THE EARL OF WARWICK. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. A Palace. Enter MARGARET of ANJOU, and LADY CLIFFORD. Lady C. Thanks, gracious Heaven! my royal mistress smiles; Unusual gladness sparkles in her eye, And bids new welcome in the stranger, joy, Marg. Yes, my faithful Clifford, Fortune is weary of oppressing me: Through my dark cloud of grief, a cheerful ray throne Of Lancaster; thyself a pris'ner here; Thy captive son torn from his mother's arms, Marg. That, which alone, In sorrow's bitt'rest hour, can minister Lady C. Unhappy princess! that deceiver, hope, Marg. Edward and Warwick, those detested names, If we could break this adamantine chain, Lady C. The Lady Gray, you mean, the beauteous widow, Whose husband fell in arms for Lancaster. Marg. The same.-Warwick long has lov'd- Marg. But if I have art, Or she ambition, that shall never be. I shall provide her with a fitter husband, Lady C. Ha! the king! impossible! Warwick, ev'n now, commission'd by the state, Marg. Solemn trifles! Mere cobweb ties-Love's a despotic tyrant! Of beauty, and Elizabeth has charms This peerless fair one? Marg. Yes-by my contrivance, To Grafton; there-even as my soul had wish'd, His unsuspecting heart- He gaz'd, and wonder'd; for a while, his pride Lady C. What, if she refuse Marg. No matter; all I wish Is but to make them foes.-Warwick He will not brook a rival in his love, Though seated on the throne; besides, thou know'st Lady C. Believe me, madam, Edward still reveres Are link'd together in the strictest bonds Marg. That but serves my cause: Lady C. Now the full prospect opens to my view: What pow'r shall e'er extinguish it? Alas! Enjoy it: O! 'twill be a noble contest Of pride 'gainst pride, oppression 'gainst oppression; And see, the king approaches; This way he passes from the council-Mark His downcast eye; he is a stricken deer; We'll meet and speak to him. Lady C. What mean you, madam ? Marg. To ask him-what, I know, he will refuse; That gives me fair pretext to break with him, And join the man I hate, vindictive Warwick; But soft-he comes Enter KING EDWARD and an OFFICER. King E. Is Suffolk yet return'd? Offi. No, my good liege. [To the OFFICER. King E. Go, wait and bring him to me, Marg. Perhaps it is beneath [Exit. A conqu'ror to look down upon his slave; King E. Whate'er it is, Within the limits of fair courtesy, Which honour can bestow, I'll not refuse thee. Marg. There was a time, when Margaret of Anjou Would not have deign'd to ask of Edward aught; Nor was there aught that Edward dar'd refuse her; But that is past-great Warwick's arm prevail'd, And I am now your pris'ner. King E. Since the hour When fortune smil'd propitious on the cause Marg. Give me back The liberty I lost-restore my son, And I may then, perhaps, be reconcil'd To an usurper; may withhold my vengeance, I cannot fear, you have your liberty. Letters this morning I receiv'd from France, I grant it-from this moment you are free; But for your son-I cannot part with him. Marg. 1 scorn your bounties-scorn your prof fer'd freedom! What's liberty to me without my child? But fate will place us soon above thy reach; Thy short-liv'd tyranny is almost past; |