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 forlorno. 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 5 This line has already occurred in the former Act: Inferring arguments of mighty force." In the old play the line occurs but once. 6 The piety of Henry scarce interests us more for his misfortunes than this his constant solicitude for the welfare of his deceitful queen.-Steevens. 7 Malone thinks that there is an allusion here to an old poem by Sir Edward Dyer, beginning My mind to me a kingdom is.' See it in Percy's Reliques, 3d edit. vol. i. p. 293 Vol. VI. 13* 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, remain. where we now *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 Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear. 1 Kcep. We are true subjects to the king, King Edward. 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, 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. [Exeunt. SCENE II. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, CLARENCE, and LADY GREY. K. Edw. Brother of Gloster, at Saint Albans' field 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 life1. 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. I see, the lady hath a thing to grant, This is in every particular a falsification of history. Sir John Grey fell in the second battle of St. Albans fighting on the side of King Henry; and so far is it from being true that his lands were seized by the conqueror (Queen Margaret) that they were in fact seized by King Edward after his victory at Towton, 1461. The present scene is laid in 1464. Skakspeare followed the old play in this instance; but when he afterwards had occasion to mention this matter in writing his King Richard III. he stated it truly as he found it in the Chronicles. In Act i. Sc. 2 of that play, Richard, addressing himself to Queen Elizabeth (the Lady Grey of the present scene), says : In all which time you and your husband Grey Were factious for the house of Lancaster; (And, Rivers, so were you :)-was not your husband Malone says that this circumstance, among numerous others, proves incontestably that Shakspeare was not the original author of this and the preceding play. Clar. He knows the game; How true he keeps the wind? Glo. Silence! [Aside. [Aside. K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit2; 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, And 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. 6 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. [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. Glo. Ay, good leave3 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. 2 A very lively and spritely dialogue; the reciprocation is quicker than is common in Shakspeare.-Johnson. 3 This phrase implies readiness of assent. K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your children? 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. K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. L. Grey. So shall you bind me to your high ness' 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. K. 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 marble. [Aside. Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt. [Aside. 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. L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand thanks. Glo. The match is made; she seals it with a curt'sy. |