ACT IV. SCENE I. The Palace in England. Enter Gloucester, Clarence, Somerset and Montague. GLOUCESTER. WOW tell me, brother Clarence, what think you Of this new marriage with the lady Gray? Hath not our brother made a worthy choice? 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. Flourish. Enter King Edward, Lady Gray as Queen, Pembroke, Stafford, and Haftings: Four ftand on one fide, and four on the other. Glo. And his well chofen bride. Cla. I mind to tell him plainly what I think. K. Edw. Now, brother Clarence, how like you our choice, That you stand penfive, as half malecontent? Clar. As well as Lewis of France, or th' Earl of Which are fo weak of courage, and in judgment, K. Edw. Suppofe, they take offence without a cause. They are but Lewis and Warwick, and I am Edward, Your King and Warwick's, and must have my will. Glo. And you shall have your will, because our King. Yet hafty marriage feldom proveth well. K. Edw, Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too? Glo. Not I; no. God forbid that I fhould wish Them fevered whom God hath join'd together; Pity to funder them, that yoke fo well. K. Edw. Setting your fcorns and your mislike afide, Tell me fome reafon, why the Lady Gray Should not become my wife, and England's Queen? Clar. Then, this is my opinion; that King Lewis Becomes your enemy for mocking him About the marriage of the lady Bona. 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 fuch invention as I can devife? Mont. Yet to have join'd with France in fuch alliance, Would more have ftrengthen'd this our Commonwealth 'Gainft foreign ftorms, than any home-bred marriage. Haft. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself England is fafe, if true within itself? Mont. Yes; but the fafer, when 'tis back'd with France. Haft. 'Tis better ufing France, than trufting France. Let us be back'd with God, and with the feas, 4 Which he hath given for fence impregnable, And with their helps alone defend ourselves: In them, and in ourselves, our fafety lies. Clar. For this one fpeech, Lord Haftings well deferves To have the Heir of the Lord Hungerford. K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will and Grant, And for this once my will fhall ftand for law. Glo. And yet, methinks, your Grace hath not done well, To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales with the feas,] This and favoured the intereft of has been the advice of every England. man who in any age underflood Unto Unto the brother of your loving bride. * Clar. Or elfe you would not have beftow'd the heir Of the Lord Bonvil on your new wife's fon, And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere. K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife That thou art malecontent? I will provide thee. Clar. In chufing for yourself, you shew'd your judg ment; Which being shallow, you fhall give me Leave To play the broker in mine own behalf; And, to that end, I fhortly mind to leave you. K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be King, And not be ty'd unto his brother's will. Queen, My Lords, before it pleas'd his Majesty And meaner than myfelf have had like fortune. So your diflikes, to whom I would be pleasing, And their true Sovereign, whom they must obey? more. -you would not have beftow'd the heir] It must be remembered, that till the reftoration the heireffes of great eftates were in the wardship of the king, who in their minority gave them up to plunder, and afterwards matched them to his favourites. I know not when li berty gained more than by the abolition of the court of wards, SCENE SCENE II. Enter a Poft K. Edw. Now, Meffenger, what letters or what news from France? Poft. My Sovereign Liege, no letters, and few words; But fuch as I, without your fpecial pardon, Dare not relate. K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee. So tell their words, as near as thou canft guefs them. K. Edw. Is Lewis fo brave? belike, he thinks me But what faid lady Bona to my marriage? Poft. These were her words, utter'd with mild difdain; -Tel him, in hope he'll prove a widower fhortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his fake. K. Edw. I blame not her, fhe could fay little lefs; She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's Queen ? For fo I heard, that fhe was there in place. Poft. Tell him, quoth the, my mourning weeds are done; And I am ready to put armour on. K. Edw. Belike, the means to play the Amazon. But what faid Warwick to thefe injuries? Poft. He, more incens'd against your Majefty Than all the reft, difcharg'd me with thefe words; Tell him from me, that he hath done me Wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long. K. Edw. Ha! durft the Traitor breathe out so proud words? Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd: Poft. Poft. Ay, gracious Sov'reign, they're fo link'd in friendfhip, That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter. [Exit. Clar. Belike the younger; Clarence will have the elder." -Now, brother King, farewel, and fit you faft, For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter; That though I want a Kingdom, yet in Marriage I may not prove inferior to yourfelf.. -You, *that love me and Warwick, follow me. [Exit Clarence, and Somerfet follows. Glo. Not I: my thoughts aim at a further matter: I ftay not for love of Edward, but the Crown. [Afide. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerfet both gone to Warwick? Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; And hafte is needful in this defp'rate cafe. Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf Go levy men, and make prepare for war; They are already, or will foon be landed; Myself in perfon will strait follow you. [Exe. Pembroke and Stafford. But ere I go, Haftings and Montague, in fufpect. I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends. fon of it will be obvious. THEOBALD. You, that love me and Warwick, fellow me.] That Clarence should make this speech in the king's hearing is very improbable, yet I do not fee how it can be palliated. The king never goes out, nor can Clarence be talking to a company apart, for he aufwers immediately to that which the Poft fays to the king. Mon. |