Exempt from envy, but not from disdain,
Unless the lady Bona quit his pain.

--

K. Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve.
Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine.
Yet I confess, [To WAR.] that often ere this day,
When I have heard your king's desert recounted,
Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire.

K. Lew.

Then, Warwick, thus:
Edward's;

our sister shall be

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 't is but reason, that I be releas'd
From giving aid which late I promised

Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand,

That your estate requires, and mine can yield.

War. Henry now lives in Scotland, at his ease,
Where having nothing, nothing can he lose.
And as for you yourself, our quondam queen,
You have a father able to maintain you,

And better 't were you troubled him than France.

Q. Mar. Peace! impudent and shameless Warwick.
Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings;

I will not hence, till with my talk and tears,
Both full of truth, I make king Lewis behold
Thy sly conveyance, and thy lord's false love;

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 the Post.

Post. My lord ambassador, these letters are for you,
Sent from your brother, marquess Montague.
These from our king unto your majesty.

And, Madam, these for you; from whom I know not.

[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 th' 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,

That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's;

No more my king, for he dishonours me,
But most himself, if he could see his shame.
Did I forget, that by the house of York
My father came untimely to his death?
Did I let pass th' abuse done to my niece?
Did I impale him with the regal crown?
Did I put Henry from his native right,
And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame?
Shame on himself, for my desert is honour:

And to repair my honour lost for him,
I here renounce him, and return to Henry.
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.

Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be reveng'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,

That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,

To revel it with him and his new bride:

Thou seest what's past; go fear 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.

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 loyalty:
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.

[Exit Post.

Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,

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 ambassador,

But I return his sworn and mortal foe:
Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,
But dreadful war shall answer his demand.
Had he none else to make a stale but me?
Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.
I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown,

And I'll be chief to bring him down again:

Not that I pity Henry's misery,

But seek revenge on Edward's mockery.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

London. A Room in the Palace.

[Exit.

Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MONTAGUE.
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, 't is 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, and HASTINGS.

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?

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 't were 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