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| Before York. |
| [Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, | ||
| HASTINGS, and Soldiers] |
| KING EDWARD IV | Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest, | ||
| Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends, | |||
| And says that once more I shall interchange | |||
| My waned state for Henry's regal crown. | |||
| Well have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas | 5 | ||
| And brought desired help from Burgundy: | |||
| What then remains, we being thus arrived | |||
| From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York, | |||
| But that we enter, as into our dukedom? |
| GLOUCESTER | The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this; | 10 | |
| For many men that stumble at the threshold | |||
| Are well foretold that danger lurks within. |
| KING EDWARD IV | 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. | 15 |
| HASTINGS | My liege, I'll knock once more to summon them. | ||
| [Enter, on the walls, the Mayor of York, and his Brethren] |
| Mayor | My lords, we were forewarned of your coming, | ||
| And shut the gates for safety of ourselves; | |||
| For now we owe allegiance unto Henry. |
| KING EDWARD IV | But, master mayor, if Henry be your king, | 20 | |
| Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York. |
| Mayor | True, my good lord; I know you for no less. |
| KING EDWARD IV | Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom, | ||
| As being well content with that alone. |
| GLOUCESTER | [Aside] But when the fox hath once got in his nose, | 25 | |
| He'll soon find means to make the body follow. |
| HASTINGS | 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. | ||
| [They descend] |
| GLOUCESTER | A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded! | 30 |
| HASTINGS | The good old man would fain that all were well, | ||
| So 'twere not 'long of him; but being enter'd, | |||
| I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade | |||
| Both him and all his brothers unto reason. | |||
| [Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below] |
| KING EDWARD IV | So, master mayor: these gates must not be shut | 35 | |
| But in the night or in the time of war. | |||
| What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys; | |||
| [Takes his keys] | |||
| For Edward will defend the town and thee, | |||
| And all those friends that deign to follow me. | |||
| [March. Enter MONTGOMERY, with drum and soldiers] |
| GLOUCESTER | Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, | 40 | |
| Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived. |
| KING EDWARD IV | Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms? |
| MONTAGUE | To help King Edward in his time of storm, | ||
| As every loyal subject ought to do. |
| KING EDWARD IV | Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget | 45 | |
| Our title to the crown and only claim | |||
| Our dukedom till God please to send the rest. |
| MONTAGUE | 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. | 50 | ||
| [The drum begins to march] |
| KING EDWARD IV | Nay, stay, Sir John, awhile, and we'll debate | ||
| By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. |
| MONTAGUE | 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 | 55 | ||
| To keep them back that come to succor you: | |||
| Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title? |
| GLOUCESTER | Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? |
| KING EDWARD IV | When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim: | ||
| Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning. | 60 |
| HASTINGS | Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule. |
| GLOUCESTER | And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns. | ||
| Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand: | |||
| The bruit thereof will bring you many friends. |
| KING EDWARD IV | Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right, | 65 | |
| And Henry but usurps the diadem. |
| MONTAGUE | Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself; | ||
| And now will I be Edward's champion. |
| HASTINGS | Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd: | ||
| Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. | 70 | ||
| [Flourish] |
| Soldier | Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of | ||
| England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. |
| MONTAGUE | And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's right, | ||
| By this I challenge him to single fight. | |||
| [Throws down his gauntlet] |
| All | Long live Edward the Fourth! | 75 |
| KING EDWARD IV | 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, | 80 | ||
| 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 | |||
| To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother! | |||
| Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick. | 85 | ||
| Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day, | |||
| And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay. | |||
| [Exeunt] |
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