Act V. Scene
VII.
Scene VII.—The Same. A Room in the Palace.
KING EDWARD is discovered sitting on his
throne: QUEEN ELIZABETH with the infant
prince, CLARENCE, GLOUCESTER,
HASTINGS, and Others, near him.
K. Edw. Once more we sit in England's royal
throne,
Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies.
What valiant foemen like to autumn's corn,
Have we mow'd down, in tops of all their pride!
Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd
For hardy and undoubted champions;
Two Cliffords, as the father and the son;
And two Northumberlands: two braver men
Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's
sound;
With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and
Montague,
That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion,
And made the forest tremble when they roar'd.
Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat,
And made our footstool of security.
Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy.
Young Ned, for thee thine uncles and myself
Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night;
Went all a-foot in summer's scalding heat,
That thou might'st repossess the crown in
peace;
And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain.
Glo. [Aside.] I'll blast his harvest, if your
head were laid;
For yet I am not look'd on in the world.
This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave;
And heave it shall some weight, or break my
back:
Work thou the way, and thou shalt execute.
K. Edw. Clarence and Gloucester, love my
lovely queen;
And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both.
Clar. The duty, that I owe unto your
majesty,
I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe.
K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy
brother, thanks.
Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence
thou sprang'st,
Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit,
[Aside.] To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his
master,
And cried 'all hail!' when as he meant all
harm.
K. Edw. Now am I seated as my soul de-
lights,
Having my country's peace and brothers' loves.
Clar. What will your Grace have done with
Margaret?
Reignier, her father, to the King of France
Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem,
And hither have they sent it for her ransom.
K. Edw. Away with her, and waft her hence
to France.
And now what rests but that we spend the
time
With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows,
Such as befit the pleasure of the court?
Sound, drums and trumpets! farewell, sour
annoy!
For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.
[Exeunt.
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