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. 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, Shalt 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 ambassador,
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 raised 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?

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, attended; LADY GREY, as Queen; PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others. Glo. And his well-chosen bride.

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

K. Edw. Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our

choice,

That you stand pensive, as half malcontent?

Clar. 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.

K. Edw. 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. Glo. And you shall have your will, because our king: Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

K. Edw. Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too? Glo. Not I.

No; God forbid that I should wish them severed Whom God hath joined together; ay, and 'twere pity, To sunder them that yoke so well together.

K. Edw. 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.

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 dishonored by this new marriage.

K. Edw. What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeased, By such invention as I can devise?

Mont. Yet to have joined with France in such alliance, Would more have strengthened this our commonwealth 'Gainst foreign storms, than any home-bred marriage. Hast. Why, knows not Montague, that of itself England is safe, if true within itself?

Mont. Yes; but the safer, when 'tis backed with France. Hast. 'Tis better using France, than trusting France. Let us be backed with God, and with the seas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable, And with their helps only defend ourselves; In them, and in ourselves, our safety lies.

Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well deserves 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 shall stand for law.

Glo. And yet methinks your grace hath not done well, To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales

Unto the brother of your loving bride;

She better would have fitted me, or Clarence.
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

Clar. Or else you would not have bestowed the heir

Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's son,
And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! Is it for a wife,
That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.
Clar. In choosing for yourself, you showed your judgment;
Which being shallow, you shall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf;

And to that end, I shortly mind to leave you.

K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king, And not be tied unto his brother's will.

Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleased his majesty
To raise my state to title of a queen,

Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent,

And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
But as this title honors me and mine,

So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.

K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns.
What danger, or what sorrow can befall thee,
So long as Edward is thy constant friend,
And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they seek for hatred at my hands;
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.

Glo. I hear, yet say not much, but think the more. [Aside.

Enter a Messenger.

K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters, or what news, From France?

Mess. My sovereign liege, no letters; and few words, But such as I, without your special pardon,

Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee; therefore, in brief,
Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them.
What answer makes king Lewis unto our letters?

Mess. At my depart, these were his very words:
Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king,-
That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? Belike he thinks me Henry. But what said lady Bona to my marriage?

Mess. These were her words, uttered with mild disdain: Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.

K. Edw. I blame not her; she could say little less;
She had the wrong.
But what said Henry's queen?
For I have heard, that she was there in place.

Mess. Tell him, quoth she, my mourning weeds are done, And I am ready to put armor on.

K. Edw. Belike, she minds to play the Amazon. But what said Warwick to these injuries?

Mess. He, more incensed against your majesty Than all the rest, discharged me with these words: Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong,

And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long.

K. Edw. Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarned;

They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption. But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

Mess. Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so linked in friendship,

That young prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.
Clar. Belike, the elder; Clarence will have the younger.
Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,
For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;
That though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage
I may not prove inferior to yourself.-

You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.

Glo. Not I.

[Exit CLARENCE, and SOMERSET follows.

My thoughts aim at a further matter; I
Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown.

[Aside.

K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick! Yet am I armed against the worst can happen; And haste is needful in this desperate case.— Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf Go levy men, and make prepare for war; They are already, or quickly will be landed: Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFORD. But ere I go, Hastings, and Montague,Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest, Are near to Warwick, by blood, and by alliance.

Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me?

If it be so, then both depart to him;

I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends;
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
That I may never have you in suspect.

Mont. So God help Montague, as he proves true! Hast. And Hastings, as he favors Edward's cause! K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us? Glo. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you. K. Edw. Why so; then am I sure of victory. Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour, Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Plain in Warwickshire.

Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French and other Forces.

War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us.

Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET.

But, see, where Somerset and Clarence come.-
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
Clar. Fear not that, my lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick; And welcome, Somerset. I hold it cowardice

To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

Hath pawned an open hand in sign of love;

Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother,
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.

But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.
And now what rests, but, in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamped,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,

We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
Our scouts have found the adventure very easy;
That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede,

With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents,
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds;
So we, well covered with the night's black mantle,
At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And seize himself; I say not-slaughter him,
For I intend but only to surprise him.-
You, that will follow me to this attempt,
Applaud the name of Henry, with your leader.

[They all cry Henry! Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort. For Warwick and his friends, God and saint George!

[Exeunt.