* Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs. War. Injurious Margaret! Prince. And why not queen? War. Because thy father Henry did usurp ; And thou no more art prince, than she is queen. Oxf. 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 dis course, You told not, how Henry the sixth hath lost Of threescore 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, And not bewray thy treason with a blush? 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 My elder brother, the lord Aubrey Vere, Was done to death? and more than so, my father, Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years, • When nature brought him to the door of death? No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm, 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. < Unto our sister Bona. War. Such it seems, As may beseem a monarch like himself. K. Lew. Now, sister, let us here your firm resolve. Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine:Yet I confess, [To WAR.] that often ere this day, I Malice, or hatred. When I have heard your king's desert recounted, K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus,-Our sister * And now forthwith shall articles be drawn * Touching the jointure that your king must make, * Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd:Draw near, queen Margaret; and be a witness, That Bona shall be wife to the English king. Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king. * Q. Mar. Deceitful Warwick! it was thy device * By this alliance to make void my suit; * Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend. *K. Lew. And still is friend to him and Margaret: * But if your title to the crown be weak,* As may appear by Edward's good success,Then 'tis but reason, that I be releas'd * From giving aid, which late I promised. War. Henry now lives in Scotland, at his ease; And better 'twere, you troubled him than France. *Pround setter-up and puller-down of kings! 2 2 Juggling. *For both of you are birds of self-same feather. [A Horn sounded within. K. Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us, or thee. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for you; Sent from your brother, marquis Montague. And, madam, these for you; from whom, I know not. [To MARGARET. They all read their Letters. Oxf. I like it well, that our fair queen and mistress Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. Prince. Nay, mark, how Lewis stamps as he were nettled: * I hope, all's for the best. K. Lew. Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen? 'Q. Mar. Mine, such as fill my heart with unhop'd joys. War. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent. K. Lew. What! has your king married the lady Grey? And now, to sooth your forgery and his, 'Sends me a paper to persuade me patience? 'Is this the alliance that he seeks with France ? 'Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner? * Q. Mar. I told your majesty as much before: This proveth Edward's love, and Warwick's honesty. War. King Lewis, I here protest,-in sight of heaven, And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss,- My noble queen, let former grudges pass, And henceforth I am thy true servitor; I will revenge his wrong to lady Bona, And replant Henry in his former state. 'Q. Mar. Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate to love; 'And I forgive and quite forget old faults, And joy that thou becom'st king Henry's friend. War. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend, That, if king Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us With some few bands of chosen soldiers, I'll undertake to land them on our coast, And force the tyrant from his seat by war. 'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him: * And as for Clarence,-as my letters tell me, * He's very likely now to fall from him; * For matching more for wanton lust than honour, *Or than for strength and safety of our country. 3 Rewarded. |