Hast. "Tis better using France, than trusting France. Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable, And with their helps only defend ourselves: In them and in ourselves our safety lies.

Clar. For this one speech lord Hastings well de

serves

To have the heir of the lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? it was my will, and grant;

And for this once my will shall stand for law.

Glo. And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well,

To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales

Unto the brother of your loving bride :

She better would have fitted me, or Clarence;
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

Clar. Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir
Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's son,
And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife,
That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.
Clar. In choosing for yourself you show'd your judg-

ment;

Which being shallow you shall give me leave

To play the broker in mine own behalf;

And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.

K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king, And not be tied unto his brother's will.

Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleas'd his majesty
To raise my state to title of a queen,

Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent;

And meaner than myself have had like fortune.
But as this title honours me and mine,

So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,
Do cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.

K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns. What danger, or what sorrow can befal thee,

So long as Edward is thy constant friend,

And their true sovereign whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they seek for hatred at my hands;
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
Glo. I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.

Enter a Messenger.

[Aside.

K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters, or what news, From France?

Mess. My sovereign liege, no letters, and few words; But such as I, without your special pardon,

Dare not relate.

K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in brief, Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them. What answer makes king Lewis unto our letters?

Mess. At my depart these were his very words:"Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king3,

That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride."

K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? belike, he thinks me
Henry.

But what said lady Bona to my marriage?

Mess. These were her words, utter'd with mild disdain :

"Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his sake."

K. Edw. I blame not her, she could say little less; She had the wrong: but what said Henry's queen? For I have heard, that she was there in place.

3

Mess. "Tell him," quoth she, "my mourning weeds are done,

THY supposed king,] The folio has the for "thy," but "thy" is the word used by Lewis. See p. 294.

And I am ready to put armour on."

K. Edw. Belike, she minds to play the Amazon. But what said Warwick to these injuries?

Mess. He, more incens'd against your majesty Than all the rest, discharg'd me with these words:"Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long."

K. Edw. Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd:

They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption. But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

Mess. Ay, gracious sovereign: they are so link'd in friendship,

That young prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter. Clar. Belike, the elder; Clarence will have the

younger.

Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,

For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;
That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage
I may not prove inferior to yourself.—

You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.

Glo. Not I.

[Exit CLARENCE, and SOMERSET follows.

My thoughts aim at a farther matter: I

Stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown. [Aside. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to War

wick !

Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen,
And haste is needful in this desperate case.-
Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed:
Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFORD.

But, ere I go, Hastings, and Montague,
Resolve my doubt.
doubt. You twain, of all the rest,

Are near to Warwick by blood, and by alliance:
Tell me if you love Warwick more than me?
If it be so, then both depart to him:

I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends;
But, if you mind to hold your true obedience,
Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
That I may never have you in suspect.

Mont. So God help Montague as he proves true! Hast. And Hastings as he favours Edward's cause! K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

Glo. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you. K. Edw. Why so; then, am I sure of victory. Now, therefore, let us hence; and lose no hour, Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

SCENE II.

A Plain in Warwickshire.

[Exeunt.

Enter WARWICK and OXFORD with French and other Forces.

War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well: The common people by numbers swarm to us.

Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET.

But, see, where Somerset and Clarence come!
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
Clar. Fear not that, my lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick:
And welcome, Somerset.-I hold it cowardice,
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love;

Else might I think, that Clarence, Edward's brother,

Enter Warwick and Oxford, &c.] The old copies seldom state the change of the place of action, but here we have it in the stage-direction of the folio: "Enter Warwick and Oxford, in England, with French soldiers.”

Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings:

But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be

thine.

And now what rests, but in night's coverture,

Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about3,
And but attended by a simple guard,

We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
Our scouts have found the adventure very easy:
That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede,

With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents,
And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds;
So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle,
At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And seize himself; I say not slaughter him,
For I intend but only to surprise him.-
You, that will follow me to this attempt,
Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.

[They all cry, HENRY!

Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort:
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

EDWARD'S Camp near Warwick.

Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the King's tent.

1 Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his

stand:

The king by this is set him down to sleep.

2 Watch. What, will he not to bed?

His soldiers lurking in the TOWNS about,] The folio, 1623, has town, in the singular; but the question of the 3d Watchman in the next scene, as well as the sense, show that we ought to read "towns:"

"But why commands the king

That his chief followers lodge in towns about him?"