The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  That know not how to use ambassadors,

  Nor how to be contented with one wife,

  Nor how to use your brothers brotherly,

  Nor how to study for the people’s welfare,

  Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

  KING EDWARD (seeing George)

  Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?

  Nay, then, I see that Edward needs must down.

  Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance,

  Of thee thyself and all thy complices,

  Edward will always bear himself as king.

  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.

  Warwick takes off Edward’s crown

  But Henry now shall wear the English crown,

  And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow.

  My lord of Somerset, at my request,

  See that, forthwith, Duke Edward be conveyed

  Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.

  When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,

  I’ll follow you, and tell what answer

  Louis and the Lady Bona send to him.

  Now for a while farewell, good Duke of York.

  They begin to lead Edward out forcibly

  KING EDWARD

  What fates impose, that men must needs abide.

  It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

  Exeunt some with Edward

  OXFORD

  What now remains, my lords, for us to do

  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

  4.5 Enter Earl Rivers and his sister, Lady Gray, Edward’s queen

  RIVERS

  Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

  LADY GRAY

  Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn

  What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?

  RIVERS

  What? Loss of some pitched battle against Warwick?

  LADY GRAY

  No, but the loss of his own royal person.

  RIVERS Then is my sovereign slain?

  LADY GRAY

  Ay, almost stain—for he is taken prisoner,

  Either betrayed by falsehood of his guard

  Or by his foe surprised at unawares,

  And, as I further have to understand,

  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.

  LADY GRAY

  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.

  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?

  LADY GRAY

  I am informed 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—

  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

  4.6 Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley, ⌈with soldiers⌉

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  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

  He hath good usage and great liberty,

  And, often but attended with weak guard,

  Comes hunting this way to disport himself.

  I have advertised him by secret means

  That if about this hour he make this way

  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.

  Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the

  rest,

  Stand you thus close to steal the Bishop’s deer?

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  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,

  And shipped from thence to Flanders.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER ⌈aside⌉

  Well guessed, believe me—for that was my meaning.

  KING EDWARD

  Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  But wherefore stay we? ’Tis no time to talk.

  KING EDWARD

  Huntsman, what sayst thou? Wilt thou go along?

  HUNTSMAN

  Better do so than tarry and be hanged.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Come then, away—let’s have no more ado.

  KING EDWARD

  Bishop, farewell—shield thee from Warwick’s frown,

  And pray that I may repossess the crown. Exeunt

  4.7 Flourish. Enter the Earl of Warwick and George Duke of Clarence ⌈with the crown⌉. Then enter King Henry, the Earl of Oxford, the Duke of Somerset ⌈withl young Henry Ear⌉ of Richmond, the Marquis of Montague, and the Lieutenant of the Tower

  KING HENRY

  Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends

  Have shaken Edward from the regal seat

  And turned my captive state to liberty,

  My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,

  At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

  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,

  For that it made my prisonment a pleasure—

  Ay, such a pleasure as encagèd birds

  Conceive when, after many moody thoughts,

  At last by notes of household harmony

  They quite forget their loss of liberty.

  But, Warwick, after God, thou sett’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,

  And that the people of this blessed land

  May not be punished with my thwarting stars,

  Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,

  I here resign my government to thee,


  For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

  WARWICK

  Your grace hath still been famed 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:

  For choosing me when Clarence is in place.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,

  To whom the heav’ns in thy nativity

  Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,

  As likely to be blest in peace and war.

  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.

  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?

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  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—

  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 pronounced a traitor,

  And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  What else? And that succession be determined.

  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

  Be sent for, to return from France with speed.

  For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear

  My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

  KING HENRY

  My lord of Somerset, what youth is that

  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.

  King Henry lays his hand on Richmond’s head If secret powers

  Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,

  This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.

  His looks are full of peaceful majesty,

  His head by nature framed 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

  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 ?

  POST

  He was conveyed 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 rescued him—

  For hunting was his daily exercise.

  WARWICK

  My brother was too careless of his charge.

  (To King Henry) But let us hence, my sovereign, to

  provide

  A salve for any sore that may betide.

  Exeunt all but Somerset, Richmond, and Oxford

  SOMERSET (to Oxford)

  My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s,

  For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,

  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.

  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.

  SOMERSET

  It shall be so—he shall to Brittany.

  Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily. Exeunt

  4.8 Flourish. Enter King Edward, Richard Duke of Gloucester, and Lord Hastings, ⌈With a troop of Hollanders⌉

  KING EDWARD

  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 passed and now repassed the seas

  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 ?

  ⌈Hastings⌉ knocks at the gates of York

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  The gates made fast? Brother, I like not this.

  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.

  HASTINGS

  My liege, I’ll knock once more to summon them.

  He knocks. Enter, on the walls, the Mayor and aldermen of York

  MAYOR

  My lords, we were forewarned of your coming,

  And shut the gates for safety of oursetves—

  For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.

  KING EDWARD

  But, Master Mayor, if Henry be your king,

  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 OF GLOUCESTER (aside)

  But when the fox hath once got in his nose,

  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 opened.

  They descend

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded.

  HASTINGS

  The good old man would fain that all were well,

  So ’twere not long of him; but being entered,

  I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade

  Both him and all his brothers unto reason.

  Enter below the Mayor and two aldermen

  KING EDWARD

  So, Master Mayor, these gates must not be shut

  But in the night or in the time of war.

  What—fear not, man, but yield me up the keys,

  King Edward takes some keys from the Mayor

  For Edward will defend the town and thee,

  And all those
friends that deign to follow me.

  March. Enter Sir John Montgomery with a drummer and soldiers

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,

  Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.

  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

  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. 50

  The drummer begins to sound a march

  KING EDWARD

  Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and we’ll debate

  By what safe means the crown may be recovered.

  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

  To keep them back that come to succour you.

  Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (to King Edward)

  Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?

  KING EDWARD

  When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim.

  Till then ’tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.

  HASTINGS

  Away with scrupulous wit! Now arms must rule.

  RICHARD OF 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

  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 proclaimed.

  ⌈To Montgomery⌉

  Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.

  Flourish

  ⌈MONTGOMERY⌉ Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God

  King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland—