The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works
Page 241
Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance,
Of thee thyself and all thy complices,
Edward will always bear himself a king.
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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.
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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 come and tell what answer
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Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.
Now, for a while, farewell, good Duke of York.
KING EDWARD
What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
They lead him out forcibly.
OXFORD What now remains, my lords, for us to do
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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.
4.4 Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS.
RIVERS
Madam, what makes in you this sudden change?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?
RIVERS
What, loss of some pitch’d battle against Warwick?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
No, but the loss of his own royal person.
5
RIVERS Then is my sovereign slain?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner;
Either betray’d by falsehood of his guard,
Or by his foe surpris’d at unawares:
And, as I further have to understand,
10
Is new committed to the Bishop of York,
Fell Warwick’s brother, and by that our foe.
RIVERS These news, I must confess, are full of grief;
Yet gracious madam, bear it as you may:
Warwick may lose that now hath won the day.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH
Till then, fair hope must hinder life’s decay,
And I the rather wean me from despair
For love of Edward’s offspring in my womb:
This is it that makes me bridle passion
And bear with mildness my misfortune’s cross,
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Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear
And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,
Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown
King Edward’s fruit, true heir to th’ English crown.
RIVERS But, madam, where is Warwick then become?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH
I am inform’d that he comes towards London
To set the crown once more on Henry’s head.
Guess thou the rest: King Edward’s friends must down.
But to prevent the tyrant’s violence –
For trust not him that hath once broken faith –
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I’ll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary
To save at least the heir of Edward’s right.
There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.
Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly:
If Warwick take us, we are sure to die. Exeunt.
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4.5 Enter RICHARD, LORD HASTINGS, Sir William Stanley and others.
RICHARD
Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley
Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither
Into this chiefest thicket of the park.
Thus stands the case: you know our King, my brother,
Is prisoner to the Bishop here, at whose hands
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He hath good usage and great liberty,
And often but attended with weak guard
Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advertis’d him by secret means
That if about this hour he make this way,
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Under the colour of his usual game,
He shall here find his friends with horse and men
To set him free from his captivity.
Enter KING EDWARD and a Huntsman with him.
HUNTSMAN
This way, my lord, for this way lies the game.
KING EDWARD
Nay, this way, man: see where the huntsmen stand.
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Now, brother of Gloucester, Hastings, and the rest,
Stand you thus close to steal the Bishop’s deer?
RICHARD Brother, the time and case requireth haste;
Your horse stands ready at the park corner.
KING EDWARD But whither shall we then?
HASTINGS To Lynn, my lord?
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And ship from thence to Flanders?
RICHARD
Well guess’d, believe me; for that was my meaning.
KING EDWARD Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.
RICHARD But wherefore stay we? ’tis no time to talk.
KING EDWARD
Huntsman, what say’st thou? wilt thou go along?
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HUNTSMAN Better do so than tarry and be hang’d.
RICHARD Come then, away; let’s ha’ no more ado.
KING EDWARD
Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick’s frown,
And pray that I may repossess the crown. Exeunt.
4.6 Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, GEORGE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, young RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE and Lieutenant of the Tower.
KING HENRY
Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends
Have shaken Edward from the regal seat
And turn’d my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?
5
LIEUTENANT
Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;
But, if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your Majesty.
KING HENRY
For what, Lieutenant? For well using me?
Nay, be thou sure, I’ll well requite thy kindness,
10
For that it made my prisonment 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.
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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,
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And that the people of this blessed land
May not be punish’d with my thwarting stars,
Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,
I here resign my government to thee,
For thou are fortunate in all thy deeds.
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WARWICK
Your Grace hath still been fam’d for virtuous,
And now may seem as wise as virtuous
By spying and avoiding Fortune’s malice,
For few men rightly temper with the stars;
Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace,
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For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
GEORGE N
o, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
To whom the heavens in thy nativity
Adjudg’d an olive branch and laurel crown,
As likely to be blest in peace and war;
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And therefore I yield thee my free consent.
WARWICK And I choose Clarence only for Protector.
KING HENRY
Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands:
Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,
That no dissension hinder government.
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I make you both Protectors of this land,
While I myself will lead a private life
And in devotion spend my latter days
To sin’s rebuke and my Creator’s praise.
WARWICK
What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?
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GEORGE That he consents, if Warwick yield consent;
For on thy fortune I repose myself.
WARWICK
Why then, though loath, yet must I be content.
We’ll yoke together, like a double shadow
To Henry’s body, and supply his place;
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I mean, in bearing weight of government,
While he enjoys the honour, and his ease.
And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful
Forthwith that Edward be pronounc’d a traitor
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
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GEORGE
What else? And that succession be determin’d.
WARWICK Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
KING HENRY 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
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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.
GEORGE It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
KING HENRY
My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that,
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Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
SOMERSET
My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.
KING HENRY
Come hither, England’s hope.
[Lays his hand on his head.] If secret powers
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,
This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.
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His looks are full of peaceful majesty;
His head by nature fram’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 he
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Must help you more than you are hurt by me.
Enter a Post.
WARWICK What news, my friend?
POST That Edward is escaped from your brother
And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
WARWICK Unsavoury news! But how made he escape?
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POST
He was convey’d by Richard, Duke of Gloucester
And the Lord Hastings, who attended him
In secret ambush on the forest side
And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescu’d him;
For hunting was his daily exercise.
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WARWICK 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 all but Somerset, Richmond and Oxford.
SOMERSET
My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s;
For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,
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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,
So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts,
What may befall him to his harm and ours.
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Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,
Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany,
Till storms be past of civil enmity.
OXFORD Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,
’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.
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SOMERSET It shall be so: he shall to Brittany.
Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily. Exeunt.
4.7 Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, RICHARD, HASTINGS and soldiers.
KING EDWARD
Now, brother Richard, Hastings, and the rest,