Page 856 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

WARWICK

From worthy Edward, King of Albion,
My lord and sovereign and thy vowèd friend, [50]
I come, in kindness and unfeignèd 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 [55]
That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister,
To England’s king in lawful marriage.

MARGARET

[aside]
If that go forward, Henry’s hope is done.

WARWICK

speaking to Bona
And, gracious madam, in our king’s behalf,
I am commanded, with your leave and favour, [60]
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.

MARGARET

King Lewis and Lady Bona, hear me speak [65]
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? [70]
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, Lewis, that by this league and marriage
Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour: [75]
For though usurpers sway the rule awhile,
Yet heavens are just and time suppresseth wrongs.

WARWICK