Act III, Scene 1

A forest in the north of England.

[Enter two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands]

• First Keeper. Under this thick-grown brake we'll shroud ourselves;
  For through this laund anon the deer will come;
  And in this covert will we make our stand,
  Culling the principal of all the deer. 1370

• Second Keeper. I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot.

• First Keeper. That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow
  Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost.
  Here stand we both, and aim we at the best:
  And, for the time shall not seem tedious, 1375
  I'll tell thee what befell me on a day
  In this self-place where now we mean to stand.

• Second Keeper. Here comes a man; let's stay till he be past.

[Enter KING HENRY VI, disguised, with a prayerbook]

• Henry VI. From Scotland am I stol'n, even of pure love, 1380
  To greet mine own land with my wishful sight.
  No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine;
  Thy place is fill'd, thy sceptre wrung from thee,
  Thy balm wash'd off wherewith thou wast anointed:
  No bending knee will call thee Caesar now, 1385
  No humble suitors press to speak for right,
  No, not a man comes for redress of thee;
  For how can I help them, and not myself?

• First Keeper. Ay, here's a deer whose skin's a keeper's fee:
  This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him. 1390

• Henry VI. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity,
  For wise men say it is the wisest course.

• Second Keeper. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him.

• First Keeper. Forbear awhile; we'll hear a little more.

• Henry VI. My queen and son are gone to France for aid; 1395
  And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick
  Is thither gone, to crave the French king's sister
  To wife for Edward: if this news be true,
  Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost;
  For Warwick is a subtle orator, 1400
  And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words.
  By this account then Margaret may win him;
  For she's a woman to be pitied much:
  Her sighs will make a battery in his breast;
  Her tears will pierce into a marble heart; 1405
  The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn;
  And Nero will be tainted with remorse,
  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, 1410
  He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward.
  She weeps, and says her Henry is deposed;
  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, 1415
  Inferreth arguments of mighty strength,
  And in conclusion wins the king from her,
  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, 1420
  Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn!

• Second Keeper. Say, what art thou that talk'st of kings and queens?

• Henry VI. 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? 1425

• Second Keeper. Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king.

• Henry VI. Why, so I am, in mind; and that's enough.

• Second Keeper. But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?

• Henry VI. My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
  Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, 1430
  Nor to be seen: my crown is called content:
  A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.

• Second 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, 1435
  You are the king King Edward hath deposed;
  And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance
  Will apprehend you as his enemy.

• Henry VI. But did you never swear, and break an oath?

• Second Keeper. No, never such an oath; nor will not now. 1440

• Henry VI. Where did you dwell when I was King of England?

• Second Keeper. Here in this country, where we now remain.

• Henry VI. I was anointed king at nine months old;
  My father and my grandfather were kings,
  And you were sworn true subjects unto me: 1445
  And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths?

• First Keeper. No;
  For we were subjects but while you were king.

• Henry VI. Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man?
  Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear! 1450
  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,
  And yielding to another when it blows,
  Commanded always by the greater gust; 1455
  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.
  Go where you will, the king shall be commanded;
  And be you kings, command, and I'll obey. 1460

• First Keeper. We are true subjects to the king, King Edward.

• Henry VI. So would you be again to Henry,
  If he were seated as King Edward is.

• First Keeper. We charge you, in God's name, and the king's,
  To go with us unto the officers. 1465

• Henry VI. 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]

Act III, Scene 2

London. The palace.

[Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and LADY GREY]

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban's field
  This lady's husband, Sir Richard Grey, was slain,
  His lands then seized on by the conqueror:
  Her suit is now to repossess those lands;
  Which we in justice cannot well deny, 1475
  Because in quarrel of the house of York
  The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Your highness shall do well to grant her suit;
  It were dishonour to deny it her.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). It were no less; but yet I'll make a pause. 1480

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] Yea, is it so?
  I see the lady hath a thing to grant,
  Before the king will grant her humble suit.

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). [Aside to GLOUCESTER] He knows the game: how true
  he keeps the wind! 1485

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] Silence!

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Widow, we will consider of your suit;
  And come some other time to know our mind.

• Queen Elizabeth. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay:
  May it please your highness to resolve me now; 1490
  And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] 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. 1495

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). [Aside to GLOUCESTER] I fear her not, unless she
  chance to fall.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] God forbid that! for he'll
  take vantages.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). How many children hast thou, widow? tell me. 1500

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). [Aside to GLOUCESTER] I think he means to beg a
  child of her.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] Nay, whip me then: he'll rather
  give her two.

• Queen Elizabeth. Three, my most gracious lord. 1505

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] You shall have four, if you'll
  be ruled by him.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). 'Twere pity they should lose their father's lands.

• Queen Elizabeth. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Lords, give us leave: I'll try this widow's wit. 1510

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] Ay, good leave have you; for
  you will have leave,
  Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.

[GLOUCESTER and CLARENCE retire]

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Now tell me, madam, do you love your children? 1515

• Queen Elizabeth. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). And would you not do much to do them good?

• Queen Elizabeth. To do them good, I would sustain some harm.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Then get your husband's lands, to do them good.

• Queen Elizabeth. Therefore I came unto your majesty. 1520

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). I'll tell you how these lands are to be got.

• Queen Elizabeth. So shall you bind me to your highness' service.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?

• Queen Elizabeth. What you command, that rests in me to do.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). But you will take exceptions to my boon. 1525

• Queen Elizabeth. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.

• Queen Elizabeth. Why, then I will do what your grace commands.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] He plies her hard; and much rain
  wears the marble. 1530

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). [Aside to GLOUCESTER] As red as fire! nay, then
  her wax must melt.

• Queen Elizabeth. Why stops my lord, shall I not hear my task?

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). An easy task; 'tis but to love a king.

• Queen Elizabeth. That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject. 1535

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Why, then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee.

• Queen Elizabeth. I take my leave with many thousand thanks.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] The match is made; she seals it
  with a curtsy.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean. 1540

• Queen Elizabeth. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense.
  What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get?

• Queen Elizabeth. My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers;
  That love which virtue begs and virtue grants. 1545

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.

• Queen Elizabeth. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). But now you partly may perceive my mind.

• Queen Elizabeth. My mind will never grant what I perceive
  Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. 1550

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.

• Queen Elizabeth. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands.

• Queen Elizabeth. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower;
  For by that loss I will not purchase them. 1555

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily.

• Queen Elizabeth. 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.' 1560

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Ay, if thou wilt say 'ay' to my request;
  No if thou dost say 'no' to my demand.

• Queen Elizabeth. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] The widow likes him not, she
  knits her brows. 1565

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). [Aside to GLOUCESTER] He is the bluntest wooer in
  Christendom.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). [Aside] Her looks do argue her replete with modesty;
  Her words do show her wit incomparable;
  All her perfections challenge sovereignty: 1570
  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?

• Queen Elizabeth. 'Tis better said than done, my gracious lord:
  I am a subject fit to jest withal, 1575
  But far unfit to be a sovereign.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). 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.

• Queen Elizabeth. And that is more than I will yield unto: 1580
  I know I am too mean to be your queen,
  And yet too good to be your concubine.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). You cavil, widow: I did mean, my queen.

• Queen Elizabeth. 'Twill grieve your grace my sons should call you father.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). No more than when my daughters call thee mother. 1585
  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. 1590

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). [Aside to CLARENCE] The ghostly father now hath done
  his shrift.

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). [Aside to GLOUCESTER] When he was made a shriver,
  'twas for shift.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had. 1595

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). The widow likes it not, for she looks very sad.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). You'll think it strange if I should marry her.

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). To whom, my lord?

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Why, Clarence, to myself.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). That would be ten days' wonder at the least. 1600

• George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). That's a day longer than a wonder lasts.

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). By so much is the wonder in extremes.

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you both
  Her suit is granted for her husband's lands.

[Enter a Nobleman]

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

• King Edward IV (Plantagenet). See that he be convey'd unto the Tower:
  And go we, brothers, to the man that took him,
  To question of his apprehension. 1610
  Widow, go you along. Lords, use her honourably.

[Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER]

• Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Ay, Edward will use women honourably.
  Would he were wasted, marrow, bones and all,
  That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, 1615
  To cross me from the golden time I look for!
  And yet, between my soul's desire and me—
  The lustful Edward's title buried—
  Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward,
  And all the unlook'd for issue of their bodies, 1620
  To take their rooms, ere I can place myself:
  A cold premeditation for my purpose!
  Why, then, I do but dream on sovereignty;
  Like one that stands upon a promontory,
  And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, 1625
  Wishing his foot were equal with his eye,
  And chides the sea that sunders him from thence,
  Saying, he'll lade it dry to have his way:
  So do I wish the crown, being so far off;
  And so I chide the means that keeps me from it; 1630
  And so I say, I'll cut the causes off,
  Flattering me with impossibilities.
  My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much,
  Unless my hand and strength could equal them.
  Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard; 1635
  What other pleasure can the world afford?
  I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap,
  And deck my body in gay ornaments,
  And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks.
  O miserable thought! and more unlikely 1640
  Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns!
  Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb:
  And, for I should not deal in her soft laws,
  She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe,
  To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub; 1645
  To make an envious mountain on my back,
  Where sits deformity to mock my body;
  To shape my legs of an unequal size;
  To disproportion me in every part,
  Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp 1650
  That carries no impression like the dam.
  And am I then a man to be beloved?
  O monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought!
  Then, since this earth affords no joy to me,
  But to command, to cheque, to o'erbear such 1655
  As are of better person than myself,
  I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown,
  And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell,
  Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head
  Be round impaled with a glorious crown. 1660
  And yet I know not how to get the crown,
  For many lives stand between me and home:
  And I,—like one lost in a thorny wood,
  That rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns,
  Seeking a way and straying from the way; 1665
  Not knowing how to find the open air,
  But toiling desperately to find it out,—
  Torment myself to catch the English crown:
  And from that torment I will free myself,
  Or hew my way out with a bloody axe. 1670
  Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile,
  And cry 'Content' to that which grieves my heart,
  And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
  And frame my face to all occasions.
  I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; 1675
  I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk;
  I'll play the orator as well as Nestor,
  Deceive more slily than Ulysses could,
  And, like a Sinon, take another Troy.
  I can add colours to the chameleon, 1680
  Change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
  And set the murderous Machiavel to school.
  Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
  Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down.

[Exit]

Act III, Scene 3

France. KING LEWIS XI’s palace.

[Flourish. Enter KING LEWIS XI, his sister BONA,] [p]his Admiral, called BOURBON, PRINCE EDWARD, QUEEN [p]MARGARET, and OXFORD. KING LEWIS XI sits, and [p]riseth up again]

• King Lewis XI. Fair Queen of England, worthy Margaret, 1690
  Sit down with us: it ill befits thy state
  And birth, that thou shouldst stand while Lewis doth sit.

• Queen Margaret. No, mighty King of France: now Margaret
  Must strike her sail and learn awhile to serve
  Where kings command. I was, I must confess, 1695
  Great Albion's queen in former golden days:
  But now mischance hath trod my title down,
  And with dishonour laid me on the ground;
  Where I must take like seat unto my fortune,
  And to my humble seat conform myself. 1700

• King Lewis XI. 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 drown'd in cares.

• King Lewis XI. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself,
  And sit thee by our side: 1705
  [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; 1710
  It shall be eased, if France 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, 1715
  Is of a king become a banish'd man,
  And forced to live in Scotland a forlorn;
  While proud ambitious Edward Duke of York
  Usurps the regal title and the seat
  Of England's true-anointed lawful king. 1720
  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; 1725
  Our people and our peers are both misled,
  Our treasures seized, our soldiers put to flight,
  And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight.

• King Lewis XI. Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm,
  While we bethink a means to break it off. 1730

• Queen Margaret. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe.

• King Lewis XI. The more I stay, the more I'll succor thee.

• Queen Margaret. O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow.
  And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow!

[Enter WARWICK]

• King Lewis XI. What's he approacheth boldly to our presence?

• Queen Margaret. Our Earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend.

• King Lewis XI. Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France?

[He descends. She ariseth]

• Queen Margaret. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise; 1740
  For this is he that moves both wind and tide.

• Earl of 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; 1745
  And then to crave a league of amity;
  And lastly, to confirm that amity
  With a nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant
  That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister,
  To England's king in lawful marriage. 1750

• Queen Margaret. [Aside] If that go forward, Henry's hope is done.

• Earl of Warwick. [To BONA] And, gracious madam, in our king's behalf,
  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; 1755
  Where fame, late entering 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, 1760
  But from deceit bred by necessity;
  For how can tyrants 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, 1765
  Yet here Prince Edward stands, King Henry's son.
  Look, therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage
  Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour;
  For though usurpers sway the rule awhile,
  Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs. 1770

• Earl of Warwick. Injurious Margaret!

• Prince Edward. And why not queen?

• Earl of Warwick. Because thy father Henry did usurp;
  And thou no more are prince than she is queen.

• Earl Oxford. Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt, 1775
  Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain;
  And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth,
  Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest;
  And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth,
  Who by his prowess conquered all France: 1780
  From these our Henry lineally descends.

• Earl of Warwick. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth 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. 1785
  But for the rest, you tell a pedigree
  Of threescore and two years; a silly time
  To make prescription for a kingdom's worth.

• Earl Oxford. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege,
  Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years, 1790
  And not bewray thy treason with a blush?

• Earl of Warwick. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,
  Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree?
  For shame! leave Henry, and call Edward king.

• Earl Oxford. Call him my king by whose injurious doom 1795
  My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere,
  Was done to death? and more than so, my father,
  Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years,
  When nature brought him to the door of death?
  No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm, 1800
  This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.

• Earl of Warwick. And I the house of York.

• King Lewis XI. Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford,
  Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside,
  While I use further conference with Warwick. 1805

[They stand aloof]

• Queen Margaret. Heavens grant that Warwick's words bewitch him not!

• King Lewis XI. Now Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience,
  Is Edward your true king? for I were loath
  To link with him that were not lawful chosen. 1810

• Earl of Warwick. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour.

• King Lewis XI. But is he gracious in the people's eye?

• Earl of Warwick. The more that Henry was unfortunate.

• King Lewis XI. Then further, all dissembling set aside,
  Tell me for truth the measure of his love 1815
  Unto our sister Bona.

• Earl of Warwick. Such it seems
  As may beseem a monarch like himself.
  Myself have often heard him say and swear
  That this his love was an eternal plant, 1820
  Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground,
  The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun,
  Exempt from envy, but not from disdain,
  Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain.

• King Lewis XI. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. 1825

• Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine:
  [To WARWICK]
  Yet I confess that often ere this day,
  When I have heard your king's desert recounted,
  Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire. 1830

• King Lewis XI. Then, Warwick, thus: our sister shall be Edward's;
  And now forthwith shall articles be drawn
  Touching the jointure that your king must make,
  Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised.
  Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness 1835
  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 device
  By this alliance to make void my suit:
  Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend. 1840

• King Lewis XI. And still is friend to him and Margaret:
  But if your title to the crown be weak,
  As may appear by Edward's good success,
  Then 'tis but reason that I be released
  From giving aid which late I promised. 1845
  Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand
  That your estate requires and mine can yield.

• Earl of Warwick. Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease,
  Where having nothing, nothing can he lose.
  And as for you yourself, our quondam queen, 1850
  You have a father able to maintain you;
  And better 'twere you troubled him than France.

• Queen Margaret. Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick, peace,
  Proud setter up and puller down of kings!
  I will not hence, till, with my talk and tears, 1855
  Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold
  Thy sly conveyance and thy lord's false love;
  For both of you are birds of selfsame feather.

[Post blows a horn within]

• King Lewis XI. Warwick, this is some post to us or thee. 1860

[Enter a Post]

• Post. [To WARWICK] My lord ambassador, these letters are for you,
  Sent from your brother, Marquess Montague:
  [To KING LEWIS XI]
  These from our king unto your majesty: 1865
  [To QUEEN MARGARET]
  And, madam, these for you; from whom I know not.

[They all read their letters]

• Earl Oxford. I like it well that our fair queen and mistress
  Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. 1870

• Prince Edward. Nay, mark how Lewis stamps, as he were nettled:
  I hope all's for the best.

• King Lewis XI. Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen?

• Queen Margaret. Mine, such as fill my heart with unhoped joys.

• Earl of Warwick. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent. 1875

• King Lewis XI. What! has your king married the Lady Grey!
  And now, to soothe your forgery and his,
  Sends me a paper to persuade me patience?
  Is this the alliance that he seeks with France?
  Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner? 1880

• Queen Margaret. I told your majesty as much before:
  This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty.

• Earl of Warwick. King Lewis, I here protest, in sight of heaven,
  And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss,
  That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's, 1885
  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?
  Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece? 1890
  Did I impale him with the regal crown?
  Did I put Henry from his native right?
  And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame?
  Shame on himself! for my desert is honour:
  And to repair my honour lost for him, 1895
  I here renounce him and return to Henry.
  My noble queen, let former grudges pass,
  And henceforth I am thy true servitor:
  I will revenge his wrong to Lady Bona,
  And replant Henry in his former state. 1900

• Queen Margaret. Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate to love;
  And I forgive and quite forget old faults,
  And joy that thou becomest King Henry's friend.

• Earl of Warwick. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend,
  That, if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us 1905
  With some few bands 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 succor him:
  And as for Clarence, as my letters tell me, 1910
  He's very likely now to fall from him,
  For matching 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? 1915

• 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.

• Earl of Warwick. And mine, fair lady Bona, joins with yours.

• King Lewis XI. And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's. 1920
  Therefore at last I firmly am resolved
  You shall have aid.

• Queen Margaret. Let me give humble thanks for all at once.

• King Lewis XI. Then, England's messenger, return in post,
  And tell false Edward, thy supposed king, 1925
  That Lewis of France is sending over masquers
  To revel it with him and his new bride:
  Thou seest what's past, go fear thy king withal.

• Bona. Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,
  I'll wear the willow garland for his sake. 1930

• Queen Margaret. Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid aside,
  And I am ready to put armour on.

• Earl of Warwick. Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,
  And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.
  There's thy reward: be gone. 1935

[Exit Post]

• King Lewis XI. But, Warwick,
  Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men,
  Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle;
  And, as occasion serves, this noble queen 1940
  And prince shall follow with a fresh supply.
  Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt,
  What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?

• Earl of Warwick. This shall assure my constant loyalty,
  That if our queen and this young prince agree, 1945
  I'll join mine eldest daughter and my joy
  To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands.

• Queen Margaret. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.
  Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
  Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick; 1950
  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 XI. 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. 1960

[Exeunt all but WARWICK]

• Earl of 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. 1965
  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, 1970
  But seek revenge on Edward's mockery.

[Exit]