'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. 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; 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: 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 : 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; 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. 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, 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 chides the sea that sunders him from thence, So do I wish the crown, being so far 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; |