KING LEWIS Fair Queen of England, worthy Margaret,
Sit down with us. It ill befits thy state2
And birth, that thou shouldst stand while Lewis doth sit.
QUEEN MARGARET No, mighty King of France: now Margaret
Must strike her sail5 and learn awhile to serve
Where kings command. I was, I must confess,
Great Albion's7 queen in former golden days,
But now mischance8 hath trod my title down
And with dishonour laid me on the ground,
Where I must take like seat unto10 my fortune,
And to my humble seat conform myself.
KING LEWIS Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair?
QUEEN MARGARET From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears
And stops my tongue, while heart is drowned in cares.
KING LEWIS Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself15,
And sit thee by our side:
Seats her by him
Yield not thy neck
To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind
Still ride in triumph over all mischance.
Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief:
It shall be eased, if France20 can yield relief.
QUEEN MARGARET Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts
And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak.
Now therefore be it known to noble Lewis,
That Henry, sole possessor of my love,
Is, of25 a king, become a banished man,
And forced to live in Scotland a forlorn26;
While proud ambitious Edward, Duke of York,
Usurps the regal title and the seat
Of England's true-anointed lawful king.
This is the cause that I, poor Margaret,
With this my son, Prince Edward, Henry's heir,
Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid.
And if thou fail us, all our hope is done.
Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help,
Our people and our peers are both misled,
Our treasures seized, our soldiers put to flight,
And, as thou see'st, ourselves in heavy37 plight.
KING LEWIS Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm38,
While we bethink a means to break it off.
QUEEN MARGARET The more we stay40, the stronger grows our foe.
KING LEWIS The more I stay, the more I'll succour41 thee.
QUEEN MARGARET O, but impatience waiteth on42 true sorrow.
And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow!
Enter Warwick
KING LEWIS What's he approacheth boldly to our presence?
QUEEN MARGARET Our Earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend.
KING LEWIS Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France?
He descends. She ariseth
QUEEN MARGARET Ay, now begins a second storm to rise,
For this is he that moves both wind and tide.
WARWICK From worthy Edward, King of Albion,
My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend,
I come, in kindness and unfeigned love,
First, to do greetings to thy royal person,
And then to crave a league of amity,
And lastly, to confirm that amity
With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe55 to grant
That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister,
To England's king in lawful marriage.
Aside?
QUEEN MARGARET If that go forward, Henry's hope is done.
WARWICK And, gracious madam, in59 our king's behalf,
Speaking to Bona
I am commanded, with your leave and favour,
Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue
To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart;
Where fame63, late ent'ring at his heedful ears,
Hath placed thy beauty's image and thy virtue.
QUEEN MARGARET King Lewis and Lady Bona, hear me speak,
Before you answer Warwick. His demand
Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love,
But from deceit bred by necessity.
For how can tyrants69 safely govern home,
Unless abroad they purchase great alliance?
To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice,
That Henry liveth still: but were he dead,
Yet here Prince Edward stands, King Henry's son.
Look74, therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage
Thou draw not on thy75 danger and dishonour,
For though usurpers sway the rule76 awhile,
Yet heav'ns are just, and time suppresseth wrongs.
WARWICK Injurious78 Margaret.
PRINCE EDWARD And why not queen?
WARWICK Because thy father Henry did usurp,
And thou no more art prince than she is queen.
OXFORD Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt82,
Which83 did subdue the greatest part of Spain;
And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth,
Whose wisdom was a mirror85 to the wisest,
And after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth,
Who by his prowess conquered all France:
From these our Henry lineally descends.
WARWICK Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth89 discourse,
You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost
All that which Henry Fifth had gotten?
Methinks these peers of France should smile at that.
But for the rest, you tell93 a pedigree
Of threescore and two years, a silly94 time
To make prescription95 for a kingdom's worth.
OXFORD Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege,
Whom thou obeyed'st thirty-and-six years97,
And not bewray98 thy treason with a blush?
WARWICK Can Oxford, that did ever fence99 the right,
Now buckler100 falsehood with a pedigree?
For shame, leave Henry and call Edward king.
OXFORD Call him my king by whose injurious doom102
My elder brother, the lord Aubrey Vere103,
Was done to death? And more than so104, my father,
Even in the downfall of his mellowed105 years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no: while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the House of Lancaster.
WARWICK And I the House of York.
KING LEWIS Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford,
Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside,
While I use further conference112 with Warwick.
They stand aloof
QUEEN MARGARET Heavens grant that Warwick's words bewitch him not.
KING LEWIS Now Warwick, tell me, even114 upon thy conscience,
Is Edward your true king? For I were loath
To link with him that were not lawful chosen.
WARWICK Thereon I pawn my credit117 and mine honour.
KING LEWIS But is he gracious118 in the people's eye?
WARWICK The more that119 Henry was unfortunate.
KING LEWIS Then further, all dissembling120 set aside,
Tell me for truth the measure121 of his love
Unto our sister Bona.
WARWICK Such it seems
As may beseem124 a monarch like himself.
Myself have often heard him say and swear
That this his love was an external126 plant,
Whereof the root was fixed in virtue's ground,
The leaves and fruit maintained with beauty's sun,
Exempt from envy, but not from disdain129,
Unless the lady Bona quit130 his pain.
KING LEWIS Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve.
BONA Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine132.--
Yet I confess that often ere this day,
Speaks to War
wick
When I have heard your king's desert134 recounted,
Mine ear hath tempted judgement to desire.
KING LEWIS Then, Warwick, thus: our sister shall be Edward's.
And now forthwith shall articles be drawn137
Touching the jointure138 that your king must make,
Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised139.--
Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness
That Bona shall be wife to the English king.
PRINCE EDWARD To Edward, but not to the English king.
QUEEN MARGARET Deceitful Warwick, it was thy device143
By this alliance to make void my suit.
Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend.
KING LEWIS And still is friend to him and Margaret.
But if your title to the crown be weak,
As may appear by Edward's good success148,
Then 'tis but reason that I be released
From giving aid which late150 I promised.
Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand
That your estate152 requires and mine can yield.
WARWICK Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease,
Where having nothing, nothing can he lose.
And as for you yourself, our quondam155 queen,
You have a father able to maintain you,
And better 'twere you troubled him than France.
QUEEN MARGARET Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick,
Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings.
I will not hence160, till with my talk and tears --
Both full of truth -- I make King Lewis behold
Thy sly conveyance162 and thy lord's false love,
Post. blowing a horn within
For both of you are birds of selfsame feather.
KING LEWIS Warwick, this is some post to us or thee.
Enter the Post
POST My lord ambassador, these letters are for you,
Speaks to Warwick
Sent from your brother, Marquis Montague.--
To Lewis
These from our king unto your majesty.--
To Margaret
And, madam, these for you, from whom I know not.
They all read their letters
OXFORD I like it well that our fair queen and mistress
Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his.
PRINCE EDWARD Nay, mark how Lewis stamps, as171 he were nettled.
I hope all's for the best.
KING LEWIS Warwick, what are thy news?-- And yours, fair queen?
QUEEN MARGARET Mine, such as fill my heart with unhoped174 joys.
WARWICK Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent.
KING LEWIS What? Has your king married the Lady Grey?
And now, to soothe your forgery177 and his,
Sends me a paper to persuade me patience?
Is this th'alliance that he seeks with France?
Dare he presume to scorn180 us in this manner?
QUEEN MARGARET I told your majesty as much before:
This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty.
WARWICK King Lewis, I here protest, in sight of heaven
And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss,
That I am clear from185 this misdeed of Edward's,
No more my king, for he dishonours me,
But most himself, if he could see his shame.
Did I forget that by the house of York
My father came untimely to his death?189
Did I let pass th'abuse done to my niece190?
Did I impale him191 with the regal crown?
Did I put192 Henry from his native right?
And am I guerdoned193 at the last with shame?
Shame on himself, for my desert194 is honour.
And to repair my honour lost for him,
I here renounce him and return to Henry.--
My noble queen, let former grudges pass,
And henceforth I am thy true servitor198.
I will revenge his wrong to Lady Bona,
And replant Henry in his former state.
QUEEN MARGARET Warwick, these words have turned my hate to love,
And I forgive and quite forget old faults,
And joy203 that thou becom'st King Henry's friend.
WARWICK So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned204 friend,
That, if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish205 us
With some few bands206 of chosen soldiers,
I'll undertake to land them on our coast
And force the tyrant from his seat by war.
'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him.
And as for Clarence, as my letters tell me,
He's very likely now to fall from211 him
For matching212 more for wanton lust than honour,
Or than for strength and safety of our country.
BONA Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged
But by thy help to this distressed queen?
QUEEN MARGARET Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live,
Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?
BONA My quarrel and this English queen's are one.
WARWICK And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours.
KING LEWIS And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's.
Therefore at last I firmly am resolved
You shall have aid.
QUEEN MARGARET Let me give humble thanks for all at once.
KING LEWIS Then, England's messenger, return in post224
And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,
That Lewis of France is sending over masquers226
To revel it with him and his new bride.
Thou see'st what's passed, go fear thy king withal228.
BONA Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,
I'll wear the willow garland230 for his sake.
QUEEN MARGARET Tell him, my mourning weeds231 are laid aside,
And I am ready to put armour on.
WARWICK Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,
And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be234 long.
Gives money
There's thy reward235. Be gone.
Exit Post
KING LEWIS But, Warwick,
Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men
Shall cross the seas, and bid238 false Edward battle.
And, as occasion239 serves, this noble queen
And prince shall follow with a fresh supply240.
Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt:
What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?
WARWICK This shall assure my constant loyalty,
That if our queen and this young prince agree,
I'll join mine eldest daughter245 and my joy
To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands246.
QUEEN MARGARET Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion247.--
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 EDWARD 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
KING LEWIS Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied.--
And thou, Lord Bourbon, our High Admiral,
Shall waft256 them over with our royal fleet.
I long till Edward fall by war's mischance,
For mocking marriage with a dame of France.
Exeunt, Warwick remains
WARWICK 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 stale263 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 4 Scene 1]
running scene 9
Enter Richard [of Gloucester], Clarence, Somerset and Montague
GLOUCESTER Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you
Of this new marriage with the lady Grey?
Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?
CLARENCE Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France.
How could he stay5 till Warwick made return?
SOMERSET My lords, forbear this talk: here comes the king.
GLOUCESTER And his well-chosen bride.
CLARENCE I mind8 to tell him plainly what I think.
Flourish. Enter King Edward, Lady Grey [now Queen Elizabeth], Pembroke, Stafford, Hastings: four stand on one side and four on the other
KING EDWARD IV Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,
That you stand pensive, as half malcontent10?
CLARENCE As well as Lewis of France, or the Earl of Warwick,
Which12 are so weak of courage and in judgement
That they'll take no offence at our abuse13.
KING EDWARD IV 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 will16.
GLOUCESTER And shall have your will, because our king.
Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.
KING EDWARD IV Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?
GLOUCESTER Not I, no:
God forbid that I should wish them severed
Whom God hath joined together. Ay, and 'twere pity
To sunder them that yoke23 so well together.