Henry VI, Part III by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 3
France. KING LEWIS XI’s palace.
King Lewis XI : Fair Queen of England, worthy Margaret,
[p]Sit down with us: it ill
befits thy state
[p]And birth, that thou shouldst stand while Lewis
doth sit.
King Lewis XI : Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair?
King Lewis XI : Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself,
[p]And sit thee by our
side:
[p][Seats her by him]
[p]Yield not thy neck
[p]To fortune's
yoke, but let thy dauntless mind
[p]Still ride in triumph over all
mischance.
[p]Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief;
[p]It
shall be eased, if France can yield relief.
King Lewis XI : Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm,
[p]While we bethink a
means to break it off.
King Lewis XI : The more I stay, the more I'll succor thee.
King Lewis XI : What's he approacheth boldly to our presence?
King Lewis XI : Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France?
King Lewis XI : Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford,
[p]Vouchsafe, at our
request, to stand aside,
[p]While I use further conference with
Warwick.
King Lewis XI : Now Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience,
[p]Is Edward your true
king? for I were loath
[p]To link with him that were not lawful
chosen.
King Lewis XI : But is he gracious in the people's eye?
King Lewis XI : Then further, all dissembling set aside,
[p]Tell me for truth the
measure of his love
[p]Unto our sister Bona.
King Lewis XI : Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve.
Bona : Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine:
[p][To WARWICK]
[p]Yet I
confess that often ere this day,
[p]When I have heard your king's
desert recounted,
[p]Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire.
King Lewis XI : Then, Warwick, thus: our sister shall be Edward's;
[p]And now
forthwith shall articles be drawn
[p]Touching the jointure that your
king must make,
[p]Which with her dowry shall be
counterpoised.
[p]Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness
[p]That
Bona shall be wife to the English king.
King Lewis XI : And still is friend to him and Margaret:
[p]But if your title to the
crown be weak,
[p]As may appear by Edward's good success,
[p]Then 'tis
but reason that I be released
[p]From giving aid which late I
promised.
[p]Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand
[p]That your
estate requires and mine can yield.
King Lewis XI : Warwick, this is some post to us or thee.
Post : [To WARWICK] My lord ambassador, these letters are for you,
[p]Sent
from your brother, Marquess Montague:
[p][To KING LEWIS XI]
[p]These
from our king unto your majesty:
[p][To QUEEN MARGARET]
[p]And, madam,
these for you; from whom I know not.
King Lewis XI : Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen?
King Lewis XI : What! has your king married the Lady Grey!
[p]And now, to soothe your
forgery and his,
[p]Sends me a paper to persuade me patience?
[p]Is
this the alliance that he seeks with France?
[p]Dare he presume to
scorn us in this manner?
Bona : Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged
[p]But by thy help to this
distressed queen?
Bona : My quarrel and this English queen's are one.
King Lewis XI : And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's.
[p]Therefore at last I
firmly am resolved
[p]You shall have aid.
King Lewis XI : Then, England's messenger, return in post,
[p]And tell false Edward,
thy supposed king,
[p]That Lewis of France is sending over
masquers
[p]To revel it with him and his new bride:
[p]Thou seest
what's past, go fear thy king withal.
Bona : Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,
[p]I'll wear the
willow garland for his sake.
King Lewis XI : But, Warwick,
[p]Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men,
[p]Shall
cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle;
[p]And, as occasion
serves, this noble queen
[p]And prince shall follow with a fresh
supply.
[p]Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt,
[p]What pledge
have we of thy firm loyalty?
King Lewis XI : Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied,
[p]And thou, Lord
Bourbon, our high admiral,
[p]Shalt waft them over with our royal
fleet.
[p]I long till Edward fall by war's mischance,
[p]For mocking
marriage with a dame of France.
Previous: Act 3 - Scene 2
Next: Act 4 - Scene 1
