'Till youth take leave, and leave you to your crutch. [GLOSTER and CLARENCE retire to the other Side. K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

K. Edw. And would you not do much to do them good?

Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some

harm.

K. Edw. Then get your husband's lands, to do them

good.

Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty.

140

K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness' service.

K. Edw. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?

Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do.
K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon.
Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.
K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.
Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace com-
mands.

149

Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears the

marble.

[Aside.

Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt.

[Aside.

Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my

task?

K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king.

Grey.

Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a sub

ject.

K. Edw. Why then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee.

Grey. I take my leave, with many thousand thanks. Glo. The match is made; she seals it with a curt'sy. K. Edw. But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I

mean.

Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege. K. Edw. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. 160 What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get? Grey. My love 'till death, my humble thanks, my prayers;

That love, which virtue begs, and virtue grants. K. Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.

Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you

did.

K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my mind.

Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive Your highness aims at, if I aim aright.

K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands.

171

Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower: For by that loss I will not purchase them.

K. Edw. Herein thou wrong'st thy children migh

tily.

Grey.

Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and

me.

But, mighty lord, this merry inclination

Accords not with the sadness of my suit;
Please you dismiss me, either with ay, or no.

180

K. Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say ay, to my request: No; if thou dost say no, to my demand. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end. Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her brows.

[Aside.

Clar. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom.

[Aside.

K. Edw. [Aside.] Her looks do argue her replete

with modesty;

Her words do shew her wit incomparable;

All her perfections challenge sovereignty:
One way, or other, she is for a king ;
And she shall be my love, or else my queen.--
Say, that king Edward take thee for his queen ?

Grey. 'Tis better said than done, my gracious lord:

I am a subject fit to jest withal,

But far unfit to be a sovereign.

190

K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee, I speak no more than what my soul intends;

And that is, to enjoy thee for my love.

Grey. And that is more than I will yield unto :
I know, I am too mean to be your queen ;
And yet too good to be your concubine.

K. Edw. You cavil, widow; I did mean, my queen.

Grey.

Grey. 'Twill grieve your grace, my sons should call

you-father.

200

K. Edw. No more, than when my daughters call thee mother.

Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children;
And, by God's mother, I, being but a bachelor,
Have other some: why, 'tis a happy thing
To be the father unto many sons.

Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.

Glo. The ghostly father now hath done his shrift.

[Aside. Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for shift.

8

[Aside. K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two

have had.

Glo. The widow likes it not, for she looks sad. 210 K. Edw. You'd think it strange, if I should marry her.

Clar. To whom, my lord?

K. Edw. Why, Clarence, to myself.

Glo. That would be ten days' wonder, at the least.
Clar. That's a day longer than a wonder lasts.
Glo. By so much is the wonder in extremes.
K. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you
both,

Her suit is granted for her husband's lands.

Enter a Nobleman.

Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, And brought as prisoner to your palace gate.

G

220

K. Edw.

K. Edw. See, that he be convey'd unto the

Tower :

And go we, brothers, to the man that took him,
To question of his apprehension.-

Widow, go you along;

ably.

-Lords, use her honour

[Exeunt King, Lady, CLARENCE, and Lords. Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. 'Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all, That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, To cross me from the golden time I look for! And yet, between my soul's desire, and me (The lustful Edward's title buried),

Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward,
And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies,
To take their rooms, ere I can place myself:
A cold premeditation for my purpose!
Why, then I do but dream on sovereignty;
Like one that stands upon a promontory,
And spies a far-off shore where he would tread,
Wishing his foot were equal with his eye;

And chides the sea that sunders him from thence,
Saying-he'll lade it dry to have his way :

So do I wish the crown, being so far off;
And so I chide the means that keep me from it;
And so I say I'll cut the causes off,

Flattering me with impossibilities.—

230

240

My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, Unless my hand and strength could equal them. Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard;