Richard. Ay, Edward will use women honorably.--
Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all;
That from his stock no hopeful branch may spring,
To cross me from the golden time I look for.-
And yet, between my soul's desire and me,
Besides the honorable Edward's race,

Are Clarence, Henry, and his son, young Edward,
To take their rooms, ere I can place myself.
A cold premeditation for my purpose!
Why then I do but dream on sovereignty,
Like one, that stands upon a promontory,
And spies afar a shore where he would tread;
Wishing his foot were equal to his eye,

And chides the sea, that sunders him from thence.
Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard.-
What other pleasure can the world afford?
I'll deck my body in gay ornaments,

;

And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks.
O miscrable thought! and more unlikely,
Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns!
Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb.
And, to exclude me from his partial rites,
He did corrupt frail nature with a bribe,
To shrink my 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.
And am I then a man to be beloy'd!

O monstrous fault, to harbour such a hope!

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 heav'n to dream upon the crown-
And when I wake, t' account this world but hell,
'Till this mishapen trunk's aspiring head
Be circled with a glorious diadem.-
Thus I torment myself to win a crown;
But from that torment I will free myself;
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder while I smile;
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 colors to the cameleon;
Change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
And send the murd'rous Cataline to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut, were it further off, I'd pluck it down.

[Exit.

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

ACT IV.-SCENE I.

A Palace.

Enter EDWARD, CLARENCE, and HASTINGS.

Edward.

GIVE me, O God, a heart of gratitude,
For thou hast giv'n, in this angelic Queen,
A world of earthly blessings to my soul!

Enter RICHARD.

Brother of Glocester, how like you our choice?
That you seem pensive, as if discontented.

Richard. As well as Lewis, or the Earl of War-
wick;

Who are so weak of courage, and in judgment,
That they'll take no offence at our abuse.

Edward. Suppose they take offence without a

cause

They are but Lewis and Warwick I am Edward, Your King and Warwick's, and must have my will.

Richard. And you shall have your will, because our King.

Yet hasty marriages prove seldom well.

Edward. Richard, are you offended too?

Not I.

Richard. No,-God forbid, that I should wish them sever'd, Whom God has join'd together-and 't were pity To sunder those, that yoke so well together. Edward. Setting your scorns and dislike aside, Tell me some reason, why the Lady Grey Should not be worthy to be Queen of England. Richard. Then this is my opinion

Warwick,

Mock'd and dishonor'd in his embassy,

-noble

Will turn his arms against you; and King Lewis,
Whose sister is disgrac'd in this new marriage,
Will join with Margret and invade our country.
Edward. Away with these suspicions—fear them

not.

England, the nurse of ev'ry bold emprise,

Secur'd by valor, laughs at foreign force.
Inthron'd in the affections of my subjects,

I scorn invasion

Richard. Yet, to

alliance,

and defy the world!

have join'd with France in this

Had been a stronger bulwark to our house

'Gainst foreign dangers, than this home-bred

marriage.

Hastings. And knows not Gloster then, that of

herself

England is safe, if in herself united?

Richard. She would be safer, were she back'd with France.

Hastings. 'Tis better trusting France, than using
France!

Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas,
Which he has giv'n for fence impregnable ;
And with our ships alone defend our coasts:
In them and in ourselves, our safety lies.

Enter a MESSENGER.

Edward. Now say, what letters, or what news from France?

Messenger. My sov'reign liege, no letters; and few words;

But such as I, without your special pardon,
Dare not relate.

Edward. Go to- -tell me their words.-
What answer made King Lewis to our letters?
Messenger. At my departure, such his answer

was:

"Go tell false Edward, thy pretended King, "That Lewis of France is sending over maskers, "To revel it with him, and his new bride!" Edward. Is he so brave? perhaps he thinks me Henry.

But what said Lady Bona to my marriage? Messenger. "Tell him, in hopes he'll prove a widow'r shortly,

"I'll wear a willow garland for his sake.”

Edward. I blame not her: she could say little

less;

For she was wrong'd. But what said Henry's Queen?