William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Third Part

ACT III. 2. SCENE II. The palace.

[Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, CLARENCE, and LADY GREY.]

KING EDWARD.
Brother of Gloster, at Saint Alban's field
This lady's husband, Sir John Grey, was slain,
His land then seiz'd 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.

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

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

GLOSTER.
[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 Gloster.] He knows the game;
  how true he keeps the wind!

GLOSTER.
[Aside to Clarence.] Silence!

KING EDWARD.
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.

GLOSTER.
[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 Gloster.] I fear her not, unless she chance
to fall.

GLOSTER.
[Aside to CLARENCE.] God forbid that, for he'll take
vantages.

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

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

GLOSTER.
[Aside to Clarence.] Nay, whip me then; he'll rather
give her two.