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.
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.
FIRST GAMEKEEPER
We charge you, in God’s name and in the King’s,
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
3.2 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.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER
Your highness shall do well to grant her suit—
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?
I see the lady hath a thing to grant
Before the King will grant her humble suit.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE (aside to Richard)
He knows the game; how true he keeps the wind!
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (aside to George) Silence.
KING EDWARD (to Lady Gray)
Widow, we will consider of your suit;
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.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER, (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.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE (aside to Richard)
I fear her not unless she chance to fall.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (aside to George)
God forbid that! For he’ll take vantages.
KING EDWARD (to Lady Gray)
How many children hast thou, widow ? Tell me.
GEORGE OF CLARENCE (aside to Richard)
I think he means to beg a child of her.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (aside to George)
Nay, whip me then—he’ll rather give her two.
LADY GRAY (to King Edward) Three, my most gracious lord.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (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)
Lords, give us leave—I’ll try this widow’s wit.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER, ⌈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
KING EDWARD (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)
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)
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)
I take my leave, with many thousand thanks.
RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (to George)
The match is made—she seals it with a curtsy.
KING EDWARD (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?
LADY GRAY
My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers—
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.
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.
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