The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

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The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works Page 46

by William Shakespeare


  LADY BONA (to King Louis)

  Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged,

  But by thy help to this distressed Queen?

  QUEEN MARGARET (to King Louis)

  Renowned Prince, how shall poor Henry live

  Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?

  LADY BONA (to King Louis)

  My quarrel and this English Queen’s are one.

  WARWICK

  And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours.

  KING LOUIS

  And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret’s.

  Therefore at last I firmly am resolved:

  You shall have aid.

  QUEEN MARGARET

  Let me give humble thanks for all at once.

  KING LOUIS (to the Post)

  Then, England’s messenger, return in post

  And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,

  That Louis of France is sending over masquers

  To revel it with him and his new bride.

  Thou seest what’s passed, go fear thy king withal.

  LADY BONA (to the Post)

  Tell him, in hope he’ll prove a widower shortly,

  I’ll wear the willow garland for his sake.

  QUEEN MARGARET (to the Post)

  Tell him my mourning weeds are laid aside,

  And I am ready to put armour on.

  WARWICK (to the Post)

  Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,

  And therefore I’ll uncrown him ere’t be long.

  (Giving money) There’s thy reward—be gone.

  Exit Post

  KING LOUIS

  But, Warwick, thou and Oxford, with five thousand

  men,

  Shall cross the seas and bid false Edward battle;

  And, as occasion serves, this noble Queen

  And Prince shall follow with a fresh supply.

  Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt:

  What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?

  WARWICK

  This shall assure my constant loyalty :

  That if our Queen and this young Prince agree,

  I’ll join mine eldest daughter and my joy

  To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands.

  QUEEN MARGARET

  Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.

  (To Prince Edward) Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,

  Therefore delay not. Give thy hand to Warwick,

  And with thy hand thy faith irrevocable

  That only Warwick’s daughter shall be thine.

  PRINCE EDWARD

  Yes, I accept her, for she well deserves it,

  And here to pledge my vow I give my hand.

  He and Warwick clasp hands

  KING LOUIS

  Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied,

  And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high admiral,

  Shall waft them over with our royal fleet.

  I long till Edward fall by war’s mischance

  For mocking marriage with a dame of France.

  Exeunt all but Warwick

  WARWICK

  I came from Edward as ambassador,

  But I return his sworn and mortal foe.

  Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,

  But dreadful war shall answer his demand.

  Had he none else to make a stale but me?

  Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.

  I was the chief that raised him to the crown,

  And I’ll be chief to bring him down again.

  Not that I pity Henry’s misery,

  But seek revenge on Edward’s mockery. Exit

  4.1 Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester, George Duke of Clarence, the Duke of Somerset, and the Marquis of Montague

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you

  Of this new marriage with the Lady Gray?

  Hath not our brother made a worthy choice ?

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  Alas, you know ’tis far from hence to France;

  How could he stay till Warwick made return?

  SOMERSET

  My lords, forbear this talk—here comes the King.

  Flourish. Enter King Edward, the Lady Gray his

  Queen, the Earl of Pembroke, and the Lords

  Stafford and Hastings. Four stand on one side ⌈of

  the King⌉, and four on the other

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER And his well-chosen bride.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  I mind to tell him plainly what I think.

  KING EDWARD

  Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,

  That you stand pensive, as half-malcontent?

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  As well as Louis of France, or the Earl of Warwick,

  Which are so weak of courage and in judgement

  That they’ll take no offence at our abuse.

  KING EDWARD

  Suppose they take offence without a cause—

  They are but Louis and Warwick; I am Edward,

  Your king and Warwick’s, and must have my will.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  And you shall have your will, because our king.

  Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

  KING EDWARD

  Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too ?

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Not I, no—God forbid that I should wish them severed

  Whom God hath joined together. Ay, and ’twere pity

  To sunder them that yoke so well together.

  KING EDWARD

  Setting your scorns and your mislike aside,

  Tell me some reason why the Lady Gray

  Should not become my wife and England’s queen.

  And you too, Somerset and Montague,

  Speak freely what you think.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  Then this is my opinion: that King Louis

  Becomes your enemy for mocking him

  About the marriage of the Lady Bona.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge,

  Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

  KING EDWARD

  What if both Louis and Warwick be appeased

  By such invention as I can devise?

  MONTAGUE

  Yet, to have joined with France in such alliance

  Would more have strengthened this our

  commonwealth

  ’Gainst foreign storms than any home-bred marriage.

  HASTINGS

  Why, knows not Montague that of itself

  England is safe, if true within itself?

  MONTAGUE

  But the safer when ’tis backed with France.

  HASTINGS

  ’Tis better using France than trusting France.

  Let us be backed with God and with the seas

  Which he hath giv’n for fence impregnable,

  And with their helps only defend ourselves.

  In them and in ourselves our safety lies.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves

  To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.

  KING EDWARD

  Ay, what of that? It was my will and grant—

  And for this once my will shall stand for law.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well

  To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales

  Unto the brother of your loving bride.

  She better would have fitted me or Clarence,

  But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  Or else you would not have bestowed the heir

  Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife’s son,

  And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.

  KING EDWARD

  Alas, poor Clarence, is it for a wife


  That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  In choosing for yourself you showed your judgement,

  Which being shallow, you shall give me leave

  To play the broker in mine own behalf,

  And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.

  KING EDWARD

  Leave me, or tarry. Edward will be king,

  And not be tied unto his brother’s will.

  LADY GRAY

  My lords, before it pleased his majesty

  To raise my state to title of a queen,

  Do me but right, and you must all confess

  That I was not ignoble of descent—

  And meaner than myself have had like fortune.

  But as this title honours me and mine,

  So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,

  Doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.

  KING EDWARD

  My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns.

  What danger or what sorrow can befall thee

  So long as Edward is thy constant friend,

  And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?

  Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too—

  Unless they seek for hatred at my hands,

  Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,

  And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (aside)

  I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.

  Enter the Post from France

  KING EDWARD

  Now, messenger, what letters or what news from France ?

  POST

  My sovereign liege, no letters and few words,

  But such as I, without your special pardon,

  Dare not relate.

  KING EDWARD

  Go to, we pardon thee. Therefore, in brief,

  Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them.

  What answer makes King Louis unto our letters?

  POST

  At my depart these were his very words:

  ‘Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king,

  That Louis of France is sending over masquers

  To revel it with him and his new bride.’

  KING EDWARD

  Is Louis so brave ? Belike he thinks me Henry.

  But what said Lady Bona to my marriage?

  POST

  These were her words, uttered with mild disdain:

  ‘Tell him in hope he’ll prove a widower shortly,

  I’ll wear the willow garland for his sake.’

  KING EDWARD

  ame not her, she could say little less;

  She had the wrong. But what said Henry’s queen?

  For I have heard that she was there in place.

  POST

  ‘Tell him‘, quoth she, ’my mourning weeds are done,

  And I am ready to put armour on.’

  KING EDWARD

  Belike she minds to play the Amazon.

  But what said Warwick to these injuries?

  POST

  He, more incensed against your majesty

  Than all the rest, discharged me with these words:

  ‘Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,

  And therefore I’ll uncrown him ere’t be long.’

  KING EDWARD

  Ha! Durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?

  Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarned.

  They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.

  But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

  POST

  Ay, gracious sovereign, they are so linked in friendship

  That young Prince Edward marries Warwick’s daughter.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger.

  Now, brother King, farewell, and sit you fast,

  For I will hence to Warwick’s other daughter,

  That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage

  I may not prove inferior to yourself.

  You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

  Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Not I—⌈aside⌉ my thoughts aim at a further matter.

  I stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown.

  KING EDWARD

  Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick?

  Yet am I armed against the worst can happen,

  And haste is needful in this desp’rate case.

  Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf

  Go levy men and make prepare for war.

  They are already, or quickly will be, landed.

  Myself in person will straight follow you.

  Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford

  But ere I go, Hastings and Montague,

  Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,

  Are near’st to Warwick by blood and by alliance.

  Tell me if you love Warwick more than me.

  If it be so, then both depart to him—

  I rather wish you foes than hollow friends.

  But if you mind to hold your true obedience,

  Give me assurance with some friendly vow

  That I may never have you in suspect.

  MONTAGUE

  So God help Montague as he proves true.

  HASTINGS

  And Hastings as he favours Edward’s cause.

  KING EDWARD

  Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.

  KING EDWARD

  Why, so. Then am I sure of victory.

  Now, therefore, let us hence and lose no hour

  Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. Exeunt

  4.2 Enter the Earls of Warwick and Oxford in England, with French soldiers

  WARWICK

  Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well.

  The common sort by numbers swarm to us.

  Enter the Dukes of Clarence and Somerset

  But see where Somerset and Clarence comes.

  Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends ?

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE Fear not that, my lord.

  WARWICK

  Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick—

  And welcome, Somerset. I hold it cowardice

  To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

  Hath pawned an open hand in sign of love,

  Else might I think that Clarence, Edward’s brother,

  Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.

  But come, sweet Clarence, my daughter shall be thine.

  And now what rests but, in night’s coverture,

  Thy brother being carelessly encamped,

  His soldiers lurking in the towns about,

  And but attended by a simple guard,

  We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?

  Our scouts have found the adventure very easy;

  That, as Ulysses and stout Diomed

  With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus’ tents

  And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds,

  So we, well covered with the night’s black mantle,

  At unawares may beat down Edward’s guard

  And seize himself—I say not ‘slaughter him’,

  For I intend but only to surprise him.

  You that will follow me to this attempt,

  Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.

  They all cry ‘Henry’

  Why, then, let’s on our way in silent sort,

  For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

  Exeunt

  4.3 Enter three Watchmen, to guard King Edward’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

  Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed.

  SECOND WATCHMAN

  Tomorrow 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?

  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.

  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.

  SECOND WATCHMAN

  Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent

  But to defend his person from night-foes?

  Enter silently the Earl of Warwick, George Duke of

  Clarence, the Earl of Oxford, and the Duke of

  Somerset, with French soldiers

  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.

  FIRST WATCHMAN Who goes there?

  SECOND WATCHMAN Stay or thou diest.

  Warwick and the rest all cry ‘Warwick, Warwick!’

  and set upon the guard, who fly, crying ‘Arm, arm!’

  Warwick and the rest follow them

  4.4 With the drummer playing and trumpeter sounding, enter the Earl of Warwick, the Duke of Somerset, and the rest bringing King Edward out in his gown, sitting in a chair. Richard Duke of Gloucester and Lord Hastings flies over the stage

  SOMERSET What are they that fly there?

  WARWICK

  Richard and Hastings—let them go. Here is the Duke.

  KING EDWARD

  ‘The Duke’! Why, Warwick, when we parted,

  Thou calledst me king.

  WARWICK Ay, but the case is altered.

  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

 

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