ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

From injur❜d France, contempt, with deep resent

ment

For broken faith, and enmity eternal.

King E. 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 chuse
His rustic bride, and share with her, the sweets
Of mutual friendship, and domestic bliss?
Why should my happier subjects then deny me,
The common rights, the privilege of nature,
And, in a land of freedom, thus conspire

To make their king the only slave among them? Warw. The worst of slaves is he, whom passion rules,

Uncheck'd by reason, and the pow'rful voice

Of friendship, which, I fear, is heard no more
By thoughtless Edward. 'Tis the curse of kings
To be surrounded by a venal herd

Of flatt'rers, that sooth his darling vices,
And rob their master of his subjects' love.
Nay, frown not, sirs, supported as ye are,
I fear you not. Which of this noble train,
These well-beloved counsellors and friends,
Assembled here to witness my disgrace,
Have urg'd you to this base, unmanly falsehood?
Shame on you all! to stain the spotless mind
Of uncorrupted youth! undo the work

Of Warwick's friendly hand, and give him back
A sov'reign, so unlike the noble Edward.

Suf. My lord, we thank you for the kind suggestion,

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 has too much cause
To be offended: in my poor opinion,

Whate'er you courtiers think, the best support
Of England's throne, are equity and truth;
Nor will I hold that man my sov'reign's friend,
Who shall exhort him to forsake his word,
And play the hypocrite. What tie shall bind
The subject to obedience, when his king,
Bankrupt in honour, gives the royal sanction
To perfidy and falsehood?

Buck. It becomes

But ill the Earl of Pembroke

King E. Good my lords,

Let us have no dissensions here; we met
For other purposes; some few days hence
We shall expect your counsel in affairs

Of moment; for the present, urge no further
This matter.-Fare ye well.

[The Council breaks up, and disperses. King E. [Coming up to WARWICK.] Lord Warwick, keep

In narrower bounds, that proud impetuous temper;may be fatal-there are private reasons;

It

When time befits, we shall impart them to you;
Meanwhile, if you have friendship, love, or duty,
No more of Bona-I'm determin'd.

Warw. So

'Tis well-'tis very well-I have deserv'd it;
I've borne this callow eagle on my wing,
And now he spurns me from him; 'tis a change
I little look'd for, and sits heavy on me.
Alas! how doubly painful is the wound,
When 'tis inflicted by the hand we love!
Cruel, ungrateful Edward!

Ha! who's here?

The captive queen! if she has aught to ask

[Exit.

Of me, she comes in luckless hour, for I

Am pow'rless now.

Enter MARGARET OF ANJOU.

Warw. Will Margaret of Anjou,
Thus deign to visit her acknowledg'd foe?
Marg. Alas, my lord! inur'd to wretchedness
As I am, and familiar with misfortune,
I harbour no resentment; have long since
Forgot that Warwick ever was my foe,
And only wish to prove myself his friend.
Warw. Talk not of friendship, 'tis an empty name,
And lives but in idea; once, indeed,
I thought I had a friend.—

Marg. Whose name was-Edward;
Read I aright, my lord, and am I not
A shrewd diviner? Yes, that downcast eye
And gloomy aspect say I am: you look
As if the idol made by your own hands,
Had fall'n upon, and crush'd you-is't not so ?
Come, come, I know it is.

Warw. Amazement! naught escapes thy piercing

eye,

And penetrating judgment: 'tis too true;

I am a poor, disgrac'd, dishonour'd slave,

Not worth thy seeking; leave me; for the tide
Of court preferment flows another way.

Marg. The feast, perhaps, you have provided, suits

not

With Edward's nicer palate; he disdains,
How sweet soe'er, to taste a foreign banquet,
And relishes no dainties but his own:-
Am I again mistaken ?

Warw. Sure, thou deal'st

With some all-knowing spirit, who imparts

Each secret purpose to thee, else, how knew'st thou That Edward had refus'd to wed the princess?

Marg. O, it requires no supernatural aid
To trace his actions, nor has Margret trod
The paths of life with unobserving eye;

I could have told you this long since; for know,
The choice is made,

And, but for your return, as unexpected,
As undesir'd, had been, ere this, complete;
And, as in duty bound, you then had paid
Your due obedience to our-English queen.

Warw. Determin'd, say'st thou? Gracious Heaven! 'tis well

I am return'd.

Marg. Indeed, my lord, you came
A little out of season; 'twas unkind
To interrupt your master's happiness,
To blast so fair a passion in its bloom,
And check the rising harvest of his love.

Warw. Margret, I thank thee-yes, it must be so;
His blushes, his confusion, all confirm it,
And yet I am amaz'd, astonished.

Marg. Wherefore?

Is it so strange, a mind, unfraught with wisdom,
And lifted high with proud prosperity,

Should follow pleasure, through the crooked paths
Of falsehood, should forsake a useless friend,
For the warm joys of animating beauty?
Warw. No; but was it like a friend-
Was it like Edward, to conceal his love?
Some base, insinuating, artful woman,
With borrow'd charms, perhaps

Marg. Hold, hold, my lord,

Be not too rash; who fights in darkness, oft
May wound a bosom friend; perhaps, you wrong
The best, and most accomplish'd of her sex.
Warw. Know you the lady?

Marg. But as fame reports,

Of peerless beauty, and transcendent charms,
But, for her virtue-I must ask of—you.

D

Warw. Of me? What virtues? Whose?

Marg. Elizabeth's.

Warw. Amazement? no, it must not, cannot be ! Elizabeth! he could not, dare not do it!

Confusion! I shall soon discover all !
But what have I to do with Edward's choice,
Whoe'er she be, if he refuses mine?

[Aside.

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 rais'd, Who condescends so kindly to instruct me, Should whisper-Warwick knows the pow'r of love, As well as Edward, that Elizabeth

Was his first wish, the idol of his soul;

What say you?-Might I venture to believe it?

Warw. Margret, you might; for, 'tis in vain to bide

A thought from thee; it might have told you too,
If it be so, there is not such a wretch

On earth as Warwick: give me but the proof

Marg. Lord Suffolk was last night despatch'd to Grafton,

To offer her a share in Edward's throne.

Warw. Which she refus'd, did she not, Margret? 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 ev'ry virtue.

I'll not doubt her faith.

Marg. Edward is young, and handsome.

Waru. Curses on him!

Think'st thou, he knew my fond attachment there? Marg. O, passing well, my lord; and when 'twas urg'd

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »