Mess. He was convey'd by Richard duke of And the lord Hastings, who attended* him War. My brother was too careless of his But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide [Exeunt King HENRY, WAR. CLAR. LIEUT. Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help; As Henry's late presaging prophecy So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts Oxf. Ay; for, if Edward repossess the crown, 'Tis like, that Richmond with the rest shall down. Som. It shall be so; he shall to Britany. Come therefore, let's about it speedily. [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-Before York. Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and Forces. K. Edu. Now, brother Richard, lord Hast- Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends, seas, And brought desired help from Burgundy: But that we enter, as into our dukedom? For many men, that stumble at the threshold, By fair or foul means we must enter in, were well, So 'twere not 'long of him:* but, being enter'd, For Edward will defend the town, and thee, Drum.-Enter MONTGOMERY, and Forces, Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, As Mont. To help king Edward in his time of storm, every loyal subject ought to do. K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery: But we Our title to the crown; and only claim again; I came to serve a king, and not a duke,- K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while; and we'll debate, By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. words, If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king, K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we'll Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more, to Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. summon them. Enter, on the Walls, the MAYOR of York, and his Brethren. May. My lords, we were forewarned of your And shut the gates for safety of ourselves; K. Edw. But, master mayor, if Henry be Yet Edward, at the least, is duke of York. May. True, my good lord; I know you for no less. K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but As being well content with that alone. nose, I. e. Waited for him. Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule. Glo. And fearless minds climb soonest unto The bruitt thereof will bring you many friends. K. Edw. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my And now will I be Edward's champion. Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. The mayor is willing we should enter, so he may not be blamed. +Noise, report, 557 Mont. And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's | Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? By this I challenge him to single fight. [right, Methinks, the power, that Edward hath in field, [Throws down his Gauntlet. Should not be able to encounter mine. All. Long live king Edward the fourth! K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery;—and thanks unto you all. If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness. . To flatter Henry, and forsake thy brother! Come on, Enter King HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD. War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans, and blunt Hollanders, Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, And with his troops doth march amain to London; And many giddy people flock to him. Oxf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again. Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out; Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench. War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends, Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; Those will I muster up-and thou, son Cla rence, Shalt stir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent, The knights and gentlemen to come with thee:Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham, Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st: [lov'd, And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well beIn Oxfordshire shall muster up thy friends.My sovereign, with the loving citizens,Like to his island, girt in with the ocean, Or modest Dian, circled with her nymphs,Shall rest in London, till we come to him.Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.— Farewell, my sovereign. K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope. Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate! Mont. Comfort, my lord;—and so I take my leave. Oxf. And thus [Kissing HENRY's hand.] I seal my truth, and bid adieu. K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, And all at once, once more a happy farewell. War. Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry. [Exeunt WAR. CLAR. OXF. and MONT. K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest a while, * Know. Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest. K. Hen. That's not my fear, my meed hath I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands, got me fame. Nor posted off their suits with slow delays; My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs, My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds, I have not been desirous of their wealth, My mercy dry'd their water-flowing tears: Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies, Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd; [me? Then why should they love Edward more than No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace: And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb, The lamb will never cease to follow him. [Shout within. A Lancaster! A Lancaster! Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these? ACT V. SCENE 1.-Coventry. Enter, upon the Walls, WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two MESSENGERS, and others. War. Where is the post, that came from valiant Oxford! How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow? 1 Mess. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. War. How far off is our brother Montague?Where is the post that came from Montague? 2 Mess. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. Enter Sir JOHN SOMERVILLE. War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son? And, by the guess, how nigh is Clarence now? Som. At Southam I did leave him with his forces, And do expect him here some two hours hence. [Drum heurd. War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum. Som. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies; [Warwick The drum your honour hears, marcheth from * Merit. + The illusion is to the proverb, "Make hay while the sun shines " mercy, And he shall pardon thee these outrages. War. Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, [down?Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee Call Warwick-patron, and be penitent, And thou shalt still remain the duke of York. Glo. I thought, at least, he would have said the king; Or did he make the jest against his will? War. Is not a dukedom, Sir, a goodly gift? Glo. Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give? I'll do thee service for so 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 so great a weight: And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again; And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject. K. Edw. But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner: And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this, cast, But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten, The king was slily finger'd from the deck!t You left poor Henry at the bishop's palace, And, ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower. K. Edw. "Tis even so; yet you are War wick still. Glo. Come, Warwick, take the time, kneel down, kneel down: Nay, when? strike 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 so low a sail, to strike to thee. K. Edw. Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend; This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black [hair, Shall, whiles the head is warm, and new cut off, blood, Write in the dust this sentence with thy Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more. Enter OXFORD, with Drum and Colours. War. O cheerful colours! see, where Oxford comes! Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! [OXFORD and his Forces enter the City. Glo. The gates are open, let us enter too. 1. e. Enroll myself among thy dependents. † A pack of cards was anciently termed a deck of cards. sweeps along, With whom an upright zeal to right prevails, Of force enough to bid his brother battle; More than the nature of a brother's love:-Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick calls. Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this means; [Taking the red Rose out of his Cap. I will not ruinate my father's house, [gether, Look here, I throw my infamy at thee: And set up Lancaster, Why, trow'st thou, Who gave his blood to lime* the stones toWarwick, That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt,t unnatural, To bend the fatal instruments of war War. O passing‡ traitor, perjur'd, and un- K. Edw. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town, and fight? Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? * I. c. To cement. + Stupid, insensible of paternal fonɑne Eminent, egregious. War. Alas, I am not coop'd here for de- 1 will away towards Barnet presently, Lords to the field; Saint George, and victory. K. Edw. So, lie thou there: die thou, and die For Warwick was a bug,* that fear'd+ us all.— And tell me, who is victor, York, or Warwick? That I must yield my body to the earth, Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun, Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres; brow? Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood! And, live we how we can, yet die we must. Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET. Som. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are, We might recover all our loss again! Even now we heard the news: Ah, could'st War. Why, then I would not fly.-Ah, Montague, 559 | Which sounded like a cannon in a vault, If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand, That glews my lips, and will not let me speak. his last; [bids War. Sweet rest to his soul!- Oxf. Away, away, to meet the queen's great [Exeunt, bearing off WARWICK's Body. SCENE III-Another part of the Field. Flourish.—Enter King EDWARD in triumph; with CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and the rest. I K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an up- And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory. I mean, my lords,-those powers, that the Hath rais'd in Gallia, have arriv'd our coast, cloud, And Somerset, with Oxford, fled to her; friends, K. Edw. We are advértis'd by our loving mented, In every county as we go along.- SCENE IV.-Plains near Tewksbury. But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. The cable broke, the holding anchor lost, Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock, But keep our course, though the rough wind fair. And what is Edward, but a ruthless sea? Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off, More than with ruthless waves, with sands, Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided, Go home to bed, and, like the owl by day, Prince. And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing else. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand, Ready to fight; therefore be resolute. Orf. I thought no less it is his policy, To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided. Som. But he's deceiv'd, we are in readiness. Q. Mar. This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness. Oxf. Here pitch our battle, hence we will March. Enter at a distance, King EDWARD, K. Edw. Brave followers, yonder stands the Which, by the heavens' assistance, and your Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. Q. Mar. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, My tears gainsay ;t for every word I speak, + Unsay, deny. • Know. Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes." Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd, Be valiant, and give signal to the fight. SCENE V.-Another part of the same. Alarums: Excursions: und afterwards a Retreat Then Enter King EDWARD, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and Forces; with Queen MARGARET, OXFORD, and SOMERSET, Prisoners. K. Edu. Now, here a period of tumultuous Away with Oxford to Hammes' castle* straight: broils. Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them For Somerset, off with his guilty head. speak. Oxf. For my part, I will not trouble thee with words. Som. Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune. [Exeunt OXFORD and SOMERSET, guarded. Q. Mar. So part we sadly in this troublous world, To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem. Shall have a high reward, and he his life? comes. Enter Soldiers, with Prince Edward. What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? Prince. Speak like a subject, proud ambi- Whilst I propose the self-same words to thee, Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to. Q. Mar. Ah, that thy father had been so re solv'd! |