2 Keep. Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king: K. Hen. Why, so I am, in mind; and that's enough. 2 Keep. But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?

K. Hen. My crown is in my heart, not on my head ; Not deck'd with diamonds, and Indian slones, Nor to be seen: my crown is call’d, content; A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy.

2 Keep. Well, if you be a king crown'd with content, Your crown content, and you, must be contented To go along with us: for, as we think, You are the king, king Edward hath depos’d; And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance, Will apprehend you as his enemy..

[oath? K. Aen. But did you never swear, and break an 2 Keep. No, never such an oath; nor will not now. K. Hén. Where did you dwell, when I was king of

England? 2 Keep. Here in this country, where we now remain. K. Hen. I was anointed king at nine months old; My father, and my grandfather, were kings; And you were sworn true subjects unto me: And, tell me then, have you not broke your oaths ?

1 Keep. No; For we were subjects, but while you were king.

K. Hen. Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man? Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear. Look, as I blow this feather from my face, And as the air blows it to me again, Obeying with my wind when I do blow, And yielding to another when it blows, Commanded always by the greater gust! Such is the lightness of you common inen. But do not break your oaths; for, of that sin My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty. Go where you will, the king shall be commanded; And be you kings; command, and I'll obey.

1 Keep. We are true subjects to the king, king Ed

K. Hen. So would you be again to Henry, (ward. If he were seated as king Edward is.

1 Keep. We charge you, in God's name, and in the TO go with us unto the officers.

[king's, K. Hen. In God's name, lead; your king's name be

obey'd : And what God will, then let your king perform; And what he will, I humbly yield unto. [Exeunt.

SCENE II. LONDON. A Room in the Palace. Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, CLARENCE, and

LADY GREY.
K. Edw. Brother 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.

Glo. 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. Glo. Yea! is it so?

[Aside to Clar. I

see, the lady hath a thing to grant, Before the king will grant her humble suit. Clar. He knows the game; How true he keeps the wind!

(Aside. Glo. Silence!

[Aside. K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit; And ome some other time, to know our mind.

L. Grey. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay: May it please your higuiness to resolve me now; And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me.

Glo. [Aside] 'Ay, widow? then I'll warrant you all An if what pleases him, sball pleasure you. [your lands, Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow.

Clar. I fear her not, unless she chance to fall. [Aside. Glo. God forbid that! for he'll take vantages. [Aside. K. Edw. How many children hast thou, widow ?

tell ine. Clar. I think he means to beg a child of her. [Aside. Glo. Nay, whip me then; he'll rather give her two.

[ Aside L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord.

Glo. You shall have four, if you'll be rul’d by him.

(Aside. K. Edw. "Twere pity, they should lose their father's

Jand. L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. K. Edw. Lords, give us leave; I'll try this widow's wit.

[leave. Glo. Ay, good leave have you; for you will have Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch.

[Gloster and Clarence retire to the other Side. K. Edw. Now tell me, madamn, do you love your

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

[liarm. L. Grey. To do them good, I would sustain soine K. Edw. Then get your husband's lands, to do them

good. L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty. K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. L. Grey. So shall you bind ine to your highness' service.

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

commands. Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble.

[Aside. Clar. As red as fire! nay then hier wax must melt.

[Aside. L. Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my

task ? K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king. L. Grey. That's soon perform’d, because subject.

[give thee. K. Edw. Why then, thy husband's lands I freely L. Grey. I take my leave, with many thousand thanks, Glo. The match is made; she seals it with a curt'sy.

am &

K. Edw. But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean. L. Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege. K. Edw. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. Wbat love, think'st'thou, I sue so much to get? L. 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 did not mean such love. L. Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you

did. K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my mind.

L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive Your highress aims at, if I aim aright.

K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.
L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.
K. Edw. Why then, thou shalt not have thy hus-

band's lands. L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my For by that loss I will not purchase them. [dower;

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

and me.
Bot, mighty lord, this merry inclination,
Accords not with the sadness of my suit;
Please you dismiss me, 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.

L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end. Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her brows.

[Aside. Clar. He is the blontest wooer in Christendom. [ Aside.

K. Edw. [Aside] Her looks do argue her roplete with Her words do show her wit incomparable; (modesty; 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?

L. Grey. "Tis better said than done, my gracions I am a subject fit to jest withal,

[lord : Bat far unfit to be a sovereign.

K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my state, I swear to !!

you-father.

I speak no more than what my soul intends;
And that is, to enjoy thee for my love.

L. 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.
L. Grey. "Twill grieve your grace, my sons should
call

(thee mother.
K. Edw. No more, than when thy daughters call
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.
Glo. The ghoslly father now hath done his shrift.

(Aside. Clar. When he was made a shriver, 'twas for shift.

[Aside. K. Edw. Brothers, you muse what chat we two have Glo. The widow likes it not, for she looks sad. [had. K. Edw. You'd think it strange, if I should marry Clar. To whom, my lord ?

[her. K. Edw.

Why, Clarence, to myself.
Glo. That would be ten days' wonder, at the least.
Clar. That's a day longer than a wonder lasts.
Glo. By so much is the wonder in extremes.

K. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you both,
Her suit is granted for her husband's lands,

Enter a Nobleman.
Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken,
And brought your prisoner to your palace gate.

K. Edw. See, that he be convey'd unto the Tower:--
And go we, brothers, to the inan that took him,
To question of his apprehension.-
Widow, go you along ;-Lords, use her honourable.

Exeunt K. Edw. Grey, Cla. and Lord.
Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably.
'Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all,
That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring,
To cross me from the golden time I look for!