The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE XI.
_Queen._ King _Lewes_ and Lady _Bona_ heare me speake, Before you answere _Warwike_ or his words, ·eak030· For hee it is hath done vs all these wrongs. _War._ Iniurious _Margaret_. _Prince Ed._ And why not Queene? _War._ Because thy father _Henry_ did vsurpe, And thou no more art Prince then shee is Queene. ·eak035· _Ox._ Then _Warwike_ disanuls great _Iohn_ of _Gaunt_, That did subdue the greatest part of _Spaine_, And after _Iohn_ of _Gaunt_ wise _Henry_ the fourth, Whose wisedome was a mirrour to the world. And after this wise prince _Henry_ the fift, ·eak040· Who with his prowesse conquered all _France_, From these our _Henries_ lineallie discent. [eak042] _War._ _Oxford_, how haps that in this smooth discourse You told not how _Henry_ the sixt had lost All that _Henry_ the fift had gotten. ·eak045· Me thinkes these peeres of _France_ should smile at that, But for the rest you tell a pettigree [eak047] Of threescore and two yeares a sillie time, [eak048] To make prescription for a kingdomes worth. _Oxf._ Why _Warwike_, canst thou denie thy king, ·eak050· Whom thou obeyedst thirtie and eight yeeres, And bewray thy treasons with a blush? _War._ Can _Oxford_ that did euer fence the right, Now buckler falshood with a pettigree? For shame leaue _Henry_ and call _Edward_ king. ·eak055· _Oxf._ Call him my king by whom mine elder [eak056] Brother the Lord _Awbray Vere_ was done to death, And more then so, my father euen in the Downefall of his mellowed yeares, When age did call him to the dore of death? ·eak060· No _Warwike_ no, whilst life vpholds this arme This arme vpholds the house of _Lancaster_.
_War._ And I the house of _Yorke_. _K Lewes._ Queene _Margaret_, prince _Edward_ and [eak064] _Oxford_, vouchsafe to forbeare a while, ·eak065· Till I doe talke a word with _Warwike_. Now Warwike euen vpon thy honor tell me true; Is _Edward_ lawfull king or no? For I were loath to linke with him, that is not lawful heir. _War._ Thereon _I_ pawne mine honour and my credit. ·eak070· _Lew._ What is he gratious in the peoples eies? [eak071] _War._ The more, that _Henry_ is vnfortunate. _Lew._ What is his loue to our sister _Bona_? [eak074] _War._ Such it seemes As maie beseeme a monarke like himselfe. ·eak075· My selfe haue often heard him saie and sweare, That this his loue was an eternall plant, The root whereof was fixt in vertues ground, The leaues and fruite maintainde with beauties sun, Exempt from enuie, but not from disdaine, ·eak080· Vnlesse the ladie _Bona_ quite his paine. _Lew._ Then sister let vs heare your firme resolue. _Bona._ Your grant or your denial shall be mine, [eak083] But ere this daie _I_ must confesse, when I Haue heard your kings deserts recounted, ·eak085· Mine eares haue tempted iudgement to desire. _Lew._ Then draw neere Queene _Margaret_ and be a [eak087] Witnesse, that _Bona_ shall be wife to the English king. _Prince Edw._ To _Edward_, but not the English king.
_War._ _Henry_ now liues in _Scotland_ at his ease, ·eak090· Where hauing nothing, nothing can he lose, And as for you your selfe our _quondam_ Queene, You haue a father able to mainetaine your state, And better twere to trouble him then _France_. [eak094] Sound for a post within. _Lew._ Here comes some post _Warwike_ to thee or vs. ·eak095· _Post._ My Lord ambassador this letter is for you, Sent from your brother Marquis _Montague_. This from our king vnto your Maiestie. And these to you Madam, from whom I know not. _Oxf._ I like it well that our faire Queene and mistresse, ·eak100· Smiles at her newes when _Warwike_ frets as his. [eak101] _P. Ed._ And marke how _Lewes_ stamps as he were nettled. _Lew._ Now _Margaret_ & _Warwike_, what are your news? _Queen._ Mine such as fils my hart full of ioie. [eak104] _War._ Mine full of sorrow and harts discontent. ·eak105· _Lew._ What hath your king married the Ladie _Gray_, And now to excuse himselfe sends vs a post of papers? How dares he presume to vse vs thus? _Quee._ This proueth _Edwards_ loue, & _Warwiks_ honesty.
_War._ King _Lewis,_ I here protest in sight of heauen, ·eak110· And by the hope _I_ haue of heauenlie blisse, That I am cleare from this misdeed of _Edwards_. No more my king, for he dishonours me, And most himselfe, if he could see his shame. Did I forget that by the house of _Yorke_, ·eak115· My father came vntimelie to his death? [eak116] Did _I_ let passe the abuse done to my neece? [eak117] Did I impale him with the regall Crowne, And thrust king _Henry_ from his natiue home, [eak119] And most vngratefull doth he vse me thus? ·eak120· My gratious _Queene_ pardon what is past, And henceforth I am thy true seruitour, I will reuenge the wrongs done to ladie _Bona_, And replant _Henry_ in his former state. _Queen._ Yes _Warwike_ I doe quite forget thy former [eak125] Faults, if now thou wilt become king _Henries_ friend. _War._ So much his friend, I his vnfained friend, That if king _Lewes_ vouchsafe to furnish vs With some few bands of chosen souldiers, Ile vndertake to land them on our coast, ·eak130· And force the Tyrant from his seate by warre, Tis not his new made bride shall succour him. _Lew._ Then at the last I firmelie am resolu’d, You shall haue aide: and English messenger returne [eak134] In post, and tell false _Edward_ thy supposed king, That _Lewis_ of France is sending ouer Maskers To reuell it with him and his new bride.
_Bona._ Tell him in hope heele be a Widower shortlie, [eak138] Ile weare the willow garland for his sake. _Queen._ Tell him my mourning weedes be laide aside, ·eak140· And I am readie to put armour on. _War._ Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong, And therefore Ile vncrowne him er’t be long. Thears thy reward, begone. [eak144] _Lew._ But now tell me _Warwike_, what assurance ·eak145· _I_ shall haue of thy true loyaltie? _War._ This shall assure my constant loyaltie, If that our Queene and this young prince agree, Ile ioine mine eldest daughter and my ioie To him forthwith in holie wedlockes bandes. [eak150] _Queen._ Withall my hart, that match _I_ like full wel, [eak151] Loue her sonne _Edward_, shee is faire and yong, And giue thy hand to _Warwike_ for thy loue. _Lew._ _I_t is enough, and now we will prepare, To lcuie souldiers for to go with you. [eak155] And you Lord _Bourbon_ our high Admirall, Shall waft them safelie to the English coast, And chase proud _Edward_ from his slumbring trance, For mocking marriage with the name of _France_. _War._ _I_ came from _Edward_ as Imbassadour [eak160] But I returne his sworne and mortall foe: Matter of marriage was the charge he gaue me, But dreadfull warre shall answere his demand. Had he none else to make a stale but me? Then none but I shall turne his iest to sorrow. ·eak165· _I_ was the chiefe that raisde him to the crowne, And _I_le be chiefe to bring him downe againe, Not that I pittie _Henries_ miserie, But seeke reuenge on _Edwards_ mockerie. _Exit._
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