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: And, tell me then, have you not broke your oaths? 1 Keep. No;

For we were subjects, but while you were king.

K. Hen. Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man?
Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear.
Look, as I blow this feather from my face,

And as the air blows it to me again,

[4] The piety of Henry scarce interests us more for his misfortunes, than this his constant solicitude for the welfare of his deceitful queen. STEEVENS.

Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust;
Such is the lightness of you common men.
But do not break your oaths; for, of that sin
My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.
Go where you will, the king shall be commanded;
And be you kings; command, and I'll obey.

1 Keep. We are true subjects to the king, king Edward. K. Hen. So would you be again to Henry,

If he we were seated as king Edward is.

1 Keep. We charge you, in God's name, and in the king's, To go with us unto the officers.

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.

SCENE II.

London. A Room in the Palace.

[Exeunt.

Enter King EDWARD,

GLOSTER, CLARENCE, and Lady GREY.

K. Edw. Brother of Gloster, at St. Albans' field
The 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?

I 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?

Glo. Silence!

K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit.

And come some other time, to know our mind;

[Aside [Aside

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.

[5] This is a very lively and sprightly dialogue; the reciprocation is quicker than is common in Shakespeare. JOHNSON

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 two.

[Aside.

L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord.
Glo. You shall have four, if you'll be rul'd by him. [Aside.
K.Edw. 'Twere pity, they should lose their father's lands.
L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.

K. Edw. Lords, give us leave; I'll try this widow's wit. Glo. Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave, Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch.

[GLOSTER and CLARENCE retire to the other side.

K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your chil

dren?

-L. Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

K. Edw. And would you not do much, to do them good? L. Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some harm. K. Edw. Then get your husband's lands to do them good. L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty.

marble.

K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got.
L. Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness' service.
K. Edw. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them ?
L. Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do.
K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon.
L. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.
K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.
L. Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace commands.
Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears the
[Aside.
Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt. [Asi.
L. Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my task ?
K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king.
L. Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject.
K. Edw. Why then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee.
I.. 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.
L. Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.

K. Edw. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get?

L. 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. L. Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did. K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my mind. L. 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.
L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.
K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's
lands.

L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower; For by that loss I will not purchase them.

K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily. L.Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and me. But, mighty lord, this merry inclination

Accords not with the sadness of my suit;
Please you dismiss me, either with ay, or no.

K. Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say Ay, to my request:
No; if thou dost say No, to my demand.

L. Grey. Then, No, my lord. My suit is at an end. Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her brows. Cla. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom. [Aside. K. Edw. Her looks do argue her replete with modesty ; Her words do shew her wit incomparable;

All her perfections challenge sovereignty:

One way, or other, she is for a king;

And she shall be my love, or else my queen.

Say, that king Edward take thee for his queen?

[Aside.

L. Grey. 'Tis better said than done, my gracious lord:

I am a subject fit to jest withal,

But far unfit to be a sovereign.

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.

L. Grey. And that is more than I will yield unto :

I know, I am too mean to be your queen;

And yet too good to be your concubine.

K. Edw. You cavil, widow; I did mean, my queen. L. Grey. "Twill grieve your grace, my sons should call you-father.

K. Edw. No more, than when my daughters call thee

mother.

Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children;

And, by God's mother, I, being but a bachelor,
Have other some: why, 'tis a happy thing
To be the father unto many sons.

Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.

Glo. The ghostly father now hath done his shrift [Asi. Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for shift. [Asi. K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had. Glo. The widow likes it not, for she looks sad.

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.
Clar. That's a day longer than a wonder lasts.
Glo. By so much is the wonder in extremes.

K. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you both, Her suit is granted for her husband's lands.

Enter a Nobleman.

Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, And brought your prisoner to your palace gate.

K. Edw. See, that he be convey'd unto the Tower :And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, To question of his apprehension.

Widow, go you along ;-Lords, use her honourable. [Exeunt King EDWARD, Lady GREY, Clarence, and Lord.

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 titles buried,)

Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward,
And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies,
To take their rooms, ere I can place myself:
A cold premeditation for my purpose!
Why, then I do but dream on sovereignty ;
Like one that stands upon a promontory,
And spies a far-off shore where he would tread,
Wishing his foot were equal with his eye;
And chides the sea that sunders him from thence,
Saying—he'll lade it dry to have his way :