* Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard; * What other pleasure can the world afford? 'I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap, And deck my body in gay ornaments, And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. O miserable thought! and more unlikely, Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns! Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb: And, for I should not deal in her soft laws 'She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe 'To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub ; 'To make an envious mountain on my back, Where sits deformity to mock my body; 'To shape my legs of an unequal size; * To disproportion me in every part, * Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp, * That carries no impression like the dam. And am I then a man to be belov'd? 'O, monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought! *Then, since this earth affords no joy to me, But to command, to check, to o'erbear such * As are of better person than myself, * I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown; * And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell, * Until my misshap'd trunk that bears this head, * Be round impaled with a glorious crown. * And yet I know not how to get the crown, * For many lives stand between me and home: * And I,-like one lost in a thorny wood, * That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns; * Seeking a way, and straying from the way; 9 Encircled. *Not knowing how to find the open air, * Or hew my way out with a bloody axe. 'And cry, content, to that which grieves my heart; * And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, * And frame my face to all occasions. * I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; * I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk; * I'll play the orator as well as Nestor, * Deceive more slily than Ulysses could, * And, like a Sinon, take another Troy : I can add colours to the cameleon; Change shapes, with Proteus, for advantages, And set the murd'rous Machiavel to school. Can I do this, and cannot get a crown? 'Tut! were it further off, I'll pluck it down. [Exit. SCENE III. France. A Room in the Palace. Flourish. Enter LEWIS the French King, and Lady BONA, attended; the King takes his State. Then enter Queen MARGARET, Prince EDWARD her son, and the Earl of OXFORD. K. Lew. Fair queen of England, worthy Mar[Rising. garet, Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state, · And birth, that thou should'st stand, while Lewis doth sit. * Q. Mar. No, mighty king of France; now Mar garet * Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve, *K. Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? * Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears, * And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. * K. Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thy self, * And sit thee by our side: yield not thy neck [Seats her by him. To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind * Still ride in triumph over all mischance. * Be plain, queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; * It shall be eas'd, if France can yield relief. * Q. Mar. 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, * Is, of a king, become a banish'd man, * While proud ambitious Edward, duke of York, *Usurps the regal title, and the seat * Of England's true-anointed lawful king. 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; Our people and our peers are both misled, * Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight, *And, as thou see'st, ourselves in heavy plight. * K. Lew. Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm, While we bethink a means to break it off. * Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe. * K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour thee. * Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true sor row: And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Enter WARWICK, attended. K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to our presence? Q. Mar. Our earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend. K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France? [Descending from his state. Queen MARGARET rises. * Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise; For this is he, that moves both wind and tide. With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant To England's king in lawful marriage. 'Q. Mar. If that go forward, Henry's hope is done. War. And, gracious madam, [To BONA.] in our king's behalf, '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 plac'd thy beauty's image, and thy virtue. Q. Mar. 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, * 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. 營 Look therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage * Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour : * For though usurpers sway the rule a while, |