Great Albion's queen in former golden days;
But now mischance hath trod my title down, 8
And with dishonour laid me on the ground,
Where I must take like seat unto my fortune,
And to my humble seat conform myself.
Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair? 12
Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears
And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares.
Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself,
And sit thee by our side. Seats her by him. Yield not thy neck 16
To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind
Still ride in triumph over all mischance.
Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief;
It shall be eas'd, if France can yield relief. 20
Mar. Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts,
And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak.
Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis,
That Henry, sole possessor of my love, 24
Is of a king become a banish'd man,
And forc'd to live in Scotland a forlorn;
While proud ambitious Edward, Duke of York,
Usurps the regal title and the seat 28
Of England's true-anointed lawful king.
This is the cause that I, poor Margaret,
With this my son, Prince Edward, Henry's heir,
Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid; 32
And if thou fail us, all our hope is done.
Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help;
Our people and our peers are both misled,
Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight, 36
16 sit thee: seat thyself
16–18 Cf. n.
25 of: from being
26 forlorn: outcast
