Henry VI, Part 3 (William Shakespeare) » p.17 » All Books Online Free

friendship

119

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick’s

120

daughter.

121

CLARENCE,

Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger.—

122

Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,

123

For I will hence to Warwick’s other daughter,

124

That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage

125

I may not prove inferior to yourself.

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You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

127

Clarence exits, and Somerset follows.

RICHARD,

Not I. My thoughts aim at a further matter:

128

I stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown.

129

KING EDWARD

Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick?

130

Yet am I armed against the worst can happen,

131

And haste is needful in this desp’rate case.

132

Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf

133

Go levy men and make prepare for war.

134

They are already, or quickly will be, landed.

135

Myself in person will straight follow you.

136

Pembroke and Stafford exit.

But ere I go, Hastings and Montague,

137

Resolve my doubt: you twain, of all the rest,

138

Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance.

139

Tell me if you love Warwick more than me.

140

If it be so, then both depart to him.

141

I rather wish you foes than hollow friends.

142

But if you mind to hold your true obedience,

143

Give me assurance with some friendly vow,

144

That I may never have you in suspect.

145

MONTAGUE

So God help Montague as he proves true!

146

HASTINGS

And Hastings as he favors Edward’s cause!

147

KING EDWARD

Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

148

RICHARD

Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.

149

KING EDWARD

Why, so. Then am I sure of victory.

150

Now therefore let us hence and lose no hour

151

Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

152

They exit.

Enter Warwick and Oxford in England,

with French Soldiers.

WARWICK

Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well.

1

The common people by numbers swarm to us.

2

Enter Clarence and Somerset.

But see where Somerset and Clarence comes.—

3

Speak suddenly, my lords: are we all friends?

4

CLARENCE Fear not that, my lord.

5

WARWICK

Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick,

6

And welcome, Somerset. I hold it cowardice

7

To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

8

Hath pawned an open hand in sign of love;

9

Else might I think that Clarence, Edward’s brother,

10

Were but a feignèd friend to our proceedings.

11

But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be

12

thine.

13

And now, what rests but, in night’s coverture

14

Thy brother being carelessly encamped,

15

His soldiers lurking in the town about,

16

And but attended by a simple guard,

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We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?

18

Our scouts have found the adventure very easy;

19

That, as Ulysses and stout Diomed

20

With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus’ tents

21

And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds,

22

So we, well covered with the night’s black mantle,

23

At unawares may beat down Edward’s guard

24

And seize himself. I say not “slaughter him,”

25

For I intend but only to surprise him.

26

You that will follow me to this attempt,

27

Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.

28

They all cry “Henry!”

Why then, let’s on our way in silent sort.

29

For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

30

They exit.

Enter three Watchmen to guard tent,

FIRST WATCH

Come on, my masters, each man take his stand.

1

The King by this is set him down to sleep.

2

SECOND WATCH What, will he not to bed?

3

FIRST WATCH

Why, no, for he hath made a solemn vow

4

Never to lie and take his natural rest

5

Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed.

6

SECOND WATCH

Tomorrow, then, belike shall be the day,

7

If Warwick be so near as men report.

8

THIRD WATCH

But say, I pray, what nobleman is that

9

That with the King here resteth in his tent?

10

FIRST WATCH

’Tis the Lord Hastings, the King’s chiefest friend.

11

THIRD WATCH

O, is it so? But why commands the King

12

That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,

13

While he himself keeps in the cold field?

14

SECOND WATCH

’Tis the more honor, because more dangerous.

15

THIRD WATCH

Ay, but give me worship and quietness;

16

I like it better than a dangerous honor.

17

If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,

18

’Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

19

FIRST WATCH

Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

20

SECOND WATCH

Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent

21

But to defend his person from night foes?

22

Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset,
the red rose,> and French Soldiers, silent all.

WARWICK

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

23

Courage, my masters. Honor, now or never!

24

But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

25

FIRST WATCH Who goes there?

26

SECOND WATCH Stay, or thou diest!

27

Warwick and the rest cry all “Warwick, Warwick!”

and set upon the guard, who fly, crying “Arm, Arm!”

Warwick and the rest following them.

The drum playing and trumpet sounding,

enter Warwick, Somerset, and the rest, bringing

King out in his gown, sitting in a chair.

Richard and Hastings flies over the stage.

SOMERSET

What are they that fly there?

28

WARWICK Richard and Hastings.

29

Let them go. Here is the Duke.

30

KING EDWARD The Duke?

31

Why, Warwick, when we parted, thou call’dst me king.

32

WARWICK Ay, but the case is altered.

33

When you disgraced me in my embassade,

34

Then I degraded you from being king

35

And come now to create you Duke of York.

36

Alas, how should you govern any kingdom

37

That know not how to use ambassadors,

38

Nor how to be contented with one wife,

39

Nor how to use your brothers brotherly,

40

Nor how to study for the people’s welfare,

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Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

42

KING EDWARD

Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?

43

Nay, then, I see that Edward needs must down.

44

Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance,

45

Of thee thyself and all thy complices,

46

Edward will always bear himself as king.

47

Though Fortune’s malice overthrow my state,

48

My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.

49

WARWICK

Then for his mind be Edward England’s king,

50

Takes off his crown.

But Henry now shall wear the English crown

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And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow.—

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My lord of Somerset, at my request,

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See that forthwith Duke Edward be conveyed

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Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.

55

When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,

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I’ll follow you and tell what answer

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Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.—

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Now for awhile farewell, good Duke of York.

59

They lead him out forcibly.

KING EDWARD

What Fates impose, that men must needs abide;

60

It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

61

exit,

OXFORD

What now remains, my lords, for us to do

62

But march to London with our soldiers?

63

WARWICK

Ay, that’s the first thing that we have to do,

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To free King Henry from imprisonment

65

And see him seated in the regal throne.

66

exit.

Enter Rivers and Queen
wearing the white rose.>

RIVERS

Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

1

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn

2

What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?

3

RIVERS

What, loss of some pitched battle against Warwick?

4

QUEEN ELIZABETH

No, but the loss of his own royal person.

5

RIVERS Then is my sovereign slain?

6

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner,

7

Either betrayed by falsehood of his guard

8

Or by his foe surprised at unawares;

9

And, as I further have to understand,

10

Is new committed to the Bishop of York,

11

Fell Warwick’s brother and by that our foe.

12

RIVERS

These news I must confess are full of grief;

13

Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may.

14

Warwick may lose that now hath won the day.

15

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Till then fair hope must hinder life’s decay;

16

And I the rather wean me from despair

17

For love of Edward’s offspring in my womb.

18

This is it that makes me bridle passion

19

And bear with mildness my misfortune’s cross.

20

Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear

21

And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,

22

Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown

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King Edward’s fruit, true heir to th’ English crown.

24

RIVERS

But, madam, where is Warwick then become?

25

QUEEN ELIZABETH

I am informèd that he comes towards London

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To set the crown once more on Henry’s head.

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Guess thou the rest: King Edward’s friends must

28

down.

29

But to prevent the tyrant’s violence—

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For trust not him that hath once broken faith—

31

I’ll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary

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To save at least the heir of Edward’s right.

33

There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.

34

Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly.

35

If Warwick take us, we are sure to die.

36

They exit.

Enter Richard Lord Hastings,

and Sir William Stanley,
all wearing the white rose.>

RICHARD

Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley,

1

Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither

2

Into this chiefest thicket of the park.

3

Thus the case: you know our king, my brother,

4

Is prisoner to the Bishop here, at whose hands

5

He hath good usage and great liberty,

6

And, often but attended with weak guard,

7

hunting this way to disport himself.

8

I have advertised him by secret means

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That, if about this hour he make this way

Henry VI, Part 3, p.17

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