That this his love was an eternal plant; Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground, 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 have tempted judgment to desire. K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus,-Our sister shall be Edward's ; And now forthwith shall articles be drawn Touching the jointure that your king must make, Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king. K. Lew. And still is friend to him and Margaret : And better 'twere, you troubled him than France.' I will not hence, till with my talk and tears, [A horn sounded within. [2] I believe envy is in this place, as in many others, put for malice or hatred. His situation places him above these, though it cannot secure him from female disdain. STEEVENS. [3] This seems ironical. The poverty of Margaret's father is a very frequent topic of reproach. JOHNSON. [4] Conveying is juggling, and thence is taken for artifice and fraud. JOHN. K. Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us, or thee. Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for you; 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 your's, fair queen? Q. Mar. Mine, such as fills 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.- I here renounce him, and return to Henry : [5] Whom, according to Holinshed, king Edward attempted in the earl of Warwick's house. STEEVENS. [6] Guerdon'd-i. e. rewarded. STEEVENS. 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. For matching more for wanton lust than honour, Bona. Dear brother, how shall Bona be reveng'd, 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 your's. K. Lew. And mine, with her's, 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, [Exit Messenger Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle: [7] That is go fright thy king. JOHNSON. 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. Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion: Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick ; 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, [Exeunt all but WARWICE. War. I came from Edward as ambassador, 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. Gloster. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you Of this new marriage with the lady Grey? 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. [8] That is, stalking horse. pretence. STEEVENS. Flourish. Enter King EDWARD, attended; Lady GREY, as queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others. Glo. And his well-chosen pride. Clar. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. K.Ed. Now, brother 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 'twere pity, To sunder them that yoke so well together. K. Edw. Setting your scorns, and your mislike, aside, Tell me the reason, why the lady Grey Should not become my wife, and England's queen :- Speak freely what you think. Clar. Then this is my opinion,-that king Lewis 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 appeas'd, By such invention as I can devise? Mont. Yet to haye join'd with France in such alliance 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, Which he hath given for fence impregnable, And with their helps only defend ourselves; In them, and in ourselves, our safety lies. [9] This has been the advice of every man who in any age understood and favoured the interest of England. JOHNSON. |