The First Web Folio Edition of Shakespeare's Works
London. The palace. |
[Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, QUEEN ELIZABETH, | ||
CLARENCE, GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, a Nurse with the | ||
young Prince, and Attendants] |
KING EDWARD IV | Once more we sit in England's royal throne, | ||
Re-purchased with the blood of enemies. | |||
What valiant foemen, like to autumn's corn, | |||
Have we mow'd down, in tops of all their pride! | |||
Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd | 5 | ||
For hardy and undoubted champions; | |||
Two Cliffords, as the father and the son, | |||
And two Northumberlands; two braver men | |||
Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound; | |||
With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague, | 10 | ||
That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion | |||
And made the forest tremble when they roar'd. | |||
Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat | |||
And made our footstool of security. | |||
Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy. | 15 | ||
Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles and myself | |||
Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night, | |||
Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat, | |||
That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace; | |||
And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain. | 20 |
GLOUCESTER | [Aside] I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid; | ||
For yet I am not look'd on in the world. | |||
This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave; | |||
And heave it shall some weight, or break my back: | |||
Work thou the way,--and thou shalt execute. | 25 |
KING EDWARD IV | Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely queen; | ||
And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. |
CLARENCE | The duty that I owe unto your majesty | ||
I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe. |
QUEEN ELIZABETH | Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks. | 30 |
GLOUCESTER | And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st, | ||
Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit. | |||
[Aside] To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master, | |||
And cried 'all hail!' when as he meant all harm. |
KING EDWARD IV | Now am I seated as my soul delights, | 35 | |
Having my country's peace and brothers' loves. |
CLARENCE | What will your grace have done with Margaret? | ||
Reignier, her father, to the king of France | |||
Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem, | |||
And hither have they sent it for her ransom. | 40 |
KING EDWARD IV | Away with her, and waft her hence to France. | ||
And now what rests but that we spend the time | |||
With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows, | |||
Such as befits the pleasure of the court? | |||
Sound drums and trumpets! farewell sour annoy! | 45 | ||
For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy. | |||
[Exeunt] |
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