Change shapes, with Proteus, for advantages, [Exit. SCENE III.-France. A Room in the Palace. Flourish. Enter LEWIS the French King, and Lady BONA, attended; the King takes his State. Then enter Queen MARGARET, Prince EDWARD her Son, and the Earl of OXFOrd. K. Lew. Fair queen of England, worthy Margaret, [Rising. Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state, K. Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears, And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind Q. Mar. Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts, And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak. That Henry, sole possessor of my love, Of England's true-anointed lawful king. While we bethink a means to break it off. Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe. K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour thee. Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow: And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Enter WARWICK, attended. K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to our presence? Q. Mar. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend. K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France? [Descending from his state. Queen MARGARET rises. Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise; For this is he, that moves both wind and tide. War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion, With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant That virtuous lady Bona, thy fair sister, To England's king, in lawful marriage, Q. Mar. If that go forward, Henry's hope is done. War. And, gracious madam, [To BONA.] in our king's behalf, I am commanded, with your leave and favour, Q. Mar. King Lewis, and lady Bona,-hear me speak, Before you answer Warwick. His demand Springs not from Edward's well meant honest love, But from deceit, bred by necessity; For how can tyrants safely govern home, That Henry liveth still: but were he dead, Yet here prince Edward stands, king Henry's son. For though usurpers sway the rule a while, Prince. And why not queen? War. Because thy father Henry did usurp; And thou no more art prince, than she is queen. Orf. Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt, Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain; And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the fourth, Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest; And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth, Who by his prowess conquered all France: From these our Henry lineally descends. War. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse, You told not, how Henry the sixth hath lost All that which Henry the fifth had gotten? Methinks, these peers of France should smile at that. But for the rest,-You tell a pedigree Of three score and two years; a silly time. To make prescription for a kingdom's worth. Oxf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege, Whom thou obeyd'st thirty and six years, War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree? For shame, leave Henry, and call Edward king. Oxf. Call him my king, by whose injurious doom Was done to death? and more than so, my father, War. And I the house of York. K. Lew. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and Oxford, Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, While I use further conference with Warwick. Q. Mar. Heaven grant, that Warwick's words bewitch him not! [Retiring with the Prince and OXFORD. K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience, Is Edward your true king? for I were loath, War. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour. War. Such it seems, As may beseem a monarch like himself. |