Rich. Let me be duke of Clarence; George, of Gloster; For Gloster's dukedom is too ominous. War. Tut, that's a foolish observation; Richard, be duke of Gloster: Now to London, To see these honours in possession. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.-A chase in the north of England. Enter two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands. 1 Keep. Under this thick-grown brakel we'll shroud ourselves; For through this laund2 anon the deer will come; And in this covert will we make our stand, • Culling the principal of all the deer. *2 Keep. I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. *1 Keep. That cannot be; the noise of thy crossbow * Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. * In this self-place where now we mean to stand. 2 Keep. Here comes a man, let's stay till he be past. Enter Henry, disguised, with a prayer-book. K. Hen. From Scotland am I stol'n, even of pure love, To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine; * Thy place is fill'd, thy sceptre wrung from thee, (1) Thicket. (2) A plain extended between woods. VOL. V. L * Thy balm wash'd off, wherewith thou wast anointed: No bending knee will call thee Cæsar now, • No humble suitors press to speak for right, * No, not a man comes for redress of thee; For how can I help them, and not myself? '1 Keep. Ay, here's a deer whose skin's a keeper's fee: This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him. * K. Hen. Let me embrace these sour adversities; * For wise men say, it is the wisest course. *2 Keep. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him. *1 Keep. Forbear a while; we'll hear a little K. Hen. My queen, and son, are gone to France for aid; more. And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick Is thither gone, to crave the French king's sister To wife for Edward: If this news be true, Poor queen, and son, your labour is but lost; For Warwick is a subtle orator, * And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. By this account, then, Margaret may win him; For she's a woman to be pitied much : * Her sighs will make a battery in his breast; * Her tears will pierce into a marble heart; * The tiger will be mild, while she doth mourn; * And Nero will be tainted with remorse, * To hear, and see, her plaints, her brinish tears. * Ay, but she's come to beg; Warwick, to give : She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry; He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward. She weeps, and says-her Henry is depos'd; He smiles, and says-his Edward is install'd; * That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more: * Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong, * Inferreth arguments of mighty strength; * And, in conclusion, wins the king from her, * With promise of his sister, and what else, * To strengthen and support king Edward's place. * O Margaret, thus 'twill be; and thou, poor soul, * Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn. 2 Keep. Say, what art thou, that talk'st of kings and queens? K. Hen. More than I seem, and less than I was born to: A man at least, for less I should not be; And men may talk of kings, and why not I? 2 Keep. Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king. K. Hen. Why, so I am, in mind; and that's enough. 2 Keep. But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown? K. Hen. My crown is in my heart, not on my head; * Not deck'd with diamonds, and Indian stones, * Nor to be seen: 'my crown is call'd, content; A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy. 2 Keep. Well, if you be a king crown'd with content, Your crown content, and you, must be contented • To go along with us: for, as we think, You are the king, king Edward hath depos'd; And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance, Will apprehend you as his enemy. * K. Hen. But did you never swear, and break an oath? *2 Keep. No, never such an oath, nor will not now. * K. Hen. Where did you dwell, when I was king of England? *2 Keep. Here in this country, where we now remain. * K. Hen. I was anointed king at nine months old; * My father and my grandfather, were kings; * And you were sworn true subjects unto me: 1 * And, tell me then, have you not broke your oaths? For we were subjects, but while you were king. * Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear. *1 Keep. We are true subjects to the king, king * K. Hen. So would you be again to Henry, * If he were seated as king Edward is. 1 Keep. We charge you, in God's name, and in the king's, K. Hen. In God's name, lead; your king's name be obey'd: * And what God will, then let your king perform; * And what he will, I humbly yield unto. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-London. A room in the palace. K. Edw. Brother of Gloster, at Saint Albans' This lady's husband, sir John Grey, was slain, His lands then seiz'd on by the conqueror: Her suit is now, to repossess those lands; • Which we in justice cannot well deny, Because in quarrel of the house of York * The worthy gentleman did lose his life. Glo. Your highness shall do well, to grant her suit; * It were dishonour, to deny it her. K. Edw. It were no less; but yet I'll make a pause. Glo. Yea! is it so? see the lady hath a thing to grant, Before the king will grant her humble suit. Clar. He knows the game; How true he keeps the wind! [Aside. Glo. Silence! Aside. K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit; And come some other time, to know our mind. L. Grey. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay: May it please your highness to resolve me now; ' And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me. Glo. [Aside.] Ay, widow? then I'll warrant you all your lands, • An if what pleases him, shall pleasure you. • Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow. * Clar. I fear her not, unless she chance to fall. [Aside. * Glo. God forbid that! for he'll take vantages. [Aside. K. Edw. How many children hast thou, widow? tell me. Clar. I think, he means to beg a child of her. [Aside. Glo. Nay, whip me then; he'll rather give her [Aside. two. L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord. [Aside. K. Edw. 'Twere pity, they should lose their father's land. L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. K. Edw. Lords, give us leave; I'll try this widow's wit. |