264

THIRD PART OF

،

Mess. Tell him, quoth she, my mourning weeds

are done,1

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 presump

tion.

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. [Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows.

* Glo. Not I:

* My thoughts aim at a further matter; I * Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown. [Aside. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to

Warwick!

* 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:

(1) Thrown off.

Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford.

But, ere I go, Hastings, and Montague,• Resolve my 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. [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 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,
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings:
But welcome, 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 about, 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 hiniself; 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 [Exeunt.

George!

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? *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 suppress'd. *2 Watch. To-morrow then, belike, shall be

the day,

* If Warwick be so near as men report. *3 Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is

that, * That with the king here resteth in his tent? *1 Watch. 'Tis the lord Hastings, the king's *3 Watch. O, is it so? But why commands the

* That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, * While he himself keepeth in the cold field?

*2 Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because more

dangerous.

*3 Watch. Ay; but give me worship and quiet

ness,

* I like it better than a dangerous honour.
* If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
* 'Tis to be doubted, he would waken him.

*1 Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his

passage.

*2 Watch. Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal tent,

* But to defend his person from night-foes?

Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and

forces.

War. This is his tent; and see, where stand
his guard.

Courage, my masters: honour now, or never!
But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.
1 Watch. Who goes there?
2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.

[Warwick, and the rest, cry all-Warwick!
Warwick! and set upon the guard; who
Ay, crying-Arm! Arm! Warwick, and
the rest, following them.

The drum beating, and trumpets sounding. Reenter Warwick, and the rest, bringing the King out in a gown, sitting in a chair; Gloster and Hastings Ay.

Som.

What are they that fly there?

War. Richard, and Hastings: let them go, here's the duke.

K. Edw. The duke! why, Warwick, when we

parted last,

Thou call'dst me king!

War.

Ay, but the case is alter'd:

When you disgrac'd me in my embassade,

1

Then I degraded you from being king,
And come now to create you duke of York.
Alas! how should you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to use ambassadors;
Nor how to be contented with one wife;
Nor how to use your brothers brotherly;
* Nor how to study for the people's welfare;
Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

* K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou

here too?

* Nay, then I see, that Edward needs must down.'Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance, Of thee thyself, and all thy 'complices, Edward will always bear himself as king: * Though fortune's malice overthrow my state, * My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel. War. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's [Takes off his crown.

king: But Henry now shall wear the English crown, * And be true king indeed; thou but the shadow. My lord of Somerset, at my request, See that forthwith duke Edward be convey'd Unto my brother, archbishop of York. When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows, I'll follow you, and tell what answer Lewis, and the lady Bona, send to him:Now, for a while, farewell, good duke of York. * K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must

needs abide;

* It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

[Exit King Edw. led out; Som. with him. * Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us

to do, * But march to London with our soldiers? War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have

To free king Henry from imprisonment, And see him seated in the regal throne. [Exeunt (1) i. e. In his mind; as far as his own mind goes