* Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be re veng'd, * But by thy help to this distressed queen? * Q. Mar. Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live, * Unless thou rescue him from foul despair? *Bona. My quarrel, and this English queen's, are one. *War. And mine, fair lady Bona, joins with yours. *K. Lew. And mine, with hers, and thine, and Margaret's. Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolv'd, You shall have aid. Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all at once. K. Lew. Then England's messenger, return in post; And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,- *Thou seest what's past, go fear 4 thy king withal. Bona. Tell him, In hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his sake. Q. Mar. Tell him, My mourning weeds are laid aside, And I am ready to put armour on. War. Tell him from me, That he hath done me wrong; And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long. There's thy reward; be gone. [Exit Mess. 4 Fright. K. Lew. But, Warwick, thou, And Oxford, with five thousand men, Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle: * And, as occasion serves, this noble queen *And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. 'Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt;— 'What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty? War. This shall assure my constant loyaltý :— That if our queen and this young prince agree, I'll join mine eldest daughter, and my joy, To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands. 'Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you motion: : 'Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous, for your Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick; And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable, 'That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine. *Prince. Yes, I accept her, for she well deserves it; *And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand. [He gives his hand to WARWICK. 'K. Lew. Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied, And thou, lord Bourbon, our high admiral, 'Shall waft them over with our royal fleet.— I long, till Edward fall by war's mischance, 'For mocking marriage with a dame of France. [Exeunt all but WARWICK. War. I came from Edward as embassador, But I return his sworn and mortal foe: But dreadful war shall answer his demand. Had he none else to make a stale,5 but me? But seek revenge on Edward's mockery. ACT IV. [Exit. SCENE I. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MONTAGUE, and Others. 'Glo. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you 'Of this new marriage with the lady Grey? * Hath not our brother made a worthy choice? * Clar. Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France; * How could he stay till Warwick made return? *Som. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king. Flourish. Enter King EDWARD, attended; Lady GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and Others. * Glo. And his well-chosen bride. *Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. 'K. Edw. Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice, 'That you stand pensive, as half malcontent? 5 A stalking horse, a pretence. 'Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or the earl of Warwick; Which are so weak of courage, and in judgment, 'That they'll take no offence at our abuse. K. Edw. Suppose, they take offence without a cause, They are but Lewis and Warwick; I am Edward, 'Your king and Warwick's, and must have my will. Glo. And you shall have your will, because our king: 'Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well. K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too? Glo. Not I: No; God forbid, that I should wish them sever'd Whom God hath join'd together: ay, and 'twere pity, To sunder them that yoke so well together. K. Edw. Setting your scorns, and your mislike, aside, Tell me some reason, why the lady Grey • Should not become my wife, and England's queen :— And you too, Somerset, and Montague, Speak freely what you think. Clar. Then this is my opinion,-that king Lewis Becomes your enemy, for mocking him About the marriage of the lady Bona. Glo. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge, Is now dishonoured by this new marriage. 'K. Edw. What, if both Lewis and Warwick be Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in such alli ance, Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth 'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred marriage. Hast. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself England is safe, if true within itself? * Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis back'd with France. Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting France: * Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas," Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well de serves 'To have the heir of the lord Hungerford. K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will, and grant; * And, for this once, my will shall stand for law. 'Glo. And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well, To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales Unto the brother of your loving bride; She better would have fitted me, or Clarence: 'But in your bride you bury brotherhood. Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir 7 6 This has been the advice of every man who in any age understood and favoured the interest of England. 7 The heiresses of great estates were in the wardship of the king, who matched them to his favourites. |