K. Henry. More than I feem, and lefs than I was born to? A man at leaft, for lefs I fhould not be ; And men may talk of Kings, and why not I? Hum. But if thou be a king, where is thy crown?} Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian ftones, Hum. Well, if you be a king crown'd with con- Your crown content, and you, must be contented K. Henry. But did you never fwear, and break Hum. No, never fuch an oath; nor will not now. [old; Hum. Here in this country where we now remain. K Henry. I was anointed King at nine months My father and my grandfather were kings, And you were fworn true fubjects unto me; And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths? Sink. No, we were fubjects but while you were King. K. Henry. Why, am I dead? do not I breathe a Ah fimple men, you know not what you fwear. Obeying with my wind when I do blow, My mild intreaty fhall not make you guilty. Sink. We are true fubjects to the King, King K. Henry. So would you be again to Henry, If he were feated as King Edward is. Sink. We charge you in God's name, and in the To go with us unto the officers. [king's, K. Henry. In God's name lead, your King's name be obey'd; And what God will, that let yout King perform; SCENE II Changes to the Palace.. [Exeunt. Enter King Edward, Gloucester, Clarence, and, Lady Gray. K. Edw. Brother of Glo'fter, at St Alban's field à This lady's husband, Sir John Gray, was flain, His land then teiz'd on by the conqueror; Her fuit is now to repoffels those lands, Which we in juftice cannot well deny, Becaufe, in quarrel of the house of York, The worthy gentleman did lofe his life. Glou. Your Highness thall do well to grant her It, were difhonour to deny. it her. [fuit; K. Edw. It were no teis; but yet I'll make a pause.. Glu. Yea is it fo? I fee the lady hath a thing to grant, Before the King will grant her humble fuit. [Afide.. Cla. He knows the game; how true he keeps the wind? Glou. Silence. [Ajide. K. r.dw Widow, we will confider of your fuit,' And come fome other time to know our mind. Gray. Right gracious Lord, I cannot brook de May't pleafe your Highness to refolve me now, [lay. And what your pleafure is, fhall fatisfy me Glou afide.] Ay, widow? then I'll warrant you wi all your lands, And if what pleafes him, fhall pleasure you. Glou. afide God forbid that! for he'll take vantages. K. Edw. How many children haft thou, widow? tell me. Cla. afide.] I think he means to beg a child of her. Glou. afide.] Nay, whip me then: he'll rather give her two. Gray. Three, my moft gracious Lord. Glou. afide.] You fhall have four, if you'H be rul'd by him. K. Edw. 'Twere pity they fhould lofe their father's lands Gray. Be pitiful, dread Lord, and grant it then. K. Edw. Lords, give us leave, I'll try this widow's wit. Glou. Ay, good leave have you, for you will have leave, Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch. [Gloucester and Clarence retire to the other fide. K. Edw. Now tell me, Madam, do you love your children? Gray. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. K. Edw. And would you not do much to do them good? Gray. To do them good I would fuftain fome harm. K. Edw. Then get your husband's lands to do them good. Gray. Therefore i come unto your Majesty. K. Edw. I'll tell thee how these lands are to be got. Gray. So thall you bind me to fervice.' your. Highness' K. Edw. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them? Grey. What you command, that refts in me to dos K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon? Gray. No, gracious Lord, except I cannot do it. K. Edw. Ay, but thou canft do what I mean to ask. Gray. Why, then I will do what your Grace commands. Glou. He plies her hard, and much rain wears the marble: Cla. As red as fire! nay, then her wax muft melt. Gray. Why stops my Lord? fhall I not hear my task? K. Edw. An eafy tafk, 'tis but to love a King. Gray, That's foon perform'd, because I am a fubject. K. Edw. Why, then thy hufband's lands I freely give thee. Gray. I take my leave with many thoufand thanks. Glou. The match is made, fhe feals it with a curt'ly. K. Edw. But ftay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean Gray. The fruits of love I mean, my loving Liege. K. Edw. Ay, but I fear me, in another fenfe. W. at love, think'ft thou, I fue fo much to get? Gray. My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers; That love which virtue begs, and virtue grants. k. Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean fuch love. Gray. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did K. Fdw. But no v you partly may perceive my mind. Gray. My mind will never grant what I perceive Your Highness aims at; if I aim aright. .tdw. To tell thee plain, I aim to ly with thee. Cray. To tell you plain, I'd rather ly in prifon. dw. Why then thou fhalt not have thy hufband's lands. k. Gray. Why then my honesty shall be my dower; For by that lofs I will not purchase them. dw. Therein thou wrong'ft thy children might ly. Gray. Herein your Highnefs wrongs both them and me. But, mighty Lord, this merry inclination K. Edw. Ay, if thou wilt fay ay to my request:: No, if thou doft say no to my demand. Gray. Then no, my Lord. My fuit is at an end., Her words do fhew her wit incomparable, And the fhall be my love, or elle my Queen. But far unfit to be a Sovereign. [Lord;; K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my ftate I fwear to Ispeak no more than what my foul intends, [thee, And that is, to enjoy thee for my love. Gray. And that is more than I will yield unto. K. Edw. You cavil, widow; I did mean my Gray. Twill grieve your Grace my fons. fhould call you father. K. Edw. No more than when my daughters call thee mother. Thou art a widow, and thou haft fome children; Anfwer no more, for thou shalt be my Queen. Glou. The ghoftly father now hath done his fhrift. . Cla. When he was made a fhriver, 'twas for fhift. K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two› have had. Glou. The widow likes it not, for fhe looks fad. A. Edw. You'd think it flrange if I fhould mar ry her. |