. For this, doth Henry languish in a dungeon, And wretched Margaret live a life of woe? Are baubles, fit for children like himself To play with; I have scattered many of them: We will have noble vengeance: are there not Marg. There are; resentment sleeps, But is not dead. Beneath the hollow cover Of loyalty, the slumbering ashes lie Unheeded; Warwick's animating breath Will quickly light them into flames again. Warw. Then, Edward, from this moment I Oh! I will make thee ample recompense Marg. He doth, and I will use it, Warw. That arch-pander, Suffolk, That minister of vice-but time is precious; To-morrow, Margaret, we will meet in private, And have some further conference; mean time Device, consult, use every means against Our common foe: remember, from this hour, Warwick's thy friend-be secret and be happy. (Ere Marg. What easy fools these cunning men are, states With all their policy, when once they fall Into a woman's power! This gallant leader, This blustering Warwick, how the hero shrunk And lessened to my sight! Elizabeth, I thank thee for thy wonder-working charms; The time perhaps may come, when I shall stand Indebted to them for-the throne of England. Proud York, beware; for Lancaster's great name >hall rise superior in the lists of fame: Fortune, that long had frowned, shall smile at last, And make amends for all my sorrows past. (Eri, SCENE I. ACT III. Enter MARGARET, CLIFFORD, and Attendants. Marg. Dispatch these letters straight to Scotland-this, To the French envoy-these, to the earl of Pem broke. [To a gentlem Thus far, my friend, hath fortune favoured us [Turning to Lady CLIFFORD Beyond our hopes: the soul of haughty Warwick |