I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown; That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns; I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; SCENE III-France.-A Room in the Palace. Flourish.-Enter LEWIS the French King, and Lady BONA, attended; the King takes his State.-Then enter Queen MARGARET, Prince EDWARD, her Son, and the Earl of OXFORD. K. Lew. Fair queen of England, worthy Margaret, [Rising. Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state, And birth, that thou shouldst stand, while Lewis doth sit. Q. Mar. No, mighty king of France; now Margaret Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve, Where kings command. I was, I must confess, Great Albion's queen in former golden days: But now mischance hath trod my title down, And with dishonour laid me on the ground; • Encircled. Where I must take like seat unto my fortune, K. Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears, And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. K. Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself, And sit thee by our side: yield not thy neck [Seats her by him. To Fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind Still ride in triumph over all mischance. Be plain, queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; It shall be eased, if France can yield relief. Q. Mar. Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts, And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak. Of England's true-anointed lawful king. K. Lew. Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm, While we bethink a means to break it off. Q. Mar. The more we stay, the-stronger grows our foe. K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour thee. Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true sor row: And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Enter WARWICK, attended. K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to our presence? Q. Mar. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend. K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France ? [Descending from his State.-Queen Margaret rises. Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise; With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant To England's king in lawful marriage. Q. Mar. If that go forward, Henry's hope is done. War. And, gracious madam, [To Bona.] in our king's behalf, I am commanded, with your leave and favour, Before you answer Warwick. His demand Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love, For how can tyrants safely govern home, 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 : Prince. And why not queen? War. Because thy father Henry did usurp; Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain; Who by his prowess conquered all France: War. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth dis course, You told not, how Henry the sixth hath lost But for the rest,-You tell a pedigree Of threescore and two years; a silly time Orf. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years, War. Can Oxford, that did ever fence the rigirt, Was done to death? And more than so, my father, K. Lew. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and and Oxford, Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, [Retiring with the Prince and Oxford. K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience, Is Edward your true king? For I were loath, War. Such it seems, As may beseem a monarch like himself. Myself have often heard him say, and swear,- Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground, Exempt from envy but not from disdain, K. Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine. Yet I confess, [To War.] that often ere this day, When 1 have heard your king's desert recounted, Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire. K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus,+Our sister shall be 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, That Bona shall be wife to the English king. Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king. Q. Mar. Deceitful Warwick! It was thy device By this alliance to make void my suit; Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend. And better 'twere you troubled him than France. Q. Mar. Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick, peace; Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings! [A Horn sounded within. K. Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us, or thee. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess.My lord ambassador, these letters are for you; Sent from your brother, Marquis Montague.These from our king unto your majesty. And, madam, these for you; from whom, I know not. [To Margaret.-They all read their Letters. + Juggling. H • Malice or hatred, VOL. IV. |