Shakespeare's First Folio Part 400

Enter Richard, Clarence, Somerset, and Mountague.

Rich. Now tell me Brother Clarence, what thinke you Of this new Marriage with the Lady Gray?

Hath not our Brother made a worthy choice?

Cla. Alas, you know, tis farre from hence to France, How could he stay till Warwicke made returne?

Som. My Lords, forbeare this talke: heere comes the King.

Flourish. Enter King Edward, Lady Grey, Penbrooke, Stafford, Hastings: foure stand on one side, and foure on the other.

Rich. And his well-chosen Bride

Clarence. I minde to tell him plainly what I thinke

King. Now Brother of Clarence, How like you our Choyce, That you stand pensiue, as halfe malecontent?

Clarence. As well as Lewis of France, Or the Earle of Warwicke, Which are so weake of courage, and in iudgement, That they'le take no offence at our abuse

King. Suppose they take offence without a cause: They are but Lewis and Warwicke, I am Edward, Your King and Warwickes, and must haue my will

Rich. And shall haue your will, because our King: Yet hastie Marriage seldome proueth well

King. Yea, Brother Richard, are you offended too?

Rich. Not I: no: G.o.d forbid, that I should wish them seuer'd, Whom G.o.d hath ioyn'd together: I, and 'twere pittie, to sunder them, That yoake so well together

King. Setting your skornes, and your mislike aside, Tell me some reason, why the Lady Grey Should not become my Wife, and Englands Queene?

And you too, Somerset, and Mountague, Speake freely what you thinke

Clarence. Then this is mine opinion: That King Lewis becomes your Enemie, For mocking him about the Marriage Of the Lady Bona

Rich. And Warwicke, doing what you gaue in charge, Is now dis-honored by this new Marriage

King. What, if both Lewis and Warwick be appeas'd, By such inuention as I can deuise?

Mount. Yet, to haue ioyn'd with France in such alliance, Would more haue strength'ned this our Commonwealth 'Gainst forraine stormes, then any home-bred Marriage

Hast. Why, knowes not Mountague, that of it selfe, England is safe, if true within it selfe?

Mount. But the safer, when 'tis back'd with France

Hast. 'Tis better vsing France, then trusting France: Let vs be back'd with G.o.d, and with the Seas, Which he hath giu'n for fence impregnable, And with their helpes, onely defend our selues: In them, and in our selues, our safetie lyes

Clar. For this one speech, Lord Hastings well deserues To haue the Heire of the Lord Hungerford

King. I, what of that? it was my will, and graunt, And for this once, my Will shall stand for Law

Rich. And yet me thinks, your Grace hath not done well, To giue the Heire and Daughter of Lord Scales Vnto the Brother of your louing Bride; Shee better would haue fitted me, or Clarence: But in your Bride you burie Brotherhood

Clar. Or else you would not haue bestow'd the Heire Of the Lord Bonuill on your new Wiues Sonne, And leaue your Brothers to goe speede elsewhere

King. Alas, poore Clarence: is it for a Wife That thou art malecontent? I will prouide thee

Clarence. In chusing for your selfe, You shew'd your iudgement: Which being shallow, you shall giue me leaue To play the Broker in mine owne behalfe; And to that end, I shortly minde to leaue you

King. Leaue me, or tarry, Edward will be King, And not be ty'd vnto his Brothers will

Lady Grey. My Lords, before it pleas'd his Maiestie To rayse my State to t.i.tle of a Queene, Doe me but right, and you must all confesse, That I was not ign.o.ble of Descent, And meaner then my selfe haue had like fortune.

But as this t.i.tle honors me and mine, So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing, Doth cloud my ioyes with danger, and with sorrow

King. My Loue, forbeare to fawne vpon their frownes: What danger, or what sorrow can befall thee, So long as Edward is thy constant friend, And their true Soueraigne, whom they must obey?

Nay, whom they shall obey, and loue thee too, Vnlesse they seeke for hatred at my hands: Which if they doe, yet will I keepe thee safe, And they shall feele the vengeance of my wrath

Rich. I heare, yet say not much, but thinke the more.

Enter a Poste

King. Now Messenger, what Letters, or what Newes from France?

Post. My Soueraigne Liege, no Letters, & few words, But such, as I (without your speciall pardon) Dare not relate

King. Goe too, wee pardon thee: Therefore, in briefe, tell me their words, As neere as thou canst guesse them.

What answer makes King Lewis vnto our Letters?

Post. At my depart, these were his very words: Goe tell false Edward, the supposed King, That Lewis of France is sending ouer Maskers, To reuell it with him, and his new Bride

King. Is Lewis so braue? belike he thinkes me Henry.

But what said Lady Bona to my Marriage?

Post. These were her words, vtt'red with mild disdaine: Tell him, in hope hee'le proue a Widower shortly, Ile weare the Willow Garland for his sake

King. I blame not her; she could say little lesse: She had the wrong. But what said Henries Queene?

For I haue heard, that she was there in place

Post. Tell him (quoth she) My mourning Weedes are done, And I am readie to put Armour on

King. Belike she minds to play the Amazon.

But what said Warwicke to these iniuries?

Post. He, more incens'd against your Maiestie, Then all the rest, discharg'd me with these words: Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong, And therefore Ile vncrowne him, er't be long

King. Ha? durst the Traytor breath out so prowd words?

Well, I will arme me, being thus fore-warn'd: They shall haue Warres, and pay for their presumption.

But say, is Warwicke friends with Margaret?

Post. I, gracious Soueraigne, They are so link'd in friends.h.i.+p, That yong Prince Edward marryes Warwicks Daughter

Clarence. Belike, the elder; Clarence will haue the younger.

Now Brother King farewell, and sit you fast, For I will hence to Warwickes other Daughter, That though I want a Kingdome, yet in Marriage I may not proue inferior to your selfe.

You that loue me, and Warwicke, follow me.

Exit Clarence, and Somerset followes.

Rich. Not I: My thoughts ayme at a further matter: I stay not for the loue of Edward, but the Crowne

King. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwicke?

Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen: And haste is needfull in this desp'rate case.

Pembrooke and Stafford, you in our behalfe Goe leuie men, and make prepare for Warre; They are alreadie, or quickly will be landed: My selfe in person will straight follow you.

Exeunt. Pembrooke and Stafford.