But Edward is-Suffolk, I know, abhors him;
A favourite must be hated: if he urges
This dreadful contract, I shall hate him too:
I cannot live without Elizabeth;
I'll think no more-if I must sacrifice
My friendship or my love-the choice is made. [Exit.
Enter the EARL of WARWICK, speaking to an OFFICER.
Warw. 'Tis well; I shall attend his highness' plea
Meet me i'th' council!-Warwick might have claim'd
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 poison'd
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 perform'd,
I haste, my love, to happiness and thee.
KING EDWARD, DUKES OF CLARENCE and BUCKINGHAM, EARLS OF SUFFOLK, PEMBROKE, &c.
King E. Good Buckingham, I thank thee for thy counsel,
Nor blame thy honest warmth; I love this freedom,
It is the birthright of an Englishman,
And doth become thee: what says noble Suffolk ?
Suff. I would not cross my royal master's will;
But, on my soul, I think, this nuptial league
With France, prepost'rous, and impolitic;
It cannot last; we are by nature foes,
And naught but mutual poverty and weakness,
Can ever make us friends: she wants our aid
Against the pow'rful Burgundy, and therefore
Throws out this lure of beauty to ensnare you;
That purpose gain'd, she turns her arms against us.
Pemb. Why, let her: if she comes with hostile
England, thank Heaven, is ready to receive her.
I love my country, and revere my king,
As much, perhaps, as honest Buckingham,
Or my good, fearful Lord of Suffolk here,
Who knows so well, or would be thought to know,
What France will do hereafter: yet I think,
The faith of nations is a thing so sacred,
It ought not to be trifled with. I hate
As much as you, th' unnatural, forc'd alliance;
And yet, my lords, if Warwick is empower'd,
(For so I hear he is), to treat with Lewis,
I know not how in honour you can swerve
From his conditious.
Hark! the hero comes:
Those shouts proclaim him near: the joyful people Will usher in their great deliverer,
King E. Thrice welcome, noble Warwick, Welcome to all! [To CLARENCE, PEMBROKE, &c. Suff. You've had, my lord, I fear,
An arduous task, which few could execute,
But Warwick; in the council and the field,
Alike distinguish'd, and alike successful.
King E. What says our cousin France?
Warw. By me, my liege,
He greets you well, and hopes in closer ties
United soon, to wear a dearer name.
At length, thank Heaven! the iron gates of war
Are clos'd, and peace displays her silken banners,
O'er the contending nations; ev'ry doubt
Is now remov'd, and confidence establish'd,
I hope, to last for ages.
King E. Peace, my lord,
Is ever welcome; 'tis the gift of Heaven,
The nurse of science, art's fair patroness,
And merit's best protector; but if France
Would chain us down to ignominious terms,
Cramp our free commerce, and infringe the rights
Of our liege subjects, England may repent,
Too late, her rash credulity; and peace,
With all her blessings, may be bought too dear.
Warw. The shame would then be his, who made
the purchase.
If any doubt my faith, my honest zeal
For thee, and for my country, let him speak,
And I will answer; punish me, just Heaven,
If, in the task, I have consulted aught
But England's honour, and my sovereign's glory!
King E. Mistake me not, good Warwick, well I
know
Thy spotless truth, thy honour, and thy love;
But glory has no farther charms for me:
Rais'd by thy pow'rful aid to England's throne,
I ask no more: already I am great,
As fame and fortune, with their smiles, can make me,
And all I wish for now, is to be happy.
Warw. That too, my liege, hath been thy Warwick's care;
Happy thou shalt be, if the fairest form
That ever caught a gazing lover's eye,
Join'd to the sweetest, most engaging virtues
Can make thee so. Bona accepts with joy,
Thy proffer'd hand: she is, indeed, a gem,
Fit to adorn the brightest crown: to see,
Is to admire her-trust me, England's self,
The seat of beauty, and the throne of love,
Boasts not a fairer.
King E. Beauty, good my lord,
Is all ideal; 'tis the wayward child
Of fancy, shifting with the changeful wind
Of fond opinion; what to you appears
The model of perfection, may disgust
My strange capricious taste.
Warw. Such charms would fix
Inconstancy itself: her winning virtues,
Ev'n if her beauty fail'd, would soon subdue
The rebel heart, and you would learn to love her.
King E. Is the passion to be learn'd then? wouldst
A science of affection? guide the heart,
And teach it where to fix? Impossible!
[Rises and comes forward.
Your zeal in England's, and in Edward's cause
Merits our thanks; but for the intended marriage
With France's daughter-it may never be.
Warw. Not be? it must! your sacred word is is pass'd,
And cannot be recall'd: but three days since
I sign'd the contract, and my honour's pledg'd
For the performance: Heavens! whilst fickle France
Is branded 'midst the nations of the carth,
For breach of public faith: shall we, my liege,
Practise ourselves, the vices we condemn?
Pass o'er a rival nation's ev'ry virtue,
And imitate their perfidy alone?
King E. You'll pardon me, my lord, I thought it part
Of a king's power, to have a will, to see
With his own eyes, and in life's little feast,
To cater for himself; but 'tis, it seems,
A privilege his subjects can refuse him.
Warw. And so they ought; the king who cannot
His private int'rest, for the public welfare,
Knows not his duty.
King E. 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!
The image of a great, and glorious king,
Or, of a weak, and wav'ring boy?-henceforth,
Chuse from the herd of foaming sycophants,
Some needy slave for your mock embassy,
To do your work, and stain the name of England
With foul reproach:-Edward, I blush for thee,
And for my country; for, from this hour, expect
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