The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works
Page 242
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,
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And brought desired help from Burgundy;
What then remains, we being thus arriv’d
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?
RICHARD The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this;
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For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.
KING EDWARD
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.
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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
But, Master Mayor, if Henry be your king,
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Yet Edward, at the least, is Duke of York.
MAYOR True, my good lord, I know you for no less.
KING EDWARD
Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom,
As being well content with that alone.
RICHARD [aside]
But when the fox hath once got in his nose,
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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.
He descends.
RICHARD A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded!
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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
So, Master Mayor: these gates must not be shut
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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 SIR JOHN MONTGOMERY, with drum and soldiers.
RICHARD Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
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Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv’d.
KING EDWARD
Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms?
MONTGOMERY
To help King Edward in his time of storm,
As every loyal subject ought to do.
KING EDWARD
Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget
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Our title to the crown, and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
MONTGOMERY
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.
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[The drum begins to march.]
KING EDWARD
Nay, stay, Sir John, a while; and we’ll debate
By what safe means the crown may be recover’d.
MONTGOMERY
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
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To keep them back that come to succour you.
Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?
RICHARD
Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?
Resolve yourself, and let us claim the crown.
KING EDWARD
When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim:
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Till then ’tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.
HASTINGS
Away with scrupulous wit! Now arms must rule.
RICHARD
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
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KING EDWARD Then be it as you will; for ’tis my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
MONTGOMERY
Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself,
And now will I be Edward’s champion.
HASTINGS
Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim’d.
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Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.
[Gives him a paper.] [Flourish.]
SOLDIER
Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, King of
England and France, and Lord of Ireland, etc.
MONTGOMERY
And whosoe’er gainsays King Edward’s right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.
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[Throws down his gauntlet.]
ALL Long live Edward the Fourth!
KING EDWARD
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
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Above the border of this horizon
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!
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Yet, as we may, we’ll meet both thee and Warwick.
Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day,
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
Exeunt.
4.8 Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, MONTAGUE, GEORGE, OXFORD and EXETER.
WARWICK What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders,
Is pass’d in safety through the Narrow Seas,
And with his troops doth march amain to London;
And many giddy people flock to him.
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KING HENRY Let’s levy men and beat him back again.
GEORGE A little fire is quickly trodden out,
Which, being suffer’d, rivers cannot quench.
WARWICK In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;
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Those will I muster up, and thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee:
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find
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Men well inclin’d to hear what thou command’st:
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well-belov’d
In Oxfordshire, shalt muster up thy friends.
My sovereign, with the loving citizens,
Like to his island girt in with the ocean,
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Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs,
Shall rest in London till we come to him.
Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply.
Farewell, my sovereign.
KING HENRY
Farewell, my Hector and my Troy’s true hope.
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GEORGE In sign of truth, I kiss your Highness’ hand.
&nb
sp; KING HENRY
Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate.
MONTAGUE Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave.
OXFORD And thus I seal my truth and bid adieu.
KING HENRY
Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
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And all at once, once more a happy farewell.
WARWICK Farewell, sweet lords; let’s meet at Coventry.
Exeunt all but King Henry and Exeter.
KING HENRY
Here at the palace will I rest a while.
Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
Methinks the power that Edward hath in field
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Should not be able to encounter mine.
EXETER The doubt is that he will seduce the rest.
KING HENRY
That’s not my fear; my meed hath got me fame:
I have not stopp’d mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
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My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay’d their swelling griefs,
My mercy dried their water-flowing tears;
I have not been desirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppress’d them with great subsidies,
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Nor forward of revenge, though they much err’d.
Then why should they love Edward more than me?
No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace;
And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb,
The lamb will never cease to follow him.
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[Shout within, ‘A York! A York!’]
EXETER Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these?
Enter KING EDWARD, RICHARD and soldiers.
KING EDWARD
Seize on the shame-fac’d Henry, bear him hence;
And once again proclaim us King of England.
You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow:
Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry,
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And swell so much the higher by their ebb.
Hence with him to the Tower: let him not speak.
Exeunt some with King Henry.
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains.
The sun shines hot; and if we use delay,
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Cold biting winter mars our hop’d-for hay.
RICHARD Away betimes, before his forces join,
And take the great-grown traitor unawares:
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.
Exeunt.
5.1 Enter WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers and others upon the walls.
WARWICK
Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?
How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?
1 MESSENGER
By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.
WARWICK How far off is our brother Montague?
Where is the post that came from Montague?
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2 MESSENGER
By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.
Enter SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE.
WARWICK Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?
And by thy guess how nigh is Clarence now?
SOMERSET At Southam I did leave him with his forces,
And do expect him here some two hours hence.
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[Drum heard.]
WARWICK Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum.
SOMERSET It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies:
The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.
WARWICK
Who should that be? Belike, unlook’d for friends.
SOMERSET
They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.
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March. Flourish. Enter EDWARD, RICHARD and soldiers.
KING EDWARD
Go, trumpet, to the walls and sound a parle.
RICHARD See how the surly Warwick mans the wall.
WARWICK O unbid spite! Is sportful Edward come?
Where slept our scouts or how are they seduc’d
That we could hear no news of his repair?
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KING EDWARD
Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates,
Speak gentle words, and humbly bend thy knee,
Call Edward King, and at his hands beg mercy,
And he shall pardon thee these outrages?
WARWICK Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence,
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