| ACT III SCENE III | France. King Lewis XI's palace. | |
| [
Flourish. Enter KING LEWIS XI, his sister BONA,
his Admiral, called BOURBON, PRINCE EDWARD, QUEEN
MARGARET, and OXFORD. KING LEWIS XI sits, and
riseth up again
] |
| KING LEWIS XI | Fair Queen of England, worthy Margaret, |
| Sit down with us: it ill befits thy state |
| And birth, that thou shouldst stand while Lewis doth sit. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | No, mighty King of France: now Margaret |
| Must strike her sail and learn awhile to serve | 5 |
| 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; |
| Where I must take like seat unto my fortune, | 10 |
| And to my humble seat conform myself. |
| KING LEWIS XI | Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? |
| QUEEN MARGARET | From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears |
| And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. |
| KING LEWIS XI | Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself, | 15 |
| And sit thee by our side: |
[Seats her by him] |
| Yield not thy neck |
| To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind |
| Still ride in triumph over all mischance. |
| Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; | 20 |
| It shall be eased, if France can yield relief. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts |
| And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak. |
| Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis, |
| That Henry, sole possessor of my love, | 25 |
| Is of a king become a banish'd man, |
| And forced to live in Scotland a forlorn; |
| While proud ambitious Edward Duke of York |
| Usurps the regal title and the seat |
| Of England's true-anointed lawful king. | 30 |
| This is the cause that I, poor Margaret, |
| With this my son, Prince Edward, Henry's heir, |
| Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid; |
| And if thou fail us, all our hope is done: |
| Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help; | 35 |
| Our people and our peers are both misled, |
| Our treasures seized, our soldiers put to flight, |
| And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight. |
| KING LEWIS XI | Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm, |
| While we bethink a means to break it off. | 40 |
| QUEEN MARGARET | The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe. |
| KING LEWIS XI | The more I stay, the more I'll succor thee. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow. |
| And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow! |
| [Enter WARWICK] |
| KING LEWIS XI | What's he approacheth boldly to our presence? | 45 |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Our Earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend. |
| KING LEWIS XI | Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France? |
| [He descends. She ariseth] |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Ay, now begins a second storm to rise; |
| For this is he that moves both wind and tide. |
| WARWICK | From worthy Edward, King of Albion, | 50 |
| My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend, |
| I come, in kindness and unfeigned love, |
| First, to do greetings to thy royal person; |
| And then to crave a league of amity; |
| And lastly, to confirm that amity | 55 |
| With a nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant |
| That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister, |
| To England's king in lawful marriage. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | [Aside] If that go forward, Henry's hope is done.
|
| WARWICK | [To BONA] And, gracious madam, in our king's behalf,
| 60 |
| I am commanded, with your leave and favour, |
| Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue |
| To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart;
|
| Where fame, late entering at his heedful ears, |
| Hath placed thy beauty's image and thy virtue. | 65 |
| QUEEN MARGARET | King Lewis and Lady Bona, hear me speak, |
| Before you answer Warwick. His demand |
| Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love, |
| But from deceit bred by necessity; |
| For how can tyrants safely govern home, | 70 |
| Unless abroad they purchase great alliance? |
| To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice, |
| That Henry liveth still: but were he dead, |
| Yet here Prince Edward stands, King Henry's son. |
| Look, therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage | 75 |
| Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour; |
| For though usurpers sway the rule awhile, |
| Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs. |
| WARWICK | Injurious Margaret! |
| PRINCE EDWARD | And why not queen? | 80 |
| WARWICK | Because thy father Henry did usurp; |
| And thou no more are prince than she is queen. |
| OXFORD | Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt, |
| Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain; |
| And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth, | 85 |
| Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest; |
| And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth, |
| Who by his prowess conquered all France: |
| From these our Henry lineally descends. |
| WARWICK | Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse, | 90 |
| You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost |
| All that which Henry Fifth had gotten? |
| Methinks these peers of France should smile at that. |
| But for the rest, you tell a pedigree |
| Of threescore and two years; a silly time | 95 |
| To make prescription for a kingdom's worth. |
| OXFORD | Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege, |
| Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years, |
| And not bewray thy treason with a blush? |
| WARWICK | Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, | 100 |
| Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree? |
| For shame! leave Henry, and call Edward king. |
| OXFORD | Call him my king by whose injurious doom |
| My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere, |
| Was done to death? and more than so, my father, | 105 |
| Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years, |
| When nature brought him to the door of death? |
| No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm, |
| This arm upholds the house of Lancaster. |
| WARWICK | And I the house of York. | 110 |
| KING LEWIS XI | Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford, |
| Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, |
| While I use further conference with Warwick. |
| [They stand aloof] |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Heavens grant that Warwick's words bewitch him not! |
| KING LEWIS XI | Now Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience, | 115 |
| Is Edward your true king? for I were loath |
| To link with him that were not lawful chosen. |
| WARWICK | Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour. |
| KING LEWIS XI | But is he gracious in the people's eye? |
| WARWICK | The more that Henry was unfortunate. | 120 |
| KING LEWIS XI | Then further, all dissembling set aside, |
| Tell me for truth the measure of his love |
| Unto our sister Bona. |
| WARWICK | Such it seems |
| As may beseem a monarch like himself. | 125 |
| Myself have often heard him say and swear |
| That this his love was an eternal plant, |
| Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground, |
| The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun, |
| Exempt from envy, but not from disdain, | 130 |
| Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain. |
| KING LEWIS XI | Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. |
| BONA | Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine: |
[To WARWICK] |
| Yet I confess that often ere this day, |
| When I have heard your king's desert recounted, | 135 |
| Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire. |
| KING LEWIS XI | Then, Warwick, thus: our sister shall be Edward's; |
| And now forthwith shall articles be drawn |
| Touching the jointure that your king must make, |
| Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised. | 140 |
| Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness |
| That Bona shall be wife to the English king. |
| PRINCE EDWARD | To Edward, but not to the English king. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Deceitful Warwick! it was thy device |
| By this alliance to make void my suit: | 145 |
| Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend. |
| KING LEWIS XI | And still is friend to him and Margaret: |
| But if your title to the crown be weak, |
| As may appear by Edward's good success, |
| Then 'tis but reason that I be released | 150 |
| From giving aid which late I promised. |
| Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand |
| That your estate requires and mine can yield. |
| WARWICK | Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease, |
| Where having nothing, nothing can he lose. | 155 |
| And as for you yourself, our quondam queen, |
| You have a father able to maintain you; |
| And better 'twere you troubled him than France. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick, peace, |
| Proud setter up and puller down of kings! | 160 |
| I will not hence, till, with my talk and tears, |
| Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold |
| Thy sly conveyance and thy lord's false love; |
| For both of you are birds of selfsame feather. |
| [Post blows a horn within] |
| KING LEWIS XI | Warwick, this is some post to us or thee. | 165 |
| [Enter a Post] |
| Post | [To WARWICK] My lord ambassador, these letters are for you,
|
| Sent from your brother, Marquess Montague: |
[To KING LEWIS XI] |
| These from our king unto your majesty: |
[To QUEEN MARGARET] |
| And, madam, these for you; from whom I know not. |
| [They all read their letters] |
| OXFORD | I like it well that our fair queen and mistress | 170 |
| Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his. |
| PRINCE EDWARD | Nay, mark how Lewis stamps, as he were nettled: |
| I hope all's for the best. |
| KING LEWIS XI | Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen? |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Mine, such as fill my heart with unhoped joys. | 175 |
| WARWICK | Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent. |
| KING LEWIS XI | What! has your king married the Lady Grey! |
| And now, to soothe your forgery and his, |
| Sends me a paper to persuade me patience? |
| Is this the alliance that he seeks with France? | 180 |
| Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner? |
| QUEEN MARGARET | I told your majesty as much before: |
| This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty. |
| WARWICK | King Lewis, I here protest, in sight of heaven, |
| And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss, | 185 |
| That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's, |
| No more my king, for he dishonours me, |
| But most himself, if he could see his shame. |
| Did I forget that by the house of York |
| My father came untimely to his death? | 190 |
| Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece? |
| Did I impale him with the regal crown? |
| Did I put Henry from his native right? |
| And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame? |
| Shame on himself! for my desert is honour: | 195 |
| And to repair my honour lost for him, |
| I here renounce him and return to Henry. |
| My noble queen, let former grudges pass, |
| And henceforth I am thy true servitor: |
| I will revenge his wrong to Lady Bona, | 200 |
| And replant Henry in his former state. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate to love; |
| And I forgive and quite forget old faults, |
| And joy that thou becomest King Henry's friend. |
| WARWICK | So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend, | 205 |
| That, if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us |
| With some few bands of chosen soldiers, |
| I'll undertake to land them on our coast |
| And force the tyrant from his seat by war. |
| 'Tis not his new-made bride shall succor him: | 210 |
| And as for Clarence, as my letters tell me, |
| He's very likely now to fall from him, |
| For matching more for wanton lust than honour, |
| Or than for strength and safety of our country. |
| BONA | Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged | 215 |
| But by thy help to this distressed queen? |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live, |
| Unless thou rescue him from foul despair? |
| BONA | My quarrel and this English queen's are one. |
| WARWICK | And mine, fair lady Bona, joins with yours. | 220 |
| KING LEWIS XI | And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's. |
| Therefore at last I firmly am resolved |
| You shall have aid. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Let me give humble thanks for all at once. |
| KING LEWIS XI | Then, England's messenger, return in post, | 225 |
| And tell false Edward, thy supposed king, |
| That Lewis of France is sending over masquers |
| To revel it with him and his new bride: |
| Thou seest what's past, go fear thy king withal. |
| BONA | Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, | 230 |
| I'll wear the willow garland for his sake. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid aside, |
| And I am ready to put armour on. |
| WARWICK | Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong, |
| And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long. | 235 |
| There's thy reward: be gone. |
| [Exit Post] |
| KING LEWIS XI | But, Warwick, |
| Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men, |
| Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle; |
| And, as occasion serves, this noble queen | 240 |
| And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. |
| Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt, |
| What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty? |
| WARWICK | This shall assure my constant loyalty, |
| That if our queen and this young prince agree, | 245 |
| I'll join mine eldest daughter and my joy |
| To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands. |
| QUEEN MARGARET | Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. |
| Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous, |
| Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick; | 250 |
| And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable, |
| That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine. |
| PRINCE EDWARD | Yes, I accept her, for she well deserves it; |
| And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand. |
| [He gives his hand to WARWICK] |
| KING LEWIS XI | Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied, | 255 |
| And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high admiral, |
| Shalt waft them over with our royal fleet. |
| I long till Edward fall by war's mischance, |
| For mocking marriage with a dame of France. |
| [Exeunt all but WARWICK] |
| WARWICK | I came from Edward as ambassador, | 260 |
| But I return his sworn and mortal foe: |
| Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me, |
| But dreadful war shall answer his demand. |
| Had he none else to make a stale but me? |
| Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow. | 265 |
| I was the chief that raised him to the crown, |
| And I'll be chief to bring him down again: |
| Not that I pity Henry's misery, |
| But seek revenge on Edward's mockery. |
[Exit] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)