Act 3. Scene II

SCENE II. London. The palace.

Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and LADY GREY
KING EDWARD IV
Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban's field
This lady's husband, Sir Richard Grey, 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.

GLOUCESTER
Your highness shall do well to grant her suit;
It were dishonour to deny it her.

KING EDWARD IV
It were no less; but yet I'll make a pause.

GLOUCESTER
[Aside to CLARENCE] Yea, is it so?
I see the lady hath a thing to grant,
Before the king will grant her humble suit.

CLARENCE
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] He knows the game: how true
he keeps the wind!

GLOUCESTER
[Aside to CLARENCE] Silence!

KING EDWARD IV
Widow, we will consider of your suit;
And come some other time to know our mind.

LADY GREY
Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay:
May it please your highness to resolve me now;
And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me.

GLOUCESTER
[Aside to CLARENCE] 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.

CLARENCE
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] I fear her not, unless she
chance to fall.

GLOUCESTER
[Aside to CLARENCE] God forbid that! for he'll
take vantages.

KING EDWARD IV
How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.

CLARENCE
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] I think he means to beg a
child of her.

GLOUCESTER
[Aside to CLARENCE] Nay, whip me then: he'll rather
give her two.

LADY GREY
Three, my most gracious lord.

GLOUCESTER
[Aside to CLARENCE] You shall have four, if you'll
be ruled by him.

KING EDWARD IV
'Twere pity they should lose their father's lands.

LADY GREY
Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.

KING EDWARD IV
Lords, give us leave: I'll try this widow's wit.

GLOUCESTER
[Aside to CLARENCE] Ay, good leave have you; for
you will have leave,
Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.

GLOUCESTER and CLARENCE retire

KING EDWARD IV
Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

LADY GREY
Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

KING EDWARD IV
And would you not do much to do them good?

LADY GREY
To do them good, I would sustain some harm.

KING EDWARD IV
Then get your husband's lands, to do them good.

LADY GREY
Therefore I came unto your majesty.

KING EDWARD IV
I'll