ACT V.

SCENE I. Before the Town of Coventry.

Inter WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two Meffengers, and others, upon the Walls.

Warwick.

WHERE is the poft, that came from valiant Oxford? dow far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow? 1 Me, By this at Dunfmore, marching hitherward.

War. How far off is our brother Montague? Where is the poft that came from Montague." 2 Meff. By this at Daintry, with a puiffant troop.

Enter Sir JOHN Somerville.

War. Say, Somerville, what fays my loving fon? And, by thy guefs, how nigh is Clarence now? Somerv. At Southam I did leave him with his forces, And do expect him here fome two hours hence. War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum. Somerv. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies; The drum your honour hears, marcheth from Warwick.

War. Who fhould that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends.

Somero. They are at hand, and you fhall quickly

know.

March.

March, Flourish. Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER and Soldiers.

K. Edw. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and found a parle.

Glo. See, how the furly Warwick mans the wall. War. Oh, unbid fpight! is fportful Edward come: Where flept our scouts, or how are they seduc'd, That we could hear no news of his repair?

K. Edw. Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city

gates,

Speak gentle words, and humbly bend thy knee?Call Edward-king, and at his hands beg mercy, And he fhall pardon thee these outrages.

War. Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, Confefs who fet thee up and pluck'd thee down?Call Warwick-patron, and be penitent, And thou fhalt fill remain the duke of York.

Glo. I thought, at leaft he would have faid—the Or did he make the jeft against his will? [king; War. Is not a dukedom, fir, a goodly gift? Glo. Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give; I'll do thee fervice for fo good a gift.

War. 'Twas I, that gave the kingdom to thy brother.

K. Edw. Why, then 'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift.

War. Thou art no Atlas for fo great a weight: And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again; And Henry is my king, Warwick his fubject.

K.Edw. But Warwick's king is Edward's prifonAnd, gallant Warwick, do but answer this- [er: What is the body, when the head is off?

Glo. Alas, that Warwick had no more fore-çaft,

But,

But, whiles he thought to fteal the fingle ten,
The king was flily finger'd from the deck!—
You left poor Henry at the bishop's palace,
And, ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower.
K. Edw. 'Tis even fo; yet you are Warwick ftill.
Glo. Come, Warwick, take the time, kneel down,
kneel down.

Nay, when? ftrike now, or else the iron cools.
War. I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,
And with the other fling it at thy face,

Than bear fo low a fail, to ftrike to thee.

K. Edw. Sail how thou canft, have wind and tide thy friend;

This hand, fatt wound about thy coal-black hair, Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off, Write in the duft this fentence with thy bloodWind-changing Warwick now can change no more.

Enter OXFORD, with Drum and Colours.

War. O cheerful colours! fee, where Oxford Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

[comes! Glo. The gates are open, let us enter too. K. Edw. So other foes may fet upon our backs. Stand we in good array; for they, no doubt, Will iffue out again, and bid us battle: If not, the city being of fmall defence, We'll quickly roufe the traitors in the fame. War. O, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy help.

Enter MONTAGUE, with Drum and Colours. Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! Glo. Thou and thy brother both fhall buy this

treafon

Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
K. Edw.

I

K.Edw. The harder match'd, the greater victory; My mind prefageth happy gain, and conqueft.

Enter SOMERSET, with Drum and Colours. Som. Somerfet, Somerfet, for Lancaster! Glo. Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset, Have fold their lives unto the house of York; And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold.

Enter CLARENCE, with Drum and Colours.

War. And lo, where George of Clarence fweeps Of force enough to give his brother battle; [along, With whom an upright zeal to right prevails, More than the nature of a brother's love :Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick calls. [A Parley is founded; RICHARD and CLARENCE Whisper together; and then CLARENCE takes his red Rofe out of his Hat, and throws it at WAR

WICK.

Cla. Father of Warwick, know you what this Look here, I throw my infamy at thee:

I will not ruinate my father's house,

[means?

Who his blood to lime the ftones together,
gave
And fetup Lancaster. Why, trow'ft thou, Warwick,
That Clarence is fo Karfa, fo blunt, unnatural,
To bend the fatal inftruments of war
Against his brother, and his lawful king?
Perhaps, thou wilt object my holy oath:
To keep that oath, were more impiety
Than Jephthah's when he facrific'd his daughter.
I am fo forry for my trespass made,

That, to deferve well at my brother's hands,
I here proclaim myfelf thy mortal foe;
With refolution, wherefoe'er I meet thee

(As

(As I will meet thee, if thou ftir abroad),
To plague thee for thy foul mif-leading me.
And fo, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,
And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks.--
Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends;
And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
For I will henceforth be no more unconftant.
K. Edw. Now welcome more, and ten times
more belov❜d,

Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate.

Glo. Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like.
War. O paffing traitor, perjur'd, and unjuft!
K. Edw. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the
town, and fight?

Or fhall we beat the ftones about thine ears?
War. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence :
I will away towards Barnet presently,
And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar'ft.

K. Edw. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way :

Lords, to the field; faint George, and victory! [Exeunt. [March. WARWICK and his Company follow.

SCENE II. A Field of Battle near Barnet. Alarum and Excurfions. Enter EDWARD, bringing forth WARWICK wounded.

K. Edw. So, lie thou there: die thou, and die our fear;

For Warwick was a bug, that fear'd us all.-
Now, Montague, fit faft; I feek for thee,

That Warwick's bones may keep thine company.

I 2

[Exit.

War