THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI.

Act III. SCENE II.

King Edward.
ROTHER of Gloster, 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,
Because in quarrel of the house of York
The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

Gloster. 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.

Gloster (aside to Clarence). Yea! is it so ?
I see, the lady hath a thing to grant,
Before the king will grant her humble suit.

K. Edw. 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.

*

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

Lady Grey. Three, my most gracious lord.
K. Edw. 'Twere pity, they should lose their father's land.
Lady Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.
K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your

children ?
Lady Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.
K. Edw. And would you not do much, to do them good?
Lady Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some

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

good. Lady Grey. Therefore come I unto your majesty. K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. Lady Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness'

service. K. Edw. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them? Lady Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do. K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon. Lady Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it. K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask. Lady Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace

commands.

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a

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

task? K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king. Lady Grey. That's soon performed, because I am

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

thee. Lady Grey. I take my leave with many thousand

thanks. K. Edw. But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean.

Lady 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? Lady 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 do not mean such love. Lady Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought

you did.

K. Edw. 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.

K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I am to lie with thee. Lady Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. K. Edw. 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.

K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily. Lady Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them

and me.

my

suit;

me,

But, mighty lord, this merry inclination
Accords not with the sadness of
Please

you

dismiss 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.

Lady Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end.
K. Edw. (aside). Her looks do argue her replete

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 ?
Lady Grey. 'Tis better said than done, my gracious

lord:
I am a subject fit to jest withal,
But far unfit to be a sovereign.

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.

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.

K. Edw. You cavil, widow ; I did mean, my queen. Lady Grey. 'Twill grieve your grace, my sons should

call you-father. K. Edw. No more, than when thy 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.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Gloster. 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 stay till Warwick made return? Somerset. My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the

king. Gloster. And his well chosen bride. Clarence. I mind to tell him plainly what I think.

Enter the King and LADY GREY, as QUEEN ELIZABETH,

attended.

K. Edw. Now, brother of Clarence, how like you

our choice, That

you stand pensive as half malcontent?

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K. Edw. Setting your scorns, and your mislike, aside, Tell me some reason, why the Lady Grey Should not become my wife, and England's queen :And you too, Somerset, and Montague, Speak fully what you think.

*

K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife,
That thou art malcontent ? I will provide thee.
Clarence. In choosing for yourself, you show'd your

judgment;
Which being shallow, you shall give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf ;
And to that end, I shortly mind to leave you.

K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king, And not be tied unto his brother's will.

Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleased his majesty
To raise my state to title of a queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent,
And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,
So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.

K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns :
What danger, or what sorrow can befall thee,
So long as Edward is thy constant friend,