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Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad' will prove our country's bliss.
His looks are full of peaceful majesty;
His head by nature fram'd to wear a crown,
His hand to wield a sceptre; and himself
Likely, in time, to bless a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords; for this is he,
Must help you more than you are hurt by me.
Enter a Post.

War. What news, my friend?

Post. That Edward is escaped from your brother, And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. War.Unsavoury news: But how made he escape: Post.He was convey'd by RicharddukeofGloster, And the lord Hastings, who attended him In secret ambush on the forest side, And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him ; For hunting was his daily exercise.

War.Mybrotherwas too careless of his charge.-
But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide
A salve for any sore that may betide. [Exeunt.
Manent Somerset, Richmond, and Oxford.
Som. My lord, I like not this flight of Ed-|
ward's:

For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help:
And we shall have more wars, before 't be long.
As Henry's late presaging prophecy [mond;
Did glad my heart, with hope of this young Rich-
So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts
What may befall him, to his harm, and ours:
Therefore, lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we'll send him hence to Britany,
'Till storms be past of civil enmity.

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10

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And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry. [king,
K. Edw. But, master mayor, if Henry be your
Yet Edward, at the least, is duke of York.
Mayor. True, my good lord; I know you for
no less.

K. Edw. Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom;

As being well content with that alone.

Glo. But, when the fox has once got in his nose, He'll soon find means to make the body follow. [Aside. Hast. Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt?

Open the gates, we are king Henry's friends. Mayor. Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open'd. [He descends Glo. A wise stout captain, and persuaded soon! Hast. The good old man would fain that all

were well,

So 'twere not 'long of him but, being eater'd,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him, and all his brothers, unto reason.
Re-enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below.
K. Edw. So, master mayor: these gates must
not be shut,

But in the night, or in the time of war.
What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys;
[Takes his keys.

30 For Edward will defend the town, and thee,
And all those friends that deign to follow me.
March. Enter Montgomery, with a Drum and
Soldiers.

Oxf. Ay: for, if Edward re-possess the crown,
'Tis like, that Richmond with the rest shall down. 35
Som. It shall be so; he shall to Britany.
Come, therefore, let's about it speedily. [Exeunt.
SCENE VII.
York.

Enter King Edward,Gloster, Hastings,andSoldiers. 40
K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, lord Hastings,
and the rest;

Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,
And says that once more I shall interchange
My wained state for Henry's regal crown.
Well have we pass'd, and now repass'd the seas.
And brought desired help from Burgundy:
What then remains, we being thus arriv'd
From Ravenspurg haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd. [in arms? K.Ed. Welcome, Sir John! But why come you Montg. To help king Edwardin his time of storm, As every loyal subject ought to do. [now forget K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery: But we Our title to the crown; and only claim Our dukedom, 'till God please to send the rest. Montg. Then fare you well, for I will hence again;

I came to serve a king, and not a duke— 45 Drummer, strike up, and let us march away. [The drum begins a march. K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while; and we'll debate,

[this; 50

Glo. The gates made fast!-Brother, I like not
For many men, that stumble at the threshold,
Are well foretold-that danger lurks within.
K.Edw.Tush, man! abodements must not now
affright us:

By fair or foul means we must enter in,
For hither will our friends repair to us. [mon them.
Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more, to sum-
Enter, on the walls, the Mayor of York, and his
Brethren.

Mayor. My lords, we were forewarned of your

coming,

By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. Montg. What talk you of debating? in few words, If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king, I'll leave you to your fortune; and be gone, To keep them back that come to succour you: Why should we fight, if you pretend no title? 55 Glo.Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? [make our claim: K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we'll Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms [crowns. Glo. And fearless minds climb soonest unto Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;

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must rule.

He was afterwards Henry VII. a man who put an end to the civil war of the two Houses. He. was grandfather to queen Elizabeth, and the king from whom James inherited.

The

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Sold. [reads] Edward the fourth, by the grace 10 of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c.

Mont. And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's By this I challenge him to single fight. [right,

[Throws down his gauntlet. 15 All. Long live Edward the fourth! K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery;—and thanks unto you all.

If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.

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.
[true hope.
K.Heary. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's
Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand.
K. Henry. Well-minded Clarence, be thou for-
[leave.
Mont. Comfort, my lord ;—and so I take my
Oxf[Kissing Henry's hand.] And thus I seal my
truth, and bid adieu.
[tague,

tunate!

K. Henry. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Mon-
And all at once, once more a happy farewell.
War. Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Co-
ventry.

[Exeunt Warwick, Clarence,Oxford,and Montague.
K. Henry. Here at the palace will I rest a while,
Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
Methinks, the power, that Edward hath in field,

Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York; 20 Should not be able to encounter mine.

And, when the morning sun shall raise his car,
Above the border of this horizon,
We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates;
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.-
Ah, froward Clarence!-how evil it beseems thee, 25
To flatter Henry, and forsake thy brother! [wick.
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and War-
Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day;
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.

SCENE VIII.
London.

[Exeunt.

Enter King Henry, Warwick, Clarence, Montague, Exeter, and Oxford.

30

War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, 35
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. [again.

K. Henry. Let's levy men, and beat him back 40
Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out;
Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.

Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest.
K. Henry. That's not my fear, my meed2 hath

got me fame:

I have not stopp'd 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 allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dry'd their water-flowing tears:

I have not been desirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies,
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd;
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-fac'd 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, towardsCoventry bend we our course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains;
The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay,
50 Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay.
Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join,
And take the great-grown traitor unawares:
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry,
[Exeunt.

War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; [friends,
Those will I muster up-and thou, son Clarence, 45
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
Menwellinclin'dtohear what thou command'st:-
And thou, brave Oxford, wond'rous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.-
My sovereign, with the loving citizens,-
Like to his island, girt in with the ocean,

SCENE I

Before the Town of Coventry.

:

ACT

Enter Warwick, the Mayor of Coventry, two Mes-60
sengers, and others, upon the walls.

War W
THERE is the post, that came from
valiant Oxford?

How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

i.e. noise or report.
S$ 2

V.

1Mes.Bythisat Dunsmore, marchinghitherward. War. How far off is our brother Montague?—— Where is the post that came from Montague? 2 Mes. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. Enter Sir John Somerville. War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son? And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?

2 i. e. merit.

Somerv.

[graphic]

Somero. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies; The drum your honour hears, marcheth from 5 Warwick. [friends. War. Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for Somert. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.

March. Flourish. Enter King Edward, Gloster, 10 and Soldiers.

K. Edw. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound

Glo. See, how the surly Warwick mans the wall.
War. Oh, unbid spight! is sportful Edward 15

Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduc'd,
That we could hear no news of his repair?

K. Edro. 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. [hence,

War. Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces
Confess who set thee up and pluck'd 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.

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Orf. Oxford, Oxford, for Glo. The gates are open, K.Edw. So other foes may Stand we in good array; for Will issue out again, and bi If not, the city being of smal We'll quickly rouse the trait War.O,welcome, Oxford!

Enter Montague, with dr Mont. Montague, Montag Glo. Thou and thy brothe

treason

Even with the dearest blood
K.Edw. The harder match'

My mind presageth happy g

Enter Somerset, with dr Som. Somerset, Somerset, Glo. Two of thy name, bot Have sold their lives unto th And thou shalt be the third, Enter Clarence, with dr War. And lo, where Georg along,

Of force enough to bid his b With whom an upright zeal More than the nature of a bro 30 Come, Clarence, come; th [A parley is sounded; Richar per together; and then Clar out of his hat, and throws Clar. Father of Warwick,

War. 'Twas I, that gave the kingdom to thy brother. [wick's gift. 35 K. Edw. Why, then 'tis mine, if but by WarWar. 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 40
prisoner:

And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this,-
What is the body, when the head is off?

Glo. Alas, that Warwick had no more fore-cast,
But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
The king was slily finger'd from the deck!!-
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 Warwick still.
Glo. Come, Warwick, take the time, kneel 50
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

This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,
Shall, whiles thy head is warm, and new cut off,
Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,-
Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.

means?

Look here, I throw my infan
I will not ruinate my father's
Who gave his blood to lime2
And set up Lancaster. Why,tro
That Clarence is so harsh, so
To bend the fatal instrument
Against his brother, and his 1
Perhaps, thou wilt object my
To keep that oath, were mor
45 Than Jephthah's when he sac
I am so sorry for my trespass
That, to deserve well at my
I here proclaim myself thy n
With resolution, wheresoe'er
(As I will meet thee, if thou
To plague thee for thy foul m
And so, proud-hearted Warw
And to my brother turn my 1
Pardon me, Edward, I will
55 And, Richard, do not frown
For I will henceforth be no n
K. Edw. Now welcome m
more belov'd,
Than if thou never hadst deser
Glo. Welcome, good Clare
War. O passing traitor, po

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A pack of cards was anciently, and is still in Staffordshire, term'd a deck of cement the stones. Lime makes mortar. 3 Stupid, insensible of fraternal fond Rent, cgregious.

K. Edw. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the And said,--Commend me to my valiant brother.

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A Field of Battle near Barnet. Alarum and Excursions. Enter Edward, bring-15 ing forth Warwick wounded.

K. Edw. So, lie thou there; die thou, and die
our fear;

For Warwick was a bug', that fear'd2 us all.
Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee,
That Warwick's bones may keep thine company.
Exil.
War. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend,
or foe,

And more he would have said; and more he spoke
Which sounded like a clamour 3 in a vault,
That could not be distinguish'd; but, at last,
I well might hear deliver'd with a groan,→→→
O, farewell, Warwick!

War. Sweet rest his soul !-

Fly, lords, and save yourselves; for Warwick bids
You all farewell, to meet in heaven. [Dies.
Oxf.Away,away,tomeet the queen's great power!
[They bear away his body, and Exeunt.
SCENE III.

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And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory. But, in the midst of this bright-shining day, 20I spy a black, suspicious, threat'ning cloud, That will encounter with our glorious sun, Ere he attain his easeful western bed:

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30

And tell me, who is victor, York, or Warwick?
Why ask I that? my mangled body shows, [shows,
My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart
That I must yield my body to the earth,
And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe.
Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge,
Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle,
Under whose shade the ramping lion slept;
Whosetopbranchover-peer'dJove'sspreadingtree,
And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind.
These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's 35
black veil,

Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun,
To search the secret treasons of the world:
The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood,
Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres;
For who liv'd king, but I could dig his grave?
And who durst smile, whenWarwick bent hisbrow?
Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood!
My parks, my walks, my manors that I had,
Even now forsake me; and, of all my lands,
Is nothing left me, but my body's length !
Why,what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?
And, live we how we can, yet die we must.
Enter Oxford and Somerset.

Som. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as

we are,

[power;

I mean, my lords, those powers that the queen
Hath rais'd in Gallia, have arriv'd our coast,
And, as we hear, march on to fight with us.

Clar. A little gale will soon disperse that cloud,
And blow it to the source from whence it came:
Thy very beams will dry those vapours up;
For every cloud engenders not a storm.

Glo. The queen is valu'd thirty thousand strong,
And Somerset, with Oxford, fled to her;
If she have time to breathe, be well assur'd,
Her faction will be full as strong as ours.

K. Edw. We are advertis'd by our loving friends,
That they do hold their coursetowards Tewksbury:
We, having now the best at Barnet field,
Will thither straight, for willingness rids way;
And, as we march, our strength will be augmented
In every county as we go along.-—

40 Strike up the drum: cry-Courage! and away.
[Exeunt.

45

SCENE IV.
Tewksbury.

March. Enter the Queen, Prince of Wales, Somerset, Oxford, and Soldiers.

Queen. Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail

their loss,

But chearly seek how to redress their harms.
What though the mast be now blown over-board,
50 The cable broke, our holding anchor lost,
And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood?
Yet lives our pilot still: Is't meet, that he
Should leave the helm, and, like a fearful lad,
With tearful eyes add water to the sea, [much;
And give more strength to that which hath too
Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock,
Which industry and courage might have sav'd?
Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this!
Say, Warwick was our anchor; What of that?
And Montague our top-mast; What of him?
Our slaughter'd friends the tackles; What of these?
Why, is not Oxford here, another anchor?
And Somerset another goodly mast?

We might recover all our loss again!
The queen from France hath brought a puissant
Even now we heard the news: Ah,couldst thou fly!
War. Why,thenIwouldnot fly.—Ah, Montague, 55
If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand,
And with thy lips keep in my soul a while!
Thou lov'st me not; for, brother, if thou didst,
Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood,
That glews my lips, and will not let me speak.
Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead. [last;
Som. Ah, Warwick, Montague hath breath'd his
And to the latest gasp, cry'd out for Warwick,

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Bug means a bugbear. 2 i, e. which made us all fear. i. e. a clamour of tongues.

Ss 3

The

charge
We will not from the helm, to sit and weep; [no,
But keep our course, though the rough winds say
From sheives and rocks that threatenuswithwreck.
As good to chide the waves, as speak them fair.
And what is Edward, but a ruthless sea?
What Clarence, but a quick-sand of deceit?
And Richard, but a ragged fatal rock?
All these the enemies to our poor bark.
Say, you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while:
Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink:
Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off,
Or else you famish, that's a threefold death.
This speak I, lords, to let you understand,
In case some one of you would fly from us,
That there's no hop'd-for mercy with the brothers,
More than with ruthless waves, with sands, and

[graphic]

Is prisoner to the foe; his st His realm a slaughter-house, His statutes cancell'd, and h And yonder is the wolf that You fight in justice: then, in Be valiant, and give signal to 0[Both parties go out. Alarum. SCENE

Enter King Edward, Gloster Queen, Oxford, and Som K. Edw. Lo, here a period 15 Away with Oxford to Hamm For Somerset, off with his gu Go, bear them hence; I will Oxf. For my part, I'll n words. Som. Nor I, but stoop w [Exeunt Oxford and

Queen. So part we sadly in
To meet with joy in sweet J
K. Edw. Is proclamation
finds Edward,

Shall have a high reward, an
Glo. It is, and, lo, where you
Enter Soldiers with
K. Edw. Bring forth the gal
speak:
What! can so young a thorn
Edward, what satisfaction ca
For bearing arms, for stirring
And all the trouble thou has
Prince. Speak like a subje

Suppose, that I am now my
Resign thy chair, and, where
Whilst I propose the self-sam
Which, traitor, thou wouldst
Queen. Ah, that thy father ha
Glo. That you might still
ticoat,

And ne'er have stol'n the bre
Prince. Let Esop 2 fable in
His currish riddles sort not w
Glo. By heaven, brat, I'll
word.

Queen. Ay, thou wast bor
Glo. For God's sake, take

scold.
Prince. Nay,take away this s
K. Edw. Peace, wilful boy,

Clar. Untutor'd lad, thou a Prince. I know my duty, yo Lascivious Edward,-andthou And thou mishapen Dick,I am your better, traitors as 60 And thou usurp'st my father' K. Edw. Take that, thou 1 here 3.

Glo.Sprawl'st thou? take th

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