Which we in justice cannot well deny, Because in quarrel of the house of York

The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

Glos. Your highness shall do well to grant her suit:

"It were dishonor to deny it her.

K. Ed. It were no less; but yet I'll make a

pause.

• Glos. Yea! is it so?

[aside to Clarence.

I see, the lady hath a thing to grant,

Before the king will grant her humble suit.

Cla. He knows the game: how true he keeps the

wind!

Glos. Silence!

[aside.

[aside.

· K. Ed. Widow, we will consider of your

suit;

And come some other time, to know our mind.

L. Grey. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook

delay.

May it please your highness to resolve me now; And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me. 'Glos. [aside.] Ay, widow? then I'll warrant you all your lands,

An if what pleases him shall pleasure you.

Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow.

"

Cla. I fear her not, unless she chance to fall.

[aside.

"Glos. God forbid that! for he'll take vantages.

[aside.

'K. Ed. How many children hast thou, widow?

tell me.

Cla. I think, he means to beg a child of her.

[aside.

Glos. Nay, whip me then: he'll rather give her

two.

[aside.

L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord.
Glos. You shall have four, if you'll be ruled by

him.

[aside.

'K. Ed. 'Twere pity, they should lose their fa

ther's land.

L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it

then.

K. Ed. Lords, give us leave: I'll try this widow's

wit.

Glos. Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave,

'Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch. [Gloster and Clarence retire to the other side. "K. Ed. Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

"L. Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

K. Ed. And would you not do much to do

them good?

"L. Grey. To do them good I would sustain some harm.

"K. Ed. Then get your husband's lands to do them good.

"L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty. K. Ed. I'll tell you how these lands are to be

got.

"L. Grey. So shall you bind me to your high

ness' service.

"K. Ed. What service wilt thou do me, if I give

them?

"L. Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do.

"K. Ed. But you will take exceptions to my boon.

"L. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot

do it.

"K. Ed. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to

ask.

"L. Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace

commands.

"Glos. He plies her hard; and much rain wears

the marble.

[aside.

Cla. As red as fire! nay, then her wax must

melt.

[aside.

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

my task?

K. Ed. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king.
L. Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a

subject.

K. Ed. Why then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee.

L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand thanks.

Glos. The match is made; she seals it with a

courtesy.

.K. Ed. But stay thee; 'tis the fruits of love I

mean.

"L. Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving

liege.

"K. Ed. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. What 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. Ed. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.

"L. Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did.

"

K. Ed. But now you partly may perceive my

mind.

"L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I per

ceive

"Your highness aims at, if I aim aright.

K. Ed. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. "L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in

prison.

K. Ed. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands.

L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower;

For by that loss I will not purchase them.

But, mighty lord, this merry inclination

'Accords not with the sadness 1 of my suit.

1 Seriousness.

Please you dismiss me either with Ay or No.
K. Ed. 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.

• Glos. The widow likes him not; she knits her brows.

Cla. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom.

[aside.

[aside.

K. Ed. [aside.] Her looks do argue her replete

with modesty ;

"Her words do show her wit incomparable; "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 gracious lord:

I am a subject fit to jest withal,

But far unfit to be a sovereign.

K. Ed. Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee,

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. Ed. You cavil, widow; I did mean, my

queen.

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