The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
K. Edw. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right,
And Henry but ufurps the diadem. [himfelf;
Montg. Ay, now my fovereign fpeaketh like
And now will I be Edward's champion.
Haft. Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here
proclaim'd:-
Come, fellow-foldier, make thou proclamation.
Sold. [reads] Edward the fourth, by the grace of
God, king of England and France, and lord of Ire-
land, &c.
Montg. And whofoe'er gainfays king Edward's
By this I challenge him to fingle fight. [right,
[Throws down his gauntlet.
All. Long live Edward the fourth!
K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery ;—and
thanks unto you all.
If fortune ferve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York:
And, when the morning fun fhall raife his car
Above the border of this horizon,
We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates;
For well I wot that Henry is no foldier.
Ah, froward Clarence !—how evil it befeems thee,
To flatter Henry, and forfake thy brother! [wick.
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and War-
Come on, brave foldiers; doubt not of the day;
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
Enter King Henry, Warwick, Clarence, Montague,
Exeter, and Oxford.
War. What counfel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
With hafty Germans, and blunt Hollanders,
Hath pafs'd in fafety through the narrow feas,
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
Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out ;
Which, being fuffer'd, rivers cannot quench.
War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; [friend,
Thofe will I muster up :—and thou, fon Clarence,
Shall ftir, 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
Or modeft Dian, circled with her nymphs,--
Shall reft in London, 'till we come to him.-
Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.——
Farewel, my fovereign.
[true hope.
K. Henry. Farewel, my Hector, and my Troy's Clar. In fign of truth, I kifs your highness' hand. K. Henry. Well-minded Clarence, be thou for[leave. Mont. Comfort, my lord ;-and fo I take my Oxf. [KiJing Henry's hand.] And thus I feal my truth, and bid adieu. [tague, K. Henry. Sweet Oxford, and my loving MonAnd all at once, once more a happy farewel. War. Farewel, fweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.
[Exeunt Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, and Montague.
K. Henry. Here at the palace will I reft a while.
Coufin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
Methinks, the power, that Edward hath in field,
Should not be able to encounter mine.
Exe. The doubt is, that he will feduce the reft.
K. Henry. That's not my fear, my meed 2 hath
I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
Nor pofted off their fuits with flow delays ;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their fwelling griefs,
My mercy dry'd their water-flowing tears:
I have not been defirous of their wealth,
Nor much opprefs'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, thefe graces challenge grace:
And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb,
The lamb will never ceafe to follow him.
[Shout within. A Lane fler! A Lancaster I
Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these?
Enter King Edward, Glofter, and Soldiers.
K. Edw. Seize on the fhaine-fac'd Henry, bear
him hence,
And once again proclaim us king of England.—
You are the fount, that make finail brooks to flow:
Now ftops thy fpring; my feathall fuck thein dry,
And fwell fo much the higher by their ebb.-
Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.
[Exeunt fome with King Henry.
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our courie,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains :
The fun fhines hot, and, if we ufe delay,
Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st:-Coid biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay.
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire fhalt mufter up thy friends.-
My fovereign, with the loving citizens,-
Like to his ifland, girt in with the ocean,
Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join,
And take the great-grown traitor unawares :
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.
[Excunt.
Before the Town of Coventry. Enter Warwick, the Mayor of Coventry, two Meffingers, and others, upon the walls.
I Mef. By this at Dunfmore, marching hitherward.
War. How far off is our brother Montague?-
Where is the poft that came from Montague ?
2 Mef. By this at Daintry, with a puiffant troop.
Enter Sir John Somerville.
War. Say, Somerville, what favs my loving fon?
And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
2 i. e. merit.
S (2
HERE is the port, that came from
How far hence is thy lord, mine boneft fellow ? 1 i. e. noife.
Enter Oxford, with drum and colours.
War. O chearful colours! fee, where Oxford
comes !
Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster !
Glo. The gates are open, let us enter too.
K. Ed. So other foes may fet upon our backs.
Stand we in good array; for they, no doubt,
Will iffue out again, and bid us battle:
If not, the city being of fmall defence,
We'll quickly rouze the traitors in the fame.
War. O, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy help.
Enter Montague, with drum and colours.
Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancatter!
Glo. Thou and thy brother both fhall buy this
Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
K. Edw. The harder match'd,the greater victory;
My mind prefageth happy gain, and conqueft.
Enter Somerfet, with drum and colours.
Som. Somerfet, Somerfet, for Lancafter!
Glo. Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset,
Have fold their lives unto the houfe of York;
And thou shalt be the third, if this fword hold.
Enter Clarence, with drum and colours.
War. And lo, where George of Clarence fweeps
along,
Of force enough to bid his brother battle;
Glo. I thought, at least he would have faid--the | With whom an upright zeal to right prevails,
Or did he make the jest against his will ?
War. Is not a dukedom, fir, a goodly gift? Glo. Av, by my faith, for a poor earl to give; I'll do thee tervice for fo good a gift.
Way. Twas I, that gave the kingdom to thy ⚫ brother. Twick's gift.
More than the nature of a brother's love: calls. Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick [A parley is founded; Richard and Clarence wbijper together; and then Clarence takes bis red rofe out of his hat, and throws it at Warwick. Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what
I will not ruinate my father's house,
K. Edw. Why, then 'tis mine, if but by War-Look here, I throw my infamy at thee:
War. Thou art no Atlas for fo great a weight:
And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;
And Henry is my king, Warwick his fubject.
K. Edw. But Warwick's king is Edward's
prifoner :
And, gallant Warwick, do but anfwer this,-
What is the body, when the head is off?
Glo. Alas, that Warwick had no more fore-caft,
But, whiles he thought to fleal the fingle ten,
The king was flily 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 fo; yet you are Warwick ftill.
Gio. Come, Warwick, take the time, kneel
down, kneel down.
Nay, when 1trike now, or elfe 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 fo low a fail, to strike to thee.
Who gave his blood to hime 2 the ftones together,
And fet up Lancatter. Why, trow'ft thou, Warwick,
That Clarence is fo harth, fo blunt 3, unnatural,
To bend the fatal inftruments of war
Against his brother, and his lawful king?
Perhaps, thou wilt object my holy nath :
To keep that oath, were more impiety
Than Jepthal's when he facrific'd his daughter.
I am fo forry for my trefpafs made,
That, to deferve well at my brother's hands,
I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe;
With refolution, wherefoc'er I meet thee,
(As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad)
To plague thee for thy foul mif-leading me.
And fo, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,
And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks.---
Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends;
And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
K. Edw. Sail how thou canft, have wind and For 1 will henceforth be no more unconftant.
This hand, fat wound about thy coal-black hair,
Shall, whiles thy head is warm, and new cut off,
Write in the duft this fentence with thy blood,--
Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.
K. Fdw. Now welcome more, and ten times
more belov'd,
Than if thou never hadft deferv'd our hate. [like.
Glo. Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-
War. O paling traitor, perjur'd and unjust!
I A pack of cards was anciently, and is fill in Staffordshire, term'd a deck of cards. 2 i. e. to cement the tones. Lime makes moriar. 3 Stupid, infenfible of fraternal fondnefs.
K. Edw. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the And faid,-Commend me to my valiant brother.
And more he would have faid; and more he spoke
Which founded like a clamour 3 in a vault,
That could not be diftinguifh'd; but, at laft,
I well might hear deliver'd with a groan,——
O, farewel, Warwick!
War. Sweet reft his foul!
Fly, lords, and fave yourfelves; for Warwick bids You all farewel, to meet in heaven. [Diss. Oxf.Away,away,to meet the queen's great power! [They bear away his body, and Exeunt.
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K. Edw. So, lie thou there: die thou, and die our fear;
For Warwick was a bug, that fear'd 2 us all.
Now, Montague, fit fait; I feek for thee,
That Warwick's bones may keep thine company.
[Exit.
War. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend,
or foe,
And tell me, who is victor, York, or Warwick?
Why afk I that? my mangled body shows, [thows,
My blood, my want of ftrength, my fick heart
That I muft yield my body to the earth,
And, by my fall, the conqueft to my foe.
Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge,
Whofe arms gave fhelter to the princely eagle,
Under whofe fhade the ramping lion flept;
Whofe top branch over-peer'd Jove's spreading tree,
And kept low fhrubs from winter's powerful wind.
These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's
black veil,
Have been as piercing as the mid-day fun,
To fearch the fecret treafons of the world:
The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood,
Were liken'd oft to kingly fepulchres;
For who liv'd king, but I could dig his grave?
And who durft fmile, when Warwick bent his brow?
Lo, now my glory fear'd in duft and blood!
My parks, my walks, my manors that I had,
Even now forfake me; and, of all my lands,
Is nothing left me, but my body's length !
Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and duft?
And, live we how we can, yet die we must.
Enter Oxford and Somerfet.
SCENE III
Another Part of the Field.
Enter King Edward in triumph; wich
Glofler, Clarence, and the reft.
K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward
And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory.
But, in the midft of this bright-shining day,
I fpy a black, fufpicious, threat'ning cloud,
That will encounter with our glorious fun,
Ere he attain his eafeful western bed:
I mean, my lords,-thofe powers, that the queen
Hath rais'd in Gallia, have arriv'd our coaft,
And, as we hear, march on to fight with us.
Clar. A little gale will foon difperfe that cloud,
And blow it to the fource from whence it came:
Thy very beams will dry thofe vapours up;
For every cloud engenders not a ítorm.
Glo. The queen is valu'd thirty thousand strong, And Somerfet, with Oxford, fled to her; If the have time to breathe, be well aifur'd, Her faction will be full as ftrong as ours.
K. Edw. We are advertis'd by our loving friends, That they do hold their course towards Tewksbury: We, having now the heft at Barnet field, Will thither ftraight, for willingness rids way; And, as we march, our strength will be augmented In every county as we go along.Strike up the drum: cry-Courage! and away. [Exeunt.
March. Enter the Queen, Prince of Wales, Somerfet, Oxford, and Soldiers.
Queen. Great lords, wife men ne'er fit and wail
But chearly feek how to redress their harms.
What though the maft be now blown over-board,
Som. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as The cable broke, our holding anchor loft,
We might recover all our lofs again!
[power; The queen from France hath brought a puiffant Even now we heard the news: Ah, couldst thou fly! War. Why, then I would not fly. --Ah,Montague, If thou be there, fweet brother, take my hand, And with thy lips keep in my foul a while! Thou lov ft me not; for, brother, if thou didft, 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.
[laft; Som. Ah, Warwick, Montague hath breath'd his And to the lateit gafp, cry'd out for Warwick,
And half our failors fwallow'd in the flood?
Yet lives our pilot itill: Is't meet, that he
Should leave the helm, and, like a fearful lad,
With tearful eyes add water to the fea,
And give more ftrength to that which hath too
Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock,
Which industry and courage might have fav'd?
Ah, what a fhame! ah, what a fault were this I
Say, Warwick was our anchor; What of that?
And Montague our top-maft; What of him?
Our flaughter'd friends the tackles; What of these?
Why, is not Oxford here, another anchor ?
And Somerfet another goodly mast?
1 Bug means a bugbear. 2 i. c. which made us all fear.
I
S13
3 i. e. a clamour of tongues.
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The friends of France our fhrouds and tacklings?
And, though unikilful, why not Ned and I
For once allow'd the fkilful pilot's charge?
We will not from the helm, to fit and weep; [no,
But keep our courfe, though the rough winds fay-
From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck.
As good to chide the waves, as fpeak them fair.
And what is Edward, but a ruthless fea?
What Clarence, but a quick-fand of deceit ?
And Richard, but a ragged fatal rock?
All these the enemies to our poor bark.
Say, you can fwim; alas, 'tis but a while:
Tread on the fand; why, there you quickly fink:
Beftride the rock; the tide will wash you off,
Or elfe you famifh, that's a threefold death.
This fpeak I, lords, to let you understand,
In cafe fome one of you would fly from us,
That there's no hop'd-for mercy with the brothers,
More than with ruthlefs waves, with fands, and
rocks.
Why, courage then! what cannot be avoided,
'Iwere childith weakness to lament, or fear.
Prince. Methinks, a woman of this valiant fpirit Should, if a coward heard her fpeak thefe words, Infufe his breaft with magnanimity,
And make him, naked, foi! a man at arms.
I fpeak not this, as doubting any here:
For, did I but fufpect a fearful man,
He fhould have leave to go away betimes:
Left, in our need, he might infect another,
Aud make him of like fpirit to himself.
If any fuch be here, as God forbid !
Let him depart, before we need his help.
Oxf. Women and children of fo high a courage! And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame... O brave young prince! thy famous grandfather Doth live again in thee; Long may'ft thou live, To bear his image, and renew his glories!
Som. And he that will not fight for fuch a hope, Go home to bed, and, like the owl by day, If he arife, be mock'd and wonder'd at.
Queen. Thanks, gentle Somerfet;-fweet Oxford, Prince. And take his thanks, that yet hath no
thing elfe.
Enter a Meffenger.
My tears gainfay; for every word I speak,
Ye fee, I drink the water of mine eyes. [vereign,
Therefore, no more but this :-Henry, your fo-
Is prifoner to the foe; his ftate ufurp'd,
His realm a flaughter-houfe, his fubjects flain,
His ftatutes cancell'd, and his treasure spent ;
And yonder is the wolf that makes this fpoil.
You fight in juftice: then, in God's name, lords,
Be valiant, and give fignal to the fight.
[Both parties go out. Alarum. Retreat. Excurfiont. SCEN E V.
Enter King Edward, Glofter, Clarence, &c. The Queen, Oxford, and Somerset, prifoners.
K. Edw. Lo, here a period of tumultuous broils. Away with Oxford to Hammes' Castle straight: For Somerfet, off with his guilty head. Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. Oxf. For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words.
[tune. Som. Nor I, but floop with patience to my for[Exeunt Oxford and Somerfet, guarded. Queen. So part we fadly in this troublous world, To meet with joy in fweet Jerufalem.
K. Edw. Is proclamation made,-that, who
finds Edward,
Shall have a high reward, and he his life?
Glo. It is, and, lo, where youthful Edward comes.
Enter Soldiers with the Frince.
K. Edu. Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him
fpeak:
What! can fo young a thorn begin to prick?—
Edward, what fatisfaction canft thou make,
For bearing arms, for ftirring up my fubjects,
And all the trouble thou haft turn'd me to?
Prince. Speak like a fubject, proud ambitious
York!
Suppofe, that I am now my father's mouth;
Refign thy chair, and, where I ftand, kneel thou,
Whilft I propose the self-fame words to thee,
Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me aniw er to.
Queen. Ah, that thy father had been fo refolv'd!
Glo. That you might ftill have worn the petti-
And ne'er have ftol'n the breech from Lancaster. Prince. Let fop fable in a winter's night;
Me. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand, His currifh riddles fort not with this place.
Ready to fight; therefore be refolute.
Oxf. I thought no lefs: it is his policy,
To hafte thus faft, to find us unprovided.
Som. But he's deceiv'd, we are in readiness.
Queen. This cheers my heart, fo fee your for-
[budge. Oxf. Here pitch our battle, hence we will not March. Enter King Edward, Glofter, Clarence, and Soldiers, on the other fide of the ftage.
K. Edw. Brave followers, yonder ftands the
thorny wood,
Which, by the heavens affiftance, and your strength,
Muft by the roots be hewn up yet ere night.
I need not add more fuel to your fire,
For, well I wot, ye blaze to burn them out:
Give fignal to the fight, and to it, lords.
Queen. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I
fhould fay,
To gainfay is to deny, to contradict.
Efop.
Gio. By heaven, brat, I'll plague you for that [men.
Qgen. Ay, thou waft born to be a plague to
Glo. For God's, fake, take away this captive
fcold.
[rather.
Prince. Nay, take away this fcolding crook-back
K. Edw. Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your
tongue.
Clar. Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert.
Prince. I know my duty, you are all undutiful: Lafcivious Edward,—and thou perjur'd George,And thou mishapen Dick,-I tell ye all, I am your better, traitors as ye are ;And thou ufurp'ft my father's right and mine. K. Edw. Take that, thou likenefs of this railer here 3. [Stabs bim. Glo. Sprawift thou? take that, to end thy agony. [Glo, jabs wom
2 The Prince calls Richard, for his crockedness, Clar
3i.e. Thou that refemblet thy railing mother.
Canft thou not fpeak?-O traitors! murderers!
They, that ftabb'd Cæfar, fhed no blood at all,
Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame,
If this foul deed were by, to equal it.
He was a man; this, in refpect, a child;
And men ne'er spend their fury on a child.
What's worfe than murderer, that I may name it?
No, no; my heart will burft, an if I fpeak:-
And I will fpeak, that fo my heart may burst.—
Butchers and villains, bloody cannibals !
How fweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd!
You have no children, butchers; if you had,
The thought of them would have ftirr'd up re-
morfe :
But, if you ever chance to have a child,
Look in his youth to have him fo cut off,
As, deathfmen! you have rd this fweet young
prince.
[force.
K. Ed. Away with her; go, bear her hence by
Queen. Nay, never bear me hence, difpatch me
Clar. Didft thou not hear me fwear, I would not do it?
Queen. Ay, but thou ufeft to forfwear thyfelf; 'Twas fin before, but now 'tis charity. What! wilt thou not? where is that devil's
Hard-favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou?
Thou art not here: Murder is thy alms-deed;
Petitioner for blood thou ne'er putt'it back.
K. Edw. Away, I fay; I charge ye, bear her
Queen. So come to you, and yours, as to this
prince!
[Exit Queen.
K. Ed. Where's Richard gone?
Clar. To London, all in pott; and, as I guefs,
To make a bloody fupper in the Tower. [head.
K. Edo. He's fudden, if a thing comes in his
Now march we hence : discharge the common fort
With pay and thanks, and let's away to London,
So firft the harmless fheep doth yield his fleece, And next his throat unto the butcher's knife.What fcene of death hath Rofcius now to act? Glo. Sufpicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer.
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K. Henry. The bird, that hath been limed in a
bush,
With trembling wings mifdoubteth every bush :
And I, the hapless male to one fweet bird,
Have now the fatal object in my eye, [kill'd
Where my poor young was lim'd, was caught, and
Glo. Why, what a peevith 2 fool was that of
Crete,
That taught his fon the office of a fowl?
And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd.
K. Henry. I, Dædalus; my poor fon, Icarus;
Thy father, Minos, that deny'd our course;
The fun, that fear'd the wings of my fweet boy,
Thy brother Edward; and thyfelf, the fea,
Whofe envious gulph did iwallow up his life.
Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words!
My breast can better brook thy dagger's point,
Than can my ears that tragic hiftory.-
But wherefore doft thou come? is't for my life?
Glo. Think'ft thou, I am an executioner?
K. Henry. A perfecutor, I am fure, thou art;
If murdering innocents be executing,
Why, then thou art an executioner.
Glo. Thy fon I kill'd for His prefumption.
K. Henry. Hadft thou been kill'd, when first
thou didst prefume,
Thou hadft not liv'd to kill a fon of mine.
| And thus I prophefy,--that many a thoufand,
Which now miftruft no parcel of my fear;
And many an old man's figh, and many a widow's,
| And many an orphan's water-ftanding eye,-
Men for their fons, wives for their husbands' fate,
And orphans for their parents' timeless death,——
Shall rue the hour that ever thou wait born.
The owl fhriek'd at thy birth, an evil fign;
The night-crow cry'd, aboding lucklefs time;
Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempefts fhook down
The raven rook'd 3 her on the chimney's top, And chattering pyes in difmal difcords fung.
1 i. e. fears, or fufpects. i. e. childish. 3 To rook, or rather to ruck, is a north-country wor!, fignifying to fquat down, or lodge on any thing. All of a ruck is a Staffordshire expreffion for all on a heap.
|