ACT II
SCENE I. London. A Room in the palace
[Enter KING EDWARD, led in sick, QUEEN ELIZABETH, DORSET, RIVERS, HASTINGS, BUCKINGHAM, GREY, and others.]
KING EDWARD
Why, so. Now have I done a good day’s work:—
You peers, continue this united league:
I every day expect an embassage
From my Redeemer, to redeem me hence;
And more at peace my soul shall part to heaven,
Since I have made my friends at peace on earth.
Rivers and Hastings, take each other’s hand;
Dissemble not your hatred, swear your love.
RIVERS
By heaven, my soul is purg’d from grudging hate;
And with my hand I seal my true heart’s love.
HASTINGS
So thrive I, as I truly swear the like!
KING EDWARD
Take heed you dally not before your king;
Lest He that is the supreme King of kings
Confound your hidden falsehood, and award
Either of you to be the other’s end.
HASTINGS
So prosper I, as I swear perfect love!
RIVERS
And I, as I love Hastings with my heart!
KING EDWARD
Madam, yourself is not exempt from this;—
Nor you, son Dorset;—Buckingham, nor you;—
You have been factious one against the other.
Wife, love Lord Hastings, let him kiss your hand;
And what you do, do it unfeignedly.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
There, Hastings; I will never more remember
Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine!
KING EDWARD
Dorset, embrace him;—Hastings, love lord marquis.
DORSET
This interchange of love, I here protest,
Upon my part shall be inviolable.
HASTINGS
And so swear I.
[Embraces Dorset.]
KING EDWARD
Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league
With thy embracements to my wife’s allies,
And make me happy in your unity.
BUCKINGHAM
Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate
Upon your grace [to the queen], but with all duteous love
Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me
With hate in those where I expect most love!
When I have most need to employ a friend,
And most assurèd that he is a friend,
Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile,
Be he unto me!—this do I beg of heaven
When I am cold in love to you or yours.
[Embracing Rivers &c.]
KING EDWARD
A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham,
Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart.
There wanteth now our brother Gloster here,
To make the blessèd period of this peace.
BUCKINGHAM
And, in good time, here comes the noble duke.
[Enter GLOSTER.]
GLOSTER
Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen;
And, princely peers, a happy time of day!
KING EDWARD
Happy, indeed, as we have spent the day.
Gloster, we have done deeds of charity;
Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate,
Between these swelling wrong-incensèd peers.
GLOSTER
A blessed labour, my most sovereign lord,—
Among this princely heap, if any here,
By false intelligence or wrong surmise,
Hold me a foe;
If I unwittingly, or in my rage,
Have aught committed that is hardly borne
To any in this presence, I desire
To reconcile me to his friendly peace:
‘Tis death to me to be at enmity;
I hate it, and desire all good men’s love.—
First, madam, I entreat true peace of you,
Which I will purchase with my duteous service;—
Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
If ever any grudge were lodg’d between us;—
Of you, and you, Lord Rivers, and of Dorset,
That all without desert have frown’d on me;
Of you, Lord Woodville,
