All. Long live Edward the Fourth! K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery;-and thanks If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness. We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates; [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, Oxf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again. War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends, Those will I muster up;-and thou, son Clarence, K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope. N K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate! K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, [Exeunt WAR., CLAR., OXF., and MONT. Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest. K. Hen. That's not my fear; my meed hath got me fame. I have not stopped mine ears to their demands, Nor posted off their suits with slow delays; My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds, My mildness hath allayed their swelling griefs, My mercy dried their water-flowing tears. I have not been desirous of their wealth, Nor much oppressed them with great subsidies, Nor forward of revenge, though they much erred. Then why should they love Edward more than me? 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? Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Seize on the shame-faced Henry, bear him hence, And once again proclaim us king of England.You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow: Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry, And swell so much the higher by their ebb.Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak. [Exeunt some with KING HENRY. And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course, Where peremptory Warwick now remains: The sun shines hot, and if we use delay, Cold, biting winter mars our hoped-for hay. Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join, And take the great-grown traitor unawares: Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. 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? [Drum heard. K. Edw. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle. Glo. See how the surly Warwick mans the wall! War. O, unbid spite! is sportful Edward come? Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced, 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 shall pardon thee these outrages. War. Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, Confess who set thee up and plucked thee down? 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. Glo. Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast, K. Edw. 'Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still. 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 Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more. Enter OXFORD, with drum and colors. War. O, cheerful colors! see, where Oxford comes! Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! [OXFORD and his Forces enter the city. If not, the city, being but of small defence, War. O, welcome, Oxford, for we want thy help. Enter MONTAGUE, with drum and colors. Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! [He and his Forces enter the city. Glo. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. K. Edw. The harder matched, the greater victory; My mind presageth happy gain, and conquest. Enter SOMERSET, with drum and colors. Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster! [He and his Forces enter the city. Glo. Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset, Have sold their lives unto the house of York; And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold. Enter CLARENCE, with drum and colors. War. And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along, Of force enough to bid his brother battle; 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. Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this means; [Taking the red rose out of his cap. Look here, I throw my infamy at thee. I will not ruinate my father's house, Who gave his blood to lime the stones together, K. Edw. Now welcome more, and ten times more beloved. Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate. Glo. Welcome, good Clarence; this is brotherlike. K. Edw. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town, and fight? Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? N* |