And Nero will be tainted with remorse,
40
To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears.
Ay, but she’s come to beg, Warwick to give;
She on his left side craving aid for Henry:
He on his right, asking a wife for Edward.
She weeps, and says her Henry is depos’d:
45
He smiles, and says his Edward is install’d;
That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more;
Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong,
Inferreth arguments of mighty strength,
And in conclusion wins the King from her
50
With promise of his sister, and what else,
To strengthen and support King Edward’s place.
O Margaret, thus ’twill be; and thou, poor soul,
Art then forsaken, as thou went’st forlorn.
2 KEEPER
Say, what art thou that talk’st of kings and queens?
55
KING HENRY
More than I seem, and less than I was born to:
A man at least, for less I should not be;
And men may talk of kings, and why not I?
2 KEEPER Ay, but thou talk’st as if thou wert a king.
KING HENRY Why, so I am, in mind; and that’s enough.
60
2 KEEPER But if thou be a king, where is thy crown?
KING HENRY My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
Not deck’d with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen: my crown is call’d content;
A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.
65
2 KEEPER
Well, if you be a king crown’d with content,
Your crown content, and you, must be contented
To go along with us; for, as we think,
You are the king King Edward hath depos’d;
And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance,
70
Will apprehend you as his enemy.
KING HENRY
But did you never swear, and break an oath?
2 KEEPER No, never such an oath; nor will not now.
KING HENRY
Where did you dwell when I was King of England?
2 KEEPER
Here in this country, where we now remain.
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KING HENRY I was anointed king at nine months old;
My father and my grandfather were kings,
And you were sworn true subjects unto me:
And tell me then, have you not broke your oaths?
1 KEEPER
No, we were subjects but while you were king.
80
KING HENRY Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man?
Ah, simple men, you know not what you sware.
Look, as I blow this feather from my face,
And as the air blows it to me again,
Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
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And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust,
Such is the lightness of you common men.
But do not break your oaths; for of that sin
My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.
90
Go where you will, the King shall be commanded;
And be you kings; command, and I’ll obey.
1 KEEPER
We are true subjects to the king, King Edward.
KING HENRY So would you be again to Henry,
If he were seated as King Edward is.
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1 KEEPER
Therefore we charge you, in God’s name, and the king’s,
To go with us unto the officers.
KING HENRY
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.
100
3.2 Enter KING EDWARD, RICHARD, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, GEORGE, DUKE OF CLARENCE and LADY ELIZABETH GREY.
KING EDWARD
Brother of Gloucester, at St 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,
5
Because in quarrel of the house of York
The worthy gentleman did lose his life.
RICHARD
Your Highness shall do well to grant her suit;
It were dishonour to deny it her.
KING EDWARD
It were no less; but yet I’ll make a pause.
10
RICHARD [aside to George] Yea, is it so?
I see the lady hath a thing to grant,
Before the King will grant her humble suit.
GEORGE [aside to Richard]
He knows the game: how true he keeps the wind!
RICHARD [aside to George] Silence!
15
KING EDWARD Widow, we will consider of your suit;
And come some other time to know our mind.
LADY 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.
20
RICHARD [aside to George]
Ay, widow? then I’ll warrant you all your lands,
And if what pleases him shall pleasure you.
Fight closer or, good faith, you’ll catch a clap.
GEORGE [aside to Richard]
I fear her not, unless she chance to fall.
RICHARD [aside to George]
Marry, Godsforbot! for he’ll take vantages.
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KING EDWARD
How many children hast thou, widow, tell me.
GEORGE [aside to Richard]
I think he means to beg a child of her.
RICHARD [aside to George]
Nay, whip me then; he’ll rather give her two.
LADY GREY Three, my most gracious lord.
RICHARD [aside]
You shall have four, and you’ll be rul’d by him.
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KING EDWARD
’Twere pity they should lose their father’s lands.
LADY GREY Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.
KING EDWARD
Lords, give us leave; I’ll try this widow’s wit.
RICHARD [aside]
Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave
Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.
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[Richard and George retire.]
KING EDWARD
Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?
LADY GREY Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.
KING EDWARD
And would you not do much to do them good?
LADY GREY
To do them good, I would sustain some harm.
KING EDWARD
Then get your husband’s lands, to do them good.
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LADY GREY Therefore I came unto your Majesty.
KING EDWARD
I’ll tell you how these lands are to be got.
LADY GREY
So shall you bind me to your Highness’ service.
KING EDWARD
What service wilt thou do me if I give them?
LADY GREY What you command that rests in me to do.
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KING EDWARD
But you will take exceptions to my boon.
LADY GREY No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.
KING EDWARD
Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.
LADY GREY
Why, then I will do what your Grace commands.
RICHARD [aside to George]
He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble.
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GEORGE [aside to Richard]
As red as fire! Nay, then, her wax must melt.
LADY GREY
Why stops my lord? Shall I not hear my task?
KING EDWARD An easy task; ’tis but to love a king.
LADY GREY
That’s soon perform’d, because I am a subject.
KING EDWARD
Why, then, thy husband’s lands I freely give thee.
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LADY GREY
I take my leave with many thousand thanks.
RICHARD [aside to George]
The match is made; she seals it with a curtsy.
KING EDWARD
But stay thee – ’tis the fruits of love I mean.
LADY GREY The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.
KING EDWARD Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense.
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What love think’st thou I sue so much to get?
LADY GREY
My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers;
That love which virtue begs, and virtue grants.
KING EDWARD
No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.
LADY GREY
Why, then, you mean not as I thought you did.
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KING EDWARD
But now you partly may perceive my mind.
LADY GREY My mind will never grant what I perceive
Your Highness aims at, if I aim aright.
KING EDWARD To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.
LADY GREY To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.
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KING EDWARD
Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband’s lands.
LADY GREY
Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower;
For by that loss I will not purchase them.
KING EDWARD
Therein thou wrong’st thy children mightily.
LADY GREY
Herein your Highness wrongs both them and me;
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But, mighty lord, this merry inclination
Accords not with the sadness of my suit:
Please you dismiss me, either with ay or no.
KING EDWARD Ay, if thou wilt say ay to my request;
No, if thou dost say no to my demand.
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LADY GREY Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end.
RICHARD [aside to George]
The widow likes him not, she knits her brows.
GEORGE [aside to Richard]
He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom.
KING EDWARD [aside]
Her looks doth argue her replete with modesty;
Her words doth show her wit incomparable;
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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?
LADY GREY
’Tis better said than done, my gracious lord:
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I am a subject, fit to jest withal,
But far unfit to be a sovereign.
KING EDWARD
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.
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LADY 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.
KING EDWARD You cavil, widow, I did mean my queen.
LADY GREY
’Twill grieve your Grace my sons should call you father.
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KING EDWARD
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.
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Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.
RICHARD [aside to George]
The ghostly father now hath done his shrift.
GEORGE [aside to Richard]
When he was made a shriver, ’twas for shift.
KING EDWARD
Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had.
RICHARD The widow likes it not, for she looks vex’d.
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KING EDWARD
You’d think it strange if I should marry her.
The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works Page 237