Glo. Silence !

K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit; And come some other time, to know our mind. 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.

Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow.

Clar. [Aside.]

fall.

120

fear her not, unless she chance to

Glo. [Aside.] God forbid that! for he'll take van

tagès.

K. Edw. How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.

Clar. [Aside.] I think, he means to beg a child of

her.

Glo. [Aside.] Nay, whip me then; he'll rather give

her two.

Grey. Three, my most gracious lord.

Glo. [Aside.] You shall have four, if you'll be rul'd

by him.

130

K. Edw. 'Twere pity, they should lose their father's

land.

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

'Till youth take leave, and leave you to your crutch. [GLOSTER and CLARENCE retire to the other Side. K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

K. Edw. And would you not do much to do them good?

Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some

harm.

K. Edw. Then get your husband's lands, to do them

good.

Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty.

140

K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness' ser

vice.

K. Edw. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?

Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do.
K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon.
Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.
K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.
Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace com-
mands.

149

Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears the

marble.

[Aside.

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

[Aside.

Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my

task?

K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king.

Grey.

Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a sub

ject.

K. Edw. Why then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee.

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.

Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.' K. Edw. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. 160 What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get? Grey. My love 'till death, my humble thanks, my

prayers;

That love, which virtue begs, and virtue grants. K. Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.

Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you

did.

K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my

mind.

Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive Your highness aims at, if I aim aright.

K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.

Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.

K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy hus

band's lands.

171

Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower: For by that loss I will not purchase them.

K. Edw. Herein thou wrong'st thy children migh

aly.

Grey'.

Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and

me.

But, mighty lord, this merry inclination

Accords not with the sadness of my suit;

Please you dismiss me, either with ay, or no.

K. Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say ay, to my request: No; if thou dost say no, to my demand.

180 Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end. Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her brows.

[Aside.

Clar. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom.

[Aside.

K. Edw. [Aside.] Her looks do argue her replete

with modesty;

Her words do shew her wit incomparable;
All her perfections challenge sovereignty:
One way, or other, she is for a king;

And she shall be my love, or else my queen.—
Say, that king Edward take thee for his queen ?

Grey. 'Tis better said than done, my gracious lord:

I am a subject fit to jest withal,

But far unfit to be a sovereign.

190

K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee,

I speak no more than what my soul intends;

And that is, to enjoy thee for my love.

Grey. And that is more than I will yield unto: I know, I am too mean to be your queen;

And yet too good to be your

concubine.

K. Edw. You cavil, widow; I did mean, my queen.

Grey.

Grey. 'Twill grieve your grace, my sons should call

you-father.

200

K. Edw. No more, than when my daughters call thee mother.

Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children;
And, by God's mother, I, being but a bachelor,
Have other some: why, 'tis a happy thing
To be the father unto many sons.

Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.

Glo. The ghostly father now hath done his shrift.

[Aside Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for shift.

[Aside. K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two

have had.

Glo. The widow likes it not, for she looks sad. 210 K. Edw. You'd think it strange, if I should marry her.

Clar. To whom, my lord?

K. Edw. Why, Clarence, to myself.

Glo. That would be ten days' wonder, at the least.
Clar. That's a day longer than a wonder lasts.
Glo. By so much is the wonder in extremes.

K. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you both,

Her suit is granted for her husband's lands.

Enter a Nobleman.

Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, And brought as prisoner to your palace gate.

G

220

K. Edw.