The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 220

Enter the POST

POST. My lord amba.s.sador, 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.

[They all read their letters]

OXFORD. I like it well that our fair Queen and mistress Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his.

PRINCE OF WALES. Nay, mark how Lewis stamps as he were nettled.

I hope all's for the best.

LEWIS. Warwick, what are thy news? And yours, fair Queen?

QUEEN MARGARET. Mine such as fill my heart with unhop'd joys.

WARWICK. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent.

LEWIS. What, has your king married the Lady Grey?

And now, to soothe 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?

QUEEN MARGARET. I told your Majesty as much before.

This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty.

WARWICK. 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.

Did I forget that by the house of York My father came untimely to his death?

Did I let pa.s.s th' abuse done to my niece?

Did I impale him with the regal crown?

Did I put Henry from his native right?

And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame?

Shame on himself! for my desert is honour; And to repair my honour lost for him I here renounce him and return to Henry.

My n.o.ble Queen, let former grudges pa.s.s, And henceforth I am thy true servitor.

I will revenge his wrong to Lady Bona, And replant Henry in his former state.

QUEEN MARGARET. 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.

WARWICK. 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 l.u.s.t 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?

QUEEN MARGARET. Renowned Prince, how shall poor Henry live Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?

BONA. My quarrel and this English queen's are one.

WARWICK. And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours.

LEWIS. And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's.

Therefore, at last, I firmly am resolv'd You shall have aid.

QUEEN MARGARET. Let me give humble thanks for all at once.

LEWIS. Then, England's messenger, return in post And tell false Edward, thy supposed king, That Lewis of France is sending over masquers 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.

QUEEN MARGARET. Tell him my mourning weeds are laid aside, And I am ready to put armour on.

WARWICK. 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. Exit POST LEWIS. But, Warwick, Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men, Shall cross the seas and bid false Edward battle: And, as occasion serves, this n.o.ble Queen And Prince shall follow with a fresh supply.

Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt: What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?

WARWICK. This shall a.s.sure 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.

QUEEN MARGARET. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.

Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous, Therefore delay not- give thy hand to Warwick; And with thy hand thy faith irrevocable That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.

PRINCE OF WALES. 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]

LEWIS. 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 WARWICK. I came from Edward as amba.s.sador, 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 stale 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

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ACT IV. SCENE I.

London. The palace

Enter GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, and MONTAGUE

GLOUCESTER. Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey?

Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?

CLARENCE. Alas, you know 'tis far from hence to France!

How could he stay till Warwick made return?

SOMERSET. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the King.

Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, attended; LADY GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others. Four stand on one side, and four on the other

GLOUCESTER. And his well-chosen bride.

CLARENCE. I mind to tell him plainly what I think.

KING EDWARD. Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice That you stand pensive as half malcontent?

CLARENCE. 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.

KING EDWARD. 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.

GLOUCESTER. And shall have your will, because our King.

Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

KING EDWARD. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?

GLOUCESTER. Not I.

No, G.o.d forbid that I should wish them sever'd Whom G.o.d hath join'd together; ay, and 'twere pity To sunder them that yoke so well together.

KING EDWARD. Setting your scorns and your mislike aside, Tell me some reason why the Lady Grey Should not become my wife and England's Queen.

And you too, Somerset and Montague, Speak freely what you think.

CLARENCE. Then this is mine opinion: that King Lewis Becomes your enemy for mocking him About the marriage of the Lady Bona.

GLOUCESTER. And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge, Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

KING EDWARD. What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd By such invention as I can devise?

MONTAGUE. Yet to have join'd with France in such alliance Would more have strength'ned this our commonwealth 'Gainst foreign storms than any home-bred marriage.

HASTINGS. Why, knows not Montague that of itself England is safe, if true within itself?

MONTAGUE. But the safer when 'tis back'd with France.

HASTINGS. 'Tis better using France than trusting France.

Let us be back'd with G.o.d, and with the seas Which He hath giv'n for fence impregnable, And with their helps only defend ourselves.

In them and in ourselves our safety lies.

CLARENCE. For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.