* I may not prove inferior to yourself.You, that love me and Warwick, follow me." [Exit CLARENCE, and SOMERSET follows. *GLO. Not I:7 * My thoughts aim at a further matter; I [Afide. K. EDW. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick ! * Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; *And hafte is needful in this defperate cafe. • You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.] That Clarence fhould make this speech in the King's hearing is very improbable, yet I do not fee how it can be palliated. The King never goes qut, nor can Clarence be talking to a company apart, for he answers immediately to that which the Poft fays to the King. JOHNSON. When the Earl of Effex attempted to raise a rebellion in the city, with a defign, as was fuppofed, to ftorm the Queen's palace, he ran about the streets with his fword drawn, crying out, "They that love me, follow me." STEEVENS, Clarence certainly speaks in the hearing of the King, who immediately after his brother has retired, exclaims, that he is gone to join with Warwick. This line is in the old quarto play. One nearly resembling it is likewise found in The Battle of Alcazar, 1594: 66 Myfelf will lead the way, "And make a paffage with my conquering fword, Knee-deep in blood of these accurfed Moors; "And they that love my honour, follow me." So alfo, in our author's King Richard III : "The reft that love me, rife, and follow me." MALONE. 7 Glo. Not 1:] After Clarence goes out, we have in the old play the following dialogue; part of which Shakspeare rejected, and transposed the reft: "Edw. Clarence and Somerfet fled to Warwick! "What say you, brother Richard, will you ftand to us?" &c. MALONE. See note 9, in the following page. STEEVENS, Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf They are already, or quickly will be landed : [Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFOrd. But, ere I go, Haftings,-and Montague,Refolve my doubt. You twain, of all the reft, 'Are near to Warwick, by blood, and by alliance: • Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me? "If it be fo, then both depart to him; "I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends; MONT. So God help Montague, as he proves true! caufe! 'K. EDW. Now, brother Richard, will by us? GLO. Ay, in defpite of all that shall withstand you.9 8 Pembroke, and Stafford, &c.] The quartos give the paffage thus: 9 "Pembroke, go raise an army presently; "Pitch up my tent; for in the field this night "Of all the reft are nearest allied in blood "To Warwick; therefore tell me if you favour "Than hollow friends." STEEVENS. Ay, in defpite of all that fhall withstand you.] The quartos continue the fpeech thus: K. HEN. Why fo; then am I fure of victory. 'Now therefore let us hence; and lofe no hour. • Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Plain in Warwickshire. Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French and other Forces. WAR. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers fwarm to us. Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET. But, fee, where Somerset and Clarence come ;Speak fuddenly, my lords, are we all friends? CLAR. Fear not that, my lord. WAR. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto And welcome, Somerset :-I hold it cowardice, Hath pawn'd an open hand in fign of love; Ay, my lord, in defpight of all that shall withstand you; "For why hath nature made me halt downright "But that I fhould be valiant, and stand to it? "For if I would, I cannot run away." STEEvens. But welcome, Clarence ;] Old copy, redundantly,-Sweet Clarence. STEEVENS. And now what refts, but, in night's coverture, We may furprize and take him at our pleasure ? Our scouts have found the adventure very easy :3 * That as Ulyffes,+ and ftout Diomede, *With fleight and manhood ftole to Rhefus' tents, * And brought from thence the Thracian fatal fteeds ;5 * So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle, * At unawares may beat down Edward's guard, * And seize himself; I fay not-flaughter him, * For I intend but only to furprize him. You, that will follow me to this attempt, Applaud the name of Henry, with your leader. [They all cry, Henry! 2 His foldiers lurking in the towns about,] Old copies-town. STEEVENS. Dr. Thirlby advised the reading towns here; the guard in the fcene immediately following fays: 3 but why commands the king, "That his chief followers lodge in towns about him?” THEOBALD. very eafy] Here the quartos conclude this fpeech,, adding only the following lines: "Then cry king Henry with refolved minds, "And break, we presently into his tent." STEEVENS. 4 That as Ulyffes, &c.] See the tenth book of the Iliad. These circumstances, however, were acceffible, without reference to Homer in the original. STEEVENS. the Thracian fatal steeds ;] We are told by fome of the writers on the Trojan ftory, that the capture of these horses was one of the neceffary preliminaries to the fate of Troy. STLEVENS. Why, then, let's on our way in filent fort: George !6 [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 ftand; * The king, by this, is fet him down to fleep. * 2 WATCH. What, will he not to-bed? * 1 WATCH. Why, no: for he hath made a solemn vow * Never to lie and take his natural rest, *Till Warwick, or himself, be quite fupprefs'd. *2 WATCH. To-morrow then, belike, fhall be the day, * If Warwick be fo near as men report. ་ * 3 WATCH. But fay, I pray, what nobleman is that, * That with the king here refteth in his tent? *1 WATCH. 'Tis the lord Haftings, the king's chiefeft friend. and Saint George !] After the two concluding lines of this scene, which in the old play are given not to Warwick but to Clarence, we there find the following fpeeches, which Shakfpeare has introduced in a fubfequent place :: "War. This is his tent; and fee where his guard doth ftand. Courage, my foldiers; now or never. "But follow me now, and Edward fhall be ours. "All. A Warwick, a Warwick !” MALONE. |