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 Greyi Hath not our brother made a worthy choice? Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France; How could he stay till Warwick made return? Som. My lords, forbear this talk ; here comes the king. Flourish. Enter King EDWARD, attended; Lady.GREY, choice, That you stand pensive, as half malcontent? Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the earl of War wick; 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, VOL. VIII. 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, Clar. Then this is my opinion,—that king Lewis Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge, peas’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 common-wealth '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. 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 bestow'd 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, ment; 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 K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns : What danger, or what sorrow can befall thee, [ Aside. we? Enter a Messenger. K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters, or what news, from France? 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; Henry: Mess. These were her words, utter'd with mild disdain; 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: They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption. 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. [Exit CLARENCE, and Somerset follows. wick! |