The First Web Folio Edition of Shakespeare's Works
Edward's camp, near Warwick. |
[Enter three Watchmen, to guard KING EDWARD IV's tent] |
First Watchman | Come on, my masters, each man take his stand: | ||
The king by this is set him down to sleep. |
Second Watchman | What, will he not to bed? |
First Watchman | Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow | ||
Never to lie and take his natural rest | 5 | ||
Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd. |
Second Watchman | To-morrow then belike shall be the day, | ||
If Warwick be so near as men report. |
Third Watchman | But say, I pray, what nobleman is that | ||
That with the king here resteth in his tent? | 10 |
First Watchman | 'Tis the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend. |
Third Watchman | O, is it so? But why commands the king | ||
That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, | |||
While he himself keeps in the cold field? |
Second Watchman | 'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous. | 15 |
Third Watchman | Ay, but give me worship and quietness; | ||
I like it better than a dangerous honour. | |||
If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, | |||
'Tis to be doubted he would waken him. |
First Watchman | Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. | 20 |
Second Watchman | Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent, | ||
But to defend his person from night-foes? | |||
[Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and | |||
French soldiers, silent all] |
WARWICK | 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. | 25 |
First Watchman | Who goes there? |
Second Watchman | Stay, or thou diest! | ||
[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, reenter | |||
WARWICK, SOMERSET, and the rest, bringing KING | |||
EDWARD IV out in his gown, sitting in a chair. | |||
RICHARD and HASTINGS fly over the stage] |
SOMERSET | What are they that fly there? |
WARWICK | Richard and Hastings: let them go; here is The duke. |
KING EDWARD IV | The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted, | ||
Thou call'dst me king. | 30 |
WARWICK | Ay, but the case is alter'd: | ||
When you disgraced me in my embassade, | |||
Then I degraded you from being king, | |||
And come now to create you Duke of York. | |||
Alas! how should you govern any kingdom, | 35 | ||
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? | 40 |
KING EDWARD IV | Yea, brother of Clarence, are 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: | 45 | ||
Though fortune's malice overthrow my state, | |||
My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel. |
WARWICK | Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king: | ||
[Takes off his crown] | |||
But Henry now shall wear the English crown, | |||
And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow. | 50 | ||
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 | 55 | ||
Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him. | |||
Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York. | |||
[They lead him out forcibly] |
KING EDWARD IV | What fates impose, that men must needs abide; | ||
It boots not to resist both wind and tide. | |||
[Exit, guarded] |
OXFORD | What now remains, my lords, for us to do | 60 | |
But march to London with our soldiers? |
WARWICK | Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do; | ||
To free King Henry from imprisonment | |||
And see him seated in the regal throne. | |||
[Exeunt] |
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