TPTT The Third Part of Henry the Sixth: ACT IV
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. London. The palace.
SCENE II. A plain in Warwickshire.
SCENE III. Edward's camp, near Warwick.
SCENE IV. London. The palace.
SCENE V. A park near Middleham Castle In Yorkshire.
SCENE VI. London. The Tower.
SCENE VII. Before York.
SCENE VIII. London. The palace.
ACT V
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SCENE I. London. The palace.
Enter GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, and MONTAGUE
GLOUCESTER
      Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you
      Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey?
      Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?
CLARENCE
      Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France;
5     How could he stay till Warwick made return?
SOMERSET
      My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king.
GLOUCESTER
      And his well-chosen bride.
CLARENCE
      I mind to tell him plainly what I think.
Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, attended; QUEEN ELIZABETH, PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others
KING EDWARD IV
      Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,
10    That you stand pensive, as half malcontent?
CLARENCE
      As well as Lewis of France, or the Earl of Warwick,
      Which are so weak of courage and in judgment
      That they'll take no offence at our abuse.
KING EDWARD IV
      Suppose they take offence without a cause,
15    They are but Lewis and Warwick: I am Edward,
      Your king and Warwick's, and must have my will.
GLOUCESTER
      And shall have your will, because our king:
      Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.
KING EDWARD IV
      Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?
GLOUCESTER
20    Not I:
      No, God forbid that I should wish them sever'd
      Whom God hath join'd together; ay, and 'twere pity
      To sunder them that yoke so well together.
KING EDWARD IV
      Setting your scorns and your mislike aside,
25    Tell me some reason why the Lady Grey
      Should not become my wife and England's queen.
      And you too, Somerset and Montague,
      Speak freely what you think.
CLARENCE
      Then this is mine opinion: that King Lewis
30    Becomes your enemy, for mocking him
      About the marriage of the Lady Bona.
GLOUCESTER
      And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge,
      Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.
KING EDWARD IV
      What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeased
35    By such invention as I can devise?
MONTAGUE
      Yet, to have join'd with France in such alliance
      Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth
      'Gainst foreign storms than any home-bred marriage.
HASTINGS
      Why, knows not Montague that of itself
40    England is safe, if true within itself?
MONTAGUE
      But the safer when 'tis back'd with France.
HASTINGS
      'Tis better using France than trusting France:
      Let us be back'd with God and with the seas
      Which He hath given for fence impregnable,
45    And with their helps only defend ourselves;
      In them and in ourselves our safety lies.
CLARENCE
      For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves
      To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.
KING EDWARD IV
      Ay, what of that? it was my will and grant;
50    And for this once my will shall stand for law.
GLOUCESTER
      And yet methinks your grace hath not done well,
      To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales
      Unto the brother of your loving bride;
      She better would have fitted me or Clarence:
55    But in your bride you bury brotherhood.
CLARENCE
      Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir
      Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son,
      And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.
KING EDWARD IV
      Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife
60    That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.
CLARENCE
      In choosing for yourself, you show'd your judgment,
      Which being shallow, you give me leave
      To play the broker in mine own behalf;
      And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.
KING EDWARD IV
65    Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king,
      And not be tied unto his brother's will.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
      My lords, before it pleased his majesty
      To raise my state to title of a queen,
      Do me but right, and you must all confess
70    That I was not ignoble of descent;
      And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
      But as this title honours me and mine,
      So your dislike, to whom I would be pleasing,
      Doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.
KING EDWARD IV
75    My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns:
      What danger or what sorrow can befall thee,
      So long as Edward is thy constant friend,
      And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?
      Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
80    Unless they seek for hatred at my hands;
      Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
      And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
GLOUCESTER
      (Aside) I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.
Enter a Post
KING EDWARD IV
      Now, messenger, what letters or what news
85    From France?
Post
      My sovereign liege, no letters; and few words,
      But such as I, without your special pardon,
      Dare not relate.
KING EDWARD IV
      Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in brief,
90    Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them.
      What answer makes King Lewis unto our letters?
Post
      At my depart, these were his very words:
      'Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king,
      That Lewis of France is sending over masquers
95    To revel it with him and his new bride.'
KING EDWARD IV
      Is Lewis so brave? belike he thinks me Henry.
      But what said Lady Bona to my marriage?
Post
      These were her words, utter'd with mad disdain:
      'Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,
100   I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.'
KING EDWARD IV
      I blame not her, she could say little less;
      She had the wrong. But what said Henry's queen?
      For I have heard that she was there in place.
Post
      'Tell him,' quoth she, 'my mourning weeds are done,
105   And I am ready to put armour on.'
KING EDWARD IV
      Belike she minds to play the Amazon.
      But what said Warwick to these injuries?
Post
      He, more incensed against your majesty
      Than all the rest, discharged me with these words:
110   'Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,
      And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.'
KING EDWARD IV
      Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?
      Well I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd:
      They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.
115   But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?
Post
      Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd in
      friendship
      That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.
CLARENCE
      Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger.
120   Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,
      For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;
      That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage
      I may not prove inferior to yourself.
      You that love me and Warwick, follow me.
Exit CLARENCE, and SOMERSET follows
GLOUCESTER
125   (Aside) Not I:
      My thoughts aim at a further matter; I
      Stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown.
KING EDWARD IV
      Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick!
      Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen;
130   And haste is needful in this desperate case.
      Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf
      Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
      They are already, or quickly will be landed:
      Myself in person will straight follow you.

Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFORD

135   But, ere I go, Hastings and Montague,
      Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,
      Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance:
      Tell me if you love Warwick more than me?
      If it be so, then both depart to him;
140   I rather wish you foes than hollow friends:
      But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
      Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
      That I may never have you in suspect.
MONTAGUE
      So God help Montague as he proves true!
HASTINGS
145   And Hastings as he favours Edward's cause!
KING EDWARD IV
      Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?
GLOUCESTER
      Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.
KING EDWARD IV
      Why, so! then am I sure of victory.
      Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour,
150   Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

Exeunt

      3 KING HENRY VI
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