King Edward the Third
Page: 13

[Enter Countess.]

But soft, here comes the treasurer of my spirit.--
Lodowick, thou knowst not how to draw a battle;
These wings, these flankers, and these squadrons
Argue in thee defective discipline:
Thou shouldest have placed this here, this other here.

COUNTESS.
Pardon my boldness, my thrice gracious Lords;
Let my intrusion here be called my duty,
That comes to see my sovereign how he fares.

KING EDWARD.
Go, draw the same, I tell thee in what form.

LODOWICK.
I go.

[Exit Lodowick.]

COUNTESS.
Sorry I am to see my liege so sad:
What may thy subject do to drive from thee
Thy gloomy consort, sullome melancholy?

KING EDWARD.
Ah, Lady, I am blunt and cannot straw
The flowers of solace in a ground of shame:--
Since I came hither, Countess, I am wronged.

COUNTESS.
Now God forbid that any in my house
Should think my sovereign wrong! Thrice gentle King,
Acquaint me with your cause of discontent.

KING EDWARD.
How near then shall I be to remedy?


COUNTESS.
As near, my Liege, as all my woman's power
Can pawn it self to buy thy remedy.

KING EDWARD.
If thou speakst true, then have I my redress:
Engage thy power to redeem my Joys,
And I am joyful, Countess; else I die.

COUNTESS.
I will, my Liege.

KING EDWARD.
Swear, Countess, that thou wilt.

COUNTESS.
By heaven, I will.

KING EDWARD.
Then take thy self a little way a side,
And tell thy self, a King doth dote on thee;
Say that within thy power it doth lie
To make him happy, and that thou hast sworn
To give him all the Joy within thy power:
Do this, and tell me when I shall be happy.

COUNTESS.
All this is done, my thrice dread sovereign:
That power of love, that I have power to give,
Thou hast with all devout obedience;
Employ me how thou wilt in proof thereof.

KING EDWARD.
Thou hearst me say that I do dote on thee.

COUNTESS.
If on my beauty, take it if thou canst;
Though little, I do prize it ten times less;
If on my virtue, take it if thou canst,
For virtue's store by giving doth augment;
Be it on what it will, that I can give
And thou canst take away, inherit it.