* 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, and in the king's,

To go with us unto the officers.

'K. Hen. In God's name, lead; your king's name be obey'd:

* And what God will, that let your king perform; * And what he will, I humbly yield unto. [Exeunt.

SCENE

II.

LONDON. A ROOM IN THE PALACE.

Enter King Edward, Glo'ster, Clarence, and

Lady Grey.

'K. Edw. Brother of Glo'ster, 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,

[Aside to Clar.

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.

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

him.

[Aside.

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

father'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. [Glo'ster 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.

*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

melt.

[Aside. 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;

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

love.

*L. Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did.

*K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my

mind.

* L. 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.

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

prison.

K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy hus band's lands.

L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower;

For by that loss I will not purchase them.

'K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily.

L. 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.

L. 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 re

plete with modesty;

* Her words do show 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?
L. Grey. 'Tis better said than done, my gracious
lord:

I am a subject fit to jest withal,

But far unfit to be a sovereign,