Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV sick, QUEEN ELIZABETH, DORSET, RIVERS, HASTINGS, BUCKINGHAM, GREY, and others KING EDWARD IV 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 now in peace my soul shall part to heaven, Since I have set 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 heart is purged 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 IV 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 IV Madam, yourself are not exempt in this, Nor your 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 Here, Hastings; I will never more remember Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine! KING EDWARD IV Dorset, embrace him; Hastings, love lord marquess. DORSET This interchange of love, I here protest, Upon my part shall be unviolable. HASTINGS And so swear I, my lord They embrace KING EDWARD IV 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 On you or yours, 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 assured that he is a friend Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile, Be he unto me! this do I beg of God, When I am cold in zeal to yours. KING EDWARD IV A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham, is this thy vow unto my sickly heart.
There wanteth now our brother Gloucester here, To make the perfect period of this peace. BUCKINGHAM And, in good time, here comes the noble duke.
Enter GLOUCESTER GLOUCESTER Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen:
And, princely peers, a happy time of day! KING EDWARD IV Happy, indeed, as we have spent the day.
Brother, we done deeds of charity;
Made peace enmity, fair love of hate, Between these swelling wrong-incensed peers. GLOUCESTER A blessed labour, my most sovereign liege:
Amongst 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 By 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 lodged between us;
Of you, Lord Rivers, and, Lord Grey, of you;
That without desert have frown'd on me;
Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all.
