William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (64 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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FIRST GAMEKEEPER (
to the Second Gamekeeper
)
to the Second Gamekeeper
)
Ay, here’s a deer whose skin’s a keeper’s fee:
This is the quondam king—let’s seize upon him.
This is the quondam king—let’s seize upon him.
KING HENRY
Let me embrace thee, sour adversity,
For wise men say it is the wisest course.
For wise men say it is the wisest course.
SECOND GAMEKEEPER (
to the First Gamekeeper
)
to the First Gamekeeper
)
Why linger we? Let us lay hands upon him.
FIRST GAMEKEEPER (to the Second Gamekeeper)
Forbear awhile—we’ll hear a little more.
KING HENRY
My queen and son are gone to France for aid,
And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick
Is thither gone to crave the French King’s sister
To wife for Edward. If this news be true,
Poor Queen and son, your labour is but lost—
For Warwick is a subtle orator,
And Louis a prince soon won with moving words.
By this account, then, Margaret may win him—
For she’s a woman to be pitied much.
Her sighs will make a batt‘ry in his breast,
Her tears will pierce into a marble heart,
The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn,
And Nero will be tainted with remorse
To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears.
Ay, but she’s come to beg; Warwick to give.
She on his left side, craving aid for Henry;
He on his right, asking a wife for Edward.
She weeps and says her Henry is deposed,
He smiles and says his Edward is installed;
That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more,
Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong,
Inferreth arguments of mighty strength,
And in conclusion wins the King from her
With promise of his sister and what else
To strengthen and support King Edward’s place.
O, Margaret, thus ’twill be; and thou, poor soul,
Art then forsaken, as thou went’st forlorn.
And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick
Is thither gone to crave the French King’s sister
To wife for Edward. If this news be true,
Poor Queen and son, your labour is but lost—
For Warwick is a subtle orator,
And Louis a prince soon won with moving words.
By this account, then, Margaret may win him—
For she’s a woman to be pitied much.
Her sighs will make a batt‘ry in his breast,
Her tears will pierce into a marble heart,
The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn,
And Nero will be tainted with remorse
To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears.
Ay, but she’s come to beg; Warwick to give.
She on his left side, craving aid for Henry;
He on his right, asking a wife for Edward.
She weeps and says her Henry is deposed,
He smiles and says his Edward is installed;
That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more,
Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong,
Inferreth arguments of mighty strength,
And in conclusion wins the King from her
With promise of his sister and what else
To strengthen and support King Edward’s place.
O, Margaret, thus ’twill be; and thou, poor soul,
Art then forsaken, as thou went’st forlorn.
SECOND GAMEKEEPER
(coming orward)
(coming orward)
Say, what art thou that talk’st of kings and queens?
KING HENRY
More than I seem, and less than I was born to:
A man at least, for less I should not be;
And men may talk of kings, and why not I?
A man at least, for less I should not be;
And men may talk of kings, and why not I?
SECOND GAMEKEEPER
Ay, but thou talk’st as if thou wert a king.
KING HENRY
Why, so I am, in mind—and that’s enough.
SECOND GAMEKEEPER
But if thou be a king, where is thy crown?
KING HENRY
My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen. My crown is called content—
A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.
Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen. My crown is called content—
A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.
SECOND GAMEKEEPER
Well, if you be a king crowned with content,
Your crown content and you must be contented
To go along with us—for, as we think,
You are the king King Edward hath deposed,
And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance
Will apprehend you as his enemy.
Your crown content and you must be contented
To go along with us—for, as we think,
You are the king King Edward hath deposed,
And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance
Will apprehend you as his enemy.
KING HENRY
But did you never swear and break an oath?
SECOND GAMEKEEPER
No—never such an oath, nor will not now.
KING HENRY
Where did you dwell when I was King of England?
SECOND GAMEKEEPER
Here in this country, where we now remain.
KING HENRY
I was anointed king at nine months old,
My father and my grandfather were kings,
And you were sworn true subjects unto me—
And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths ?
My father and my grandfather were kings,
And you were sworn true subjects unto me—
And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths ?
FIRST GAMEKEEPER
No, for we were subjects but while you were king.
KING HENRY
Why, am I dead? Do I not breathe a man?
Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear.
Look as I blow this feather from my face,
And as the air blows it to me again,
Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust—
Such is the lightness of you common men.
But do not break your oaths, for of that sin
My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.
Go where you will, the King shall be commanded;
And be you kings, command, and I’ll obey.
Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear.
Look as I blow this feather from my face,
And as the air blows it to me again,
Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust—
Such is the lightness of you common men.
But do not break your oaths, for of that sin
My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.
Go where you will, the King shall be commanded;
And be you kings, command, and I’ll obey.
FIRST GAMEKEEPER
We are true subjects to the King, King Edward.
KING HENRY
So would you be again to Henry,
If he were seated as King Edward is.
If he were seated as King Edward is.
FIRST GAMEKEEPER
We charge you, in God’s name and in the King’s,
To go with us unto the officers.
To go with us unto the officers.
KING HENRY
In God’s name, lead; your king’s name be obeyed;
And what God will, that let your king perform;
And what he will I humbly yield unto.
Exeunt
3.2And what God will, that let your king perform;
And what he will I humbly yield unto.
Exeunt
Enter King Edward, Richard Duke of Gloucester, George Duke of Clarence, and the Lady Gray
KING EDWARD
Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Albans field
This lady’s husband, Sir Richard Gray, was slain,
His lands then seized on by the conqueror.
Her suit is now to repossess those lands,
Which we in justice cannot well deny,
Because in quarrel of the house of York
The worthy gentleman did lose his life.
This lady’s husband, Sir Richard Gray, was slain,
His lands then seized on by the conqueror.
Her suit is now to repossess those lands,
Which we in justice cannot well deny,
Because in quarrel of the house of York
The worthy gentleman did lose his life.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
Your highness shall do well to grant her suit—
It were dishonour to deny it her.
It were dishonour to deny it her.
KING EDWARD
It were no less; but yet I’ll make a pause.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER, (
aside to George
) Yea, is it so?
aside to George
) Yea, is it so?
I see the lady hath a thing to grant
Before the King will grant her humble suit.
Before the King will grant her humble suit.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE (
aside to Richard
)
aside to Richard
)
He knows the game; how true he keeps the wind!
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (
aside to George
) Silence.
aside to George
) Silence.
KING EDWARD (
to Lady Gray
)
to Lady Gray
)
Widow, we will consider of your suit;
And come some other time to know our mind.
And come some other time to know our mind.
LADY GRAY
Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay.
May it please your highness to resolve me now,
And what your pleasure is shall satisfy me.
May it please your highness to resolve me now,
And what your pleasure is shall satisfy me.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER, (
aside to George
)
aside to George
)
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.
An if what pleases him shall pleasure you.
Fight closer, or, good faith, you’ll catch a blow.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE (
aside to Richard
)
aside to Richard
)
I fear her not unless she chance to fall.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (
aside to George
)
aside to George
)
God forbid that! For he’ll take vantages.
KING EDWARD (
to Lady Gray
)
to Lady Gray
)
How many children hast thou, widow ? Tell me.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE (
aside to Richard
)
aside to Richard
)
I think he means to beg a child of her.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (
aside to George
)
aside to George
)
Nay, whip me then—he’ll rather give her two.
LADY GRAY (
to King Edward)
Three, my most gracious lord.
to King Edward)
Three, my most gracious lord.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (
aside
)
aside
)
You shall have four, an you’ll be ruled by him.
KING EDWARD (to Lady Gray)
’Twere pity they should lose their father’s lands.
LADY GRAY
Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it them.
KING EDWARD (
to Richard and George
)
to Richard and George
)
Lords, give us leave—I’ll try this widow’s wit.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER, ⌈
aside to George
⌉
aside to George
⌉
Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave,
Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.
Richard and George stand apart
Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.
Richard and George stand apart
KING EDWARD (
to Lady Gray
)
to Lady Gray
)
Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?
LADY GRAY
Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.
KING EDWARD
And would you not do much to do them good?
LADY GRAY
To do them good I would sustain some harm.
KING EDWARD
Then get your husband’s lands, to do them good.
LADY GRAY
Therefore I came unto your majesty.
KING EDWARD
I’ll tell you how these lands are to be got.
LADY GRAY
So shall you bind me to your highness’ service.
KING EDWARD
What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?
LADY GRAY
What you command, that rests in me to do.
KING EDWARD
But you will take exceptions to my boon.
LADY GRAY
No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.
KING EDWARD
Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.
LADY GRAY
Why, then, I will do what your grace commands.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (
to George
)
to George
)
He plies her hard, and much rain wears the marble.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
As red as fire! Nay, then her wax must melt.
LADY GRAY (
to King Edward
)
to King Edward
)
Why stops my lord? Shall I not hear my task?
KING EDWARD
An easy task—’tis but to love a king.
LADY GRAY
That’s soon performed, because I am a subject.
KING EDWARD
Why, then, thy husband’s lands I freely give thee. 55
LADY GRAY (
curtsies
)
curtsies
)
I take my leave, with many thousand thanks.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (
to George
)
to George
)
The match is made—she seals it with a curtsy.
KING EDWARD (
to Lady Gray
)
to Lady Gray
)
But stay thee—’tis the fruits of love I mean.
LADY GRAY
The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.
KING EDWARD
Ay, but I fear me in another sense.
What love think’st thou I sue so much to get?
What love think’st thou I sue so much to get?
LADY GRAY
My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers—
That love which virtue begs and virtue grants.
That love which virtue begs and virtue grants.
KING EDWARD
No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.
LADY GRAY
Why, then, you mean not as I thought you did.
KING EDWARD
But now you partly may perceive my mind.
LADY GRAY
My mind will never grant what I perceive
Your highness aims at, if I aim aright.
Your highness aims at, if I aim aright.
KING EDWARD
To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.
LADY GRAY
To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. 70
KING EDWARD
Why, then, thou shalt not have thy husband’s lands.
LADY GRAY
Why, then, mine honesty shall be my dower;
For by that loss I will not purchase them.
For by that loss I will not purchase them.
KING EDWARD
Therein thou wrong’st thy children mightily.
LADY GRAY
Herein your highness wrongs both them and me.
But, mighty lord, this merry inclination
Accords not with the sadness of my suit.
Please you dismiss me either with ay or no.
But, mighty lord, this merry inclination
Accords not with the sadness of my suit.
Please you dismiss me either with ay or no.
KING EDWARD
Ay, if thou wilt say ‘ay’ to my request;
No, if thou dost say ‘no’ to my demand.
No, if thou dost say ‘no’ to my demand.
LADY GRAY
Then, no, my lord—my suit is at an end.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (
to George
)
to George
)
The widow likes him not—she knits her brows.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE
He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom.
KING EDWARD (
aside)
aside)
Her looks doth argue her replete with modesty;
Her words doth 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.
(
To Lady Gray
) Say that King Edward take thee for his
queen?
Her words doth 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.
(
To Lady Gray
) Say that King Edward take thee for his
queen?
LADY GRAY
’Tis better said than done, my gracious lord.
I am a subject fit to jest withal,
But far unfit to be a sovereign.
I am a subject fit to jest withal,
But far unfit to be a sovereign.
KING EDWARD
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.
I speak no more than what my soul intends,
And that is to enjoy thee for my love.
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