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Henry VI, Part 3 (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
The third Part of Henry the Sixt.
163
How could he stay till Warwicke made returne?
Som. My Lords, forbeare this talke: heere comes the
King.
2025
Flourish.
Enter King Edward, Lady Grey, Penbrooke, Staf-
ford, Hastings: foure stand on one side,
and foure on the other.

Rich. And his well-chosen Bride.
2030Clarence. 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,
2035Or 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,
2040Your 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:
2045God forbid, that I should wish them seuer'd,
Whom God hath ioyn'd together:
I, and 'twere pittie, to sunder them,
That yoake so well together.
King. Setting your skornes, and your mislike aside,
2050Tell 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:
2055That 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.
2060King. 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.
2065Hast. 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 God, and with the Seas,
2070Which 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.
2075King. 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;
2080Shee 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.
2085King. 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
2090To 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
2095To rayse my State to Title of a Queene,
Doe me but right, and you must all confesse,
That I was not ignoble of Descent,
And meaner then my selfe haue had like fortune.
But as this Title honors me and mine,
2100So 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,
2105And 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.
2110 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,
2115But 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.
2120What 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.
2125 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.
2130King. 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,
2135And 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:
2140Tell 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.
2145But say, is Warwicke friends with Margaret?
Post. I, gracious Soueraigne,
They are so link'd in friendship,
That yong Prince Edward marryes Warwicks Daughter.
Clarence. Belike, the elder;
2150Clarence will haue the younger.
Now