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, 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. Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings! Johnson is inclined to think this ironical. The poverty of Margaret's father being a frequent topic of reproach, 8 The queen here applies to Warwick the very words that King Edward, p. 245, addresses to the Deity. It seems doubtful whether these words in the former instance are not in the old play addressed to Warwick also. 9 Conveyance is used for any crafty artifice. The word has already been explained. Vide King Henry VI. Part 1. Act i. Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord ambassador, these letters are for you, Sent from your brother, Marquis Montague. These from our king unto your majesty. And, madam, these for you; from whom I know not. [TO MARGARET. They all read their Letters. Orf. 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: 6 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 sooth10 your forgery and his, * Sends me a paper to persuade me patience? 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,— 10 To sooth, in ancient language, was 'to countenance a falsehood or forged tale, to uphold one in his talke, and affirme it to be true he which speaketh.' BARET. Malone blunders strangely, taking to sooth in its modern acceptation of to soften. 11 King Edward did attempt a thing once in the earle's house, which was much against the earle's honestie (whether he would have deflowred his daughter or his niece, the certaintie was not for both their honours revealed), for surely such a thing was attempted by King Edward,' Holinshed, p. 668. Vol. VI. 14 Did I impale him with the regal crown? And am I guerdon'd12 at the last with shame? I here renounce him, and return to Henry: '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. Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolv'd, You shall have aid. Q. Mar. Let me give humble thanks for all at once. 12 Rewarded. 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 fear13 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 gone14. K. Lew. [Exit Mess. But, Warwick, thou, And Oxford, with five thousand men, Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle: 'Q. Mar. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion: Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous, 13 Fright. 14 Here we are to suppose that, according to ancient custom, Warwick makes a present to the herald or messenger, who in the old play is called a Post. See note on King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. vii. 15 This is a departure from the truth of history, for Edward prince of Wales was married to Anne, second daughter of the earl of Warwick. In fact Isabella, his eldest daughter, was married to Clarence in 1468. There is however no inconsistence in the present proposal, for at the time represented, when Warwick was in France, neither of his daughters were married. Shakspeare has here again followed the old play. In King Richard III. he has properly represented Lady Anne, the widow of Edward prince of Wales, as the youngest daughter of Warwick. 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 embassador, 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 stale16, 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. [Exit. ACT IV. SCENE I. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter GLOSTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, MONTAGUE, and Others. 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? 16 A stale here means a stalking horse, a pretence. |