William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (65 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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LADY GRAY
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.
I know I am too mean to be your queen,
And yet too good to be your concubine.
KING EDWARD
You cavil, widow-I did mean my queen.
LADY GRAY
’Twill grieve your grace my sons should call you father.
KING EDWARD
No more than when my daughters call thee mother.
Thou art a widow and thou hast some children;
And, by God’s mother, I, being but a bachelor,
Have other some. Why, ’tis a happy thing
To be the father unto many sons.
Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.
Thou art a widow and thou hast some children;
And, by God’s mother, I, being but a bachelor,
Have other some. Why, ’tis a happy thing
To be the father unto many sons.
Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (
to George
)
to George
)
The ghostly father now hath done his shrift.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
When he was made a shriver, ’twas for shift.
KING EDWARD (
to Richard and George
)
to Richard and George
)
Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had.
Richard and George come forward
Richard and George come forward
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
The widow likes it not, for she looks very sad.
KING EDWARD
You’d think it strange if I should marry her.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
To who, my lord ?
KING EDWARD Why, Clarence, to myself.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
That would be ten days’ wonder at the least.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
That’s a day longer than a wonder lasts.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
By so much is the wonder in extremes.
KING EDWARD
Well, jest on, brothers—I can tell you both
Her suit is granted for her husband’s lands.
Enter a Nobleman
Her suit is granted for her husband’s lands.
Enter a Nobleman
NOBLEMAN
My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken
And brought as prisoner to your palace gate.
And brought as prisoner to your palace gate.
KING EDWARD
See that he be conveyed unto the Tower—
(
To Richard and George)
And go we, brothers, to the man that took him,
To question of his apprehension.
(
To Lady Gray
) Widow, go you along. ⌈
To Richard and
George
⌉ Lords, use her honourably.
(
To Richard and George)
And go we, brothers, to the man that took him,
To question of his apprehension.
(
To Lady Gray
) Widow, go you along. ⌈
To Richard and
George
⌉ Lords, use her honourably.
Exeunt all but Richard
RICHARD OF GLOUCEST’ER
Ay, Edward will use women honourably.
Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all,
That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring
To cross me from the golden time I look for.
And yet, between my soul’s desire and me—
The lustful Edward’s title burièd—
Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward,
And all the unlooked-for issue of their bodies,
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 a far-off shore where he would tread,
Wishing his foot were equal with his eye,
And chides the sea that sunders him from thence,
Saying he’ll lade it dry to have his way—
So do I wish the crown being so far off,
And so I chide the means that keeps me from it,
And so I say I’ll cut the causes off,
Flattering me with impossibilities.
My eye’s too quick, my heart o‘erweens too much,
Unless my hand and strength could equal them.
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 withered 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 unlicked bear whelp
That carries no impression like the dam.
And am I then a man to be beloved?
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, t’account this world but hell,
Until my misshaped 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 rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns,
Seeking a way and straying from the way,
Not knowing how to find the open air,
But toiling desperately to find it out—
Torment myself to catch the English crown.
And from that torment I will free myself,
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder whiles 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 slyly than Ulysses could,
And, like a Sinon, take another Troy.
I can add colours to the chameleon,
Change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
And set the murderous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut, were it farther off, I’ll pluck it down. Exit
3.3Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all,
That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring
To cross me from the golden time I look for.
And yet, between my soul’s desire and me—
The lustful Edward’s title burièd—
Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward,
And all the unlooked-for issue of their bodies,
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 a far-off shore where he would tread,
Wishing his foot were equal with his eye,
And chides the sea that sunders him from thence,
Saying he’ll lade it dry to have his way—
So do I wish the crown being so far off,
And so I chide the means that keeps me from it,
And so I say I’ll cut the causes off,
Flattering me with impossibilities.
My eye’s too quick, my heart o‘erweens too much,
Unless my hand and strength could equal them.
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 withered 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 unlicked bear whelp
That carries no impression like the dam.
And am I then a man to be beloved?
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, t’account this world but hell,
Until my misshaped 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 rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns,
Seeking a way and straying from the way,
Not knowing how to find the open air,
But toiling desperately to find it out—
Torment myself to catch the English crown.
And from that torment I will free myself,
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder whiles 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 slyly than Ulysses could,
And, like a Sinon, take another Troy.
I can add colours to the chameleon,
Change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
And set the murderous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut, were it farther off, I’ll pluck it down. Exit
⌈
Two
⌉
chairs of state. Flourish. Enter King Louis of France, his sister the Lady Bona, Lord Bourbon his admiral, Prince Edward, Queen Margaret, and the Earl of Oxford. Louis goes up upon the state, sits, and riseth up again
KING LOUIS
Fair Queen of England, worthy Margaret,
Sit down with us. It ill befits thy state
And birth that thou shouldst stand while Louis
doth sit.
Sit down with us. It ill befits thy state
And birth that thou shouldst stand while Louis
doth sit.
QUEEN MARGARET
No, mighty King of France, now Margaret
Must strike her sail and learn a while to serve
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
And to my humble state conform myself.
Must strike her sail and learn a while to serve
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
And to my humble state conform myself.
KING LOUIS
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 drowned in cares.
And stops my tongue, while heart is drowned in cares.
KING LOUIS
Whate’er it be, be thou still like thyself,
And sit thee by our side.
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.
It shall be eased if France can yield relief.
Still ride in triumph over all mischance.
Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief.
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 Louis
That Henry, sole possessor of my love,
Is of a king become a banished 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.
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.
An 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 seized, our soldiers put to flight,
And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight.
And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak.
Now, therefore, be it known to noble Louis
That Henry, sole possessor of my love,
Is of a king become a banished 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.
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.
An 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 seized, our soldiers put to flight,
And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight.
KING LOUIS
Renowned Queen, with patience calm the storm,
While we bethink a means to break it off.
While we bethink a means to break it off.
QUEEN MARGARET
The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe.
KING LOUIS
The more I stay, the more I’ll succour thee.
QUEEN MARGARET
O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow.
Enter the Earl of Warwick
And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow.
KING LOUIS
What’s he approacheth boldly to our presence?
QUEEN MARGARET
Our Earl of Warwick, Edward’s greatest friend.
KING LOUIS
Welcome, brave Warwick. What brings thee to France ?
He descends. She ariseth
QUEEN MARGARET (
aside
)
aside
)
Ay, now begins a second storm to rise,
For this is he that moves both wind and tide.
For this is he that moves both wind and tide.
WARWICK (
to King Louis
)
to King Louis
)
From worthy Edward, King of Albion,
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
With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant
That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister,
To England’s King in lawful marriage.
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
With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant
That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister,
To England’s King in lawful marriage.
QUEEN MARGARET
(aside)
(aside)
If that go forward, Henry’s hope is done.
WARWICK
(to Lady Bona)
(to Lady Bona)
And, gracious madam, 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 ent‘ring at his heedful ears,
Hath placed thy beauty’s image and thy virtue.
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 ent‘ring at his heedful ears,
Hath placed thy beauty’s image and thy virtue.
QUEEN MARGARET
King Louis 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.
Look, therefore, Louis, that by this league and
marriage
Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour,
For though usurpers sway the rule a while,
Yet heav’ns are just and time suppresseth wrongs.
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.
Look, therefore, Louis, that by this league and
marriage
Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour,
For though usurpers sway the rule a while,
Yet heav’ns are just and time suppresseth wrongs.
WARWICK
Injurious Margaret.
PRINCE EDWARD And why not ‘Queen’?
WARWICK
Because thy father Henry did usurp,
And thou no more art prince than she is queen.
And thou no more art 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,
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.
Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain;
And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth,
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
You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost
All that which Henry the 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
To make prescription for a kingdom’s worth.
You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost
All that which Henry the 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
To make prescription for a kingdom’s worth.
OXFORD
Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege,
Whom thou obeyedest thirty and six years,
And not bewray thy treason with a blush?
Whom thou obeyedest thirty and six years,
And not bewray thy treason with a blush?
WARWICK
Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,
Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree?
For shame—leave Henry, and call Edward king.
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,
Even in the downfall of his mellowed 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.
My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere,
Was done to death ? And more than so, my father,
Even in the downfall of his mellowed 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.
KING LOUIS
Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford,
Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside
While I use further conference with Warwick.
Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside
While I use further conference with Warwick.
Queen Margaret
⌈
comes down from the state and
⌉
, with Prince Edward and Oxford, stands apart
QUEEN MARGARET
Heavens grant that Warwick’s words bewitch him not.
KING LOUIS
Now, Warwick, tell me even upon thy conscience,
Is Edward your true king? For I were loath
To link with him that were not lawful chosen.
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 LOUIS
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