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* 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?

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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.

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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?

60 Margaret, &c.] The piety of Henry scarce interests us more for his misfortunes, than this his constant solicitude for the welfare of his deceitful Queen. STEEVENS.

* 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, * 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 were seated as king Edward is. 1 Keep. We charge you, in God's name,

the king's,

To go with us unto the officers.

and in

"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 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!

[Aside.

Aside.

'K. Edw. Widow, we will consider" of your suit; '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,

An if what pleases him, shall pleasure you.

7 Widow, we will consider -] This is a very lively and spritely dialogue; the reciprocation is quicker than is common in Shakspeare. JOHNSON.

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

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him.

[Aside. K. Edw. "Twere pity, they should lose their fa

ther'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 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 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.

3- good leave have you ;] Good leave, are words implying readiness of assent.

* 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 marble.

[Aside.

* Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax must

[Aside. melt. 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.

'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;

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