me ?

Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kindness,

For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure:
Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds
Conceive, when, after many moody thoughts,
At last, by notes of household harmony,
They quite forget their loss of liberty.-
But, Warwick, after God, thou set'st me free,
And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee;
He was the author, thou the instrument.
Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite,
By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me;
And that the people of this blessed laud
May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars;
Warwick, although my head still wear the

crown,

termin'd.

War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief affairs,

Let me entreat, (for I command no more,)
That Margaret your queen, and my son Edward,
Be sent for, to return from France with speed:
For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear
My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.

Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

K. Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is that,

Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
Som. My liege, it is young Henry; earl of
Richmond.

K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope: If secret powers

[Lays his Hand on his Head. 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 frain'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 be, Must help you more than you are hurt by me. Enter a MESSENGER.

War. What news, my friend?

Mess. That Edward is escaped from your

brother,

And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy. War. Unsavoury news: But how made he escape?

Mess. He was convey'd by Richard duke of
Gloster,

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. My brother was too careless of his charge.

But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide A salve for any sore that may betide. [Exeunt King HENRY, WAR. CLAR. LIEUT. and Attendants.

Som. My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's:

For, doubtless, Burgundy will yield him help; And we shall have more wars, before't be long.

As Henry's late presaging prophecy
Did glad my heart, with hope of this young
Richmond;

Afterward Henry VII. who put an end to the civil

war between the two houses

te. Waited for him.

And brought desired help from Burgundy : What then remains, we being thus arriv'd

Drum.-Enter MONTGOMERY and Forces, marching.

Glo. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd.

K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms?

Mont. To help king Edward in his time of storm,

As every loyal subject ought to do.

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery: But we now forget

Our title to the crown; and only claim
Our dukedom, till God please to send the rest.
Mont. Then fare you well, for I will hence
again;

I came to serve a king, and not a duke,-
Drummer, strike up, and let us march away.
[A March begun.
John, a while; aud

K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir
we'll debate,

By what safe means the crown may be re

cover'd.

Mont. What talk you of debating? in few words,

If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king,

York,

But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

Glo. The gates made fast 1-Brother, I like not this;

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.
Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more, to
summon them.

Enter, on the Walls, the MAYOR of York, and his Brethren.

May. My lords, we were forewarned of your coming,

And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;
For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.

K. Edw. But, master mayor, if Henry be your king,

Yet Edward, at the least, is duke of York. May. 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 hath 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. May. Ay, say you so the gates shall then be open'd. [Exeunt from above. Glo. A wise stout captain, and persuaded

soon !

To keep them back that come to succour you: Why should we fight, if you pretend no title ? Glo. Why brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?

K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim,

Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms

must rule.

Glo. And fearless minds climb soonest unto

crowns.

Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
K. Edw. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my
right,

And Heury but usurps the diadem.

Mont. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself;

And now will I be Edward's champion.

Hast. Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd:

Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. [Gives him a Paper. Flourish. Sold. [Reads.] Edward the fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France ̧ and lord of Ireland, &c.

Mont. And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's right,

By this I challenge him to single fight.

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

If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York:
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.-
Ab! froward Clarence, how evil it beseems

thee,

To flatter Henry, and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and
Warwick.-

Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day;

And, that ouce gotten, doubt not of large pay. [Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.-London.-A Room in the
Palace.

Enter King HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE,
MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD.
War. What counsel, lords? Edward from
Belgia,

K. Edw. Why, then 'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift.

War. 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
prisoner:

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

Glo. Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast,

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 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 tide thy friend;

This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,

Shall, whiles the head is warm, and new cut off,

Write in the dust this sentence with thy

Enter OXFORD, with Drum and Colours. War. O cheerful colours! see, where Oxford comes !

Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

[OXFORD and his Forces enter the City. Glo. The gates are open, let us enter too. K. Edw. So other foes may set upon our backs,

Stand we in good array; for they, no doubt,
Will issue out again, and bid us battle:
If not, the city, being but of small defence,
We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same.
War. O welcome Oxford! for we want thy
help.

Enter MONTAGUE, with Drum and Colours.
Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster !

[He and his Forces enter the City. Glo. Thou and thy brother both shall buy

this treason

Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. K. Edw. The harder match'd, the greater

Look here, I throw my infamy at thee:
I will not ruinate my father's house,
Who gave his blood to lime the stones to-
gether,

And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou,
Warwick,

unnatural,

That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt,
To bend the fatal instruments of war
Against his brother and his lawful king?
Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath:
To keep that oath, were more impiety
Than Jephtha's, when he sacrific'd his daughter.
I am so sorry for my trespass made,
That, to deserve well at my brother's hands,
I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe;
With resolution, whereso'er I meet thee,
(As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad,)
To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.
And so, 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,
For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.
K. Edw. Now welcome more, and ten times
more belov'd,

Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate.
Glo. Welcome, good Clarence; this is bro-
ther-like.

War. O passing just!

traitor, perjur'd and un

K. Edw. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight?

Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? War. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence:

I will away towards Barnet presently, And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar'st. K. Edw. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way :Lords to the field; Saint George and victory. [March. Exeunt.

SCENE II.-A Field of Battle near Barnet. Alarums, and Excursions. Enter King Ev WARD, bringing in WARWICK wounded.

K. Edw. So lie thou there: die thou, and die

And tell me, who is victor, York or Warwick ?
Why ask I that? my maugled body shows,
My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart
shows,

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 lions slept?
Whose top-brauch overpeer'd Jove's spreading
And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful

tree,

wind.

These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's 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, when Warwick bent his brow?

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,

I. e. To cement. ↑ Stupid, insensible of paternal fondness, 1 Eminert, egregious. § Bugbear. | Terrified

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.

O farewell, Warwick !

War. Sweet rest to his soul!

What though the mast be now blown overboard,

The cable broke, the holding anchor lost,
Aud 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
With tearful eyes add water to the sea,
lad,

And give more strength to that which bath too much;

Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the

rock.

Which industry and courage might have sav'd ↑
Ah! what a shanie, 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;
The friends of France our shrouds and tack-
lings?

And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I

For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge?
We will not from the helin, to sit and weep;
But keep our course, though the rough wind

say-no,

From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck.

bids

Flourish. Enter King EDWARD in triumph; with CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and the rest.

K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course,

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

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

fair.

And what is Edward, but a ruthless sea?
And Richard, but a ragged fatal rock?
What Clarence, but a quicksand of deceit
All these the enemies to our poor bark.
Say, you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while:
Tread on the saud; 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 bro-
thers,

More than with ruthless waves, with sands, and rocks.

Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided, 'Twere childish weakness to lament, or fear. Prince. Methinks, a woman of this valiant spirit [words, Should, if a coward heard her speak these lufuse his breast with magnanimity, And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. I speak not this, as doubting any here; For, did I but suspect a fearful man, He should have leave to go away betimes; Lest, in our need, he might infect another, And make him of like spirit to himself. If any such be here, as God forbid ! Let him depart, before we need his help. Oxf. Women and children of so high a courage!

And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame.

O brave young prince! thy famous grandfather

Doth live again in thee; Long may'st thou live,

To bear his image, and renew his glories!
Som. And he, that will not tight for such a
hope,

Go home to bed, and, like the owl by day,
If he arise, be mock'd and wonder'd at.

Q. Mar. Thanks, gentle Somerset ;-sweet
Oxford, thanks.

Prince. And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing else.