The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  And whosoe’er gainsays King Edward’s right,

  By this I challenge him to single fight.

  He 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

  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!

  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

  4.9 Flourish. Enter King Henry, the Earl of Warwick, the Marquis of Montague, George Duke of Clarence, and the Earl of Oxford

  WARWICK

  What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,

  With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders,

  Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas,

  And with his troops doth march amain to London,

  And many giddy people flock to him.

  KING HENRY

  Let’s levy men and beat him back again.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  A little fire is quickly trodden out,

  Which, being suffered, rivers cannot quench.

  WARWICK

  In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,

  Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war.

  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

  Men well inclined to hear what thou command’st.

  And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well beloved

  In Oxfordshire, shalt muster up thy friends.

  My sovereign, with the loving citizens,

  Like to his island girt in with the ocean,

  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.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  In sign of truth, I kiss your highness’ hand.

  He kisses King Henry’s hand

  KING HENRY

  Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate.

  MONTAGUE

  Comfort, my lord, and so I take my leave.

  ⌈He kisses King Henry’s hand⌉

  OXFORD

  And thus I seal my truth and bid adieu.

  ⌈He kisses King Henry’s hand⌉

  KING HENRY

  Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,

  And all at once, once more a happy farewell.

  ⌈Exit⌉

  WARWICK

  Farewell, sweet lords—let’s meet at Coventry.

  Exeunt ⌈severally!⌉

  4.10 ⌈Erenter King Henry and the Duke of 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

  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 stopped mine ears to their demands,

  Nor posted off their suits with slow delays.

  My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,

  My mildness hath allayed their swelling griefs,

  My mercy dried their water-flowing tears.

  I have not been desirous of their wealth,

  Nor much oppressed them with great subsidies,

  Nor forward of revenge, though they much erred.

  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.

  Shout within ‘A Lancaster’, ⌈‘A York’⌉

  EXETER

  Hark, hark, my ford—what shouts are these?

  Enter King Edward and Richard Duke of Gloucester, with soldiers

  KING EDWARD

  Seize on the shame-faced 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,

  And swell so much the higher by their ebb.

  Hence with him to the Tower—tet him not speak.

  Exeunt some with King Henry and Exeter

  And lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,

  Where peremptory Warwick now remains.

  The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay,

  Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Away betimes, before his forces join,

  And take the great-grown traitor unawares.

  Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.

  Exeunt

  5.1 Enter the Earl of Warwick, the Mayar of Coventry, two Messengers, and others upon the walls

  WARWICK

  Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?

  ⌈The First Messenger steps forward⌉

  How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

  FIRST MESSENGER

  By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.

  WARWICK

  How far off is our brother Montague?

  Where is the post that came from Montague?

  ⌈the Second Messenger steps forward⌉

  SECOND MESSENGER

  By this at Da’ntry, with a puissant troop.

  Enter Somerville ⌈to them, abovel⌉

  WARWICK

  Say, Somerville-what says my loving son?

  And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?

  SOMERVILLE

  At Southam I did leave him with his forces,

  And do expect him here some two hours hence.

  A march afar off

  WARWICK

  Then Clarence is at hand-I hear his drum.

  SOMERVILLE

  It is not his, my lord. Here Southam lies.

  The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.

  WARWICK

  Who should that be? Belike, unlooked-for friends.

  SOMERVILLE

  They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.

  Flourish. Enter below King Edward and Richard Duke of Gloucester, with soldiers

  KING EDWARD

  Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parley.

  ⌈Sound a parley⌉

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  See how the surly Warwick mans the wall.

  WARWICK

  O, unbid spite—is sportful Edward come?

  Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced,

  That we could hear no news of his repair?

  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,

  Confess who set thee up and plucked thee down,

  Call Warwick patron, and be penitent?

  And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.

  RICHAR
D OF GLOUCESTER

  I thought at least he would have said ‘the King’.

  Or did he make the jest against his will?

  WARWICK

  Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give.

  I’ll do thee service for so good a gift.

  WARWICK

  ’Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.

  KING EDWARD

  Why then, ’tis mine, if but by Warwick’s gift.

  WARWICK

  Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight;

  And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;

  And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.

  KING EDWARD

  But Warwick’s king is Edward’s prisoner,

  And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:

  What is the body when the head is off?

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast,

  But whiles he thought to steal the single ten,

  The king was slyly fingered from the deck.

  ⌈To Warwick⌉ You left poor Henry at the Bishop’s palace,

  And ten to one you’ll meet him in the Tower.

  KING EDWARD

  ’Tis even so—⌈to Warwick⌉ yet you are Warwick still.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Come, Warwick, take the time—kneel down, kneel

  down.

  Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools.

  WARWICK

  I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,

  And with the other fling it at thy face,

  Than bear so low a sail to strike to thee.

  KING EDWARD

  Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,

  This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,

  Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,

  Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood:

  ‘Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more’.

  Enter the Earl of Oxford, with a drummer and ⌈soldiers bearing⌉ colours

  WARWICK

  O cheerful colours! See where Oxford comes.

  OXFORD

  Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

  ⌈Oxford and his men pass over the stage and exeunt into the city⌉

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (to King Edward)

  The gates are open—let us enter too.

  KING EDWARD

  So other foes may set upon our backs?

  Stand we in good array, for they no doubt

  Will issue out again and bid us battle.

  If not, the city being but of small defence,

  We’ll quickly rouse the traitors in the same.

  WARWICK ⌈to Oxford, within⌉

  O, welcome, Oxford—for we want thy help.

  Enter the Marquis of Montague with a drummer and ⌈soldiers bearing⌉ colours

  MONTAGUE

  Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!

  ⌈Montague and his men pass over the stage and exeunt into the city⌉

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Thou and thy brother both shall bye this treason

  Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.

  KING EDWARD

  The harder matched, the greater victory.

  My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.

  Enter the Duke of Somerset with a drummer and ⌈soldiers bearing⌉ colours

  SOMERSET

  Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!

  ⌈Somerset and his men pass over the stage and exeunt into the city⌉

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

  Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset,

  Have sold their lives unto the house of York—

  And thou shalt be the third, an this sword hold.

  Enter George Duke of Clarence with a drummer and ⌈soldiers bearing⌉ colours

  WARWICK

  And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,

  Of force enough to bid his brother battle;

  With whom an upright zeal to right prevails

  More than the nature of a brother’s love.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  Clarence, Clarence, for Lancaster!

  KING EDWARD

  Et tu, Brute—wilt thou stab Caesar too?

  (To a trumpeter) A parley, sirra, to George of Clarence.

  Sound a parley. Richard of Gloucester and George of

  Clarence whisper together

  WARWICK

  Come, Clarence, come—thou wilt if Warwick call.

  GEORGE OF CLARENCE

  Father of Warwick, know you what this means?

  ⌈He takes his red rose out of his hat and throws it at Warwick⌉

  Look—here I throw my infamy at thee!

  I will not ruinate my father’s house,

  Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,

  And set up Lancaster. Why, trowest thou, Warwick,

  That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,

  To bend the fatal instruments of war

  Against his brother and his lawful king?

  Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath.

  To keep that oath were more impiety

  Than Jephthah, when he sacrificed his daughter.

  I am so sorry for my trespass made

  That, to deserve well at my brothers’ hands,

  I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe,

  With resolution, wheresoe’er I meet thee—

  As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad—

  To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.

  And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,

  And to my brothers turn my blushing cheeks.

  (To King Edward)

  Pardon me, Edward—I will make amends.

  (To Richard)

  And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,

  For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.

  KING EDWARD

  Now welcome more, and ten times more beloved,

  Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate.

  RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (to George)

  Welcome, good Clarence—this is brother-like.

  WARWICK (to George)

  O, passing traitor—perjured and unjust!

  KING EDWARD

  What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight?

  Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?

  WARWICK ⌈aside⌉

  Alas, I am not cooped here for defence.

  (To King Edward)

  I will away towards Barnet presently,

  And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar’st.

  KING EDWARD

  Yes, Warwick—Edward dares, and leads the way.

  Lords, to the Held—Saint George and victory!

  Exeunt below King Edward and his company.

  March. The Earl of Warwick and his company

  descend and follow

  5.2 Alarum and excursions. Enter King Edward bringing forth the Earl of Warwick, wounded

  KING EDWARD

  So lie thou there. Die thou, and die our fear—

  For Warwick was a bug that feared us all.

  Now, Montague, sit fast—I seek for thee

  That Warwick’s bones may keep thine company. Exit

  WARWICK

  Ah, who is nigh? Come to me, friend or foe,

  And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick?

  Why ask I that? My mangled body shows,

  My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows,

  That I must yield my body to the earth

  And by my fall the conquest to my foe.

  Thus yields the cedar to the axe’s edge,

  Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle,

  Under whose shade the ramping lion slept,

  Whose top-branch over-peered Jove’s spreading tree

  And kept low shrubs from winter’s powerful wind.

  These
eyes, that now are dimmed with death’s black

  veil,

  Have been as piercing as the midday sun

  To search the secret treasons of the world.

  The wrinkles in my brows, now filled with blood,

  Were likened oft to kingly sepulchres—

  For who lived king, but I could dig his grave?

  And who durst smile when Warwick bent his brow?

  Lo now my glory smeared in dust and blood.

  My parks, my walks, my manors that I had,

  Even now forsake me, and of all my lands

  Is nothing left me but my body’s length,

  Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?

  And, live we how we can, yet die we must.

  Enter the Earl of Oxford and the Duke of Somerset

  SOMERSET

  Ah, Warwick, Warwick—wert thou as we are,

  We might recover all our loss again.

  The Queen from France hath brought a puissant

  power.

  Even now we heard the news. Ah, couldst thou fly!

  WARWICK

  Why, then I would not fly. Ah, Montague,

  If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand,

  And with thy lips keep in my soul a while.

  Thou lov’st me not—for, brother, if thou didst,

  Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood

  That glues my lips and will not let me speak.

  Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead.

  SOMERSET

  Ah, Warwick—Montague hath breathed his last,

  And to the latest gasp cried out for Warwick,

  And said ‘Commend me to my valiant brother.’

  And more he would have said, and more he spoke,

  Which sounded like a canon in a vault,

  That mote not be distinguished; but at last

  I well might hear, delivered with a groan,

  ‘O, farewell, Warwick.’

  WARWICK

  Sweet rest his soul. Fly, lords, and save yourselves—

  For Warwick bids you all farewell, to meet in heaven.

  He dies

  OXFORD

  Away, away—to meet the Queen’s great power!

  Here they bear away Warwick’s body. Exeunt

  5.3 Flourish. Enter King Edward in triumph, with Richard Duke of Gloucester, George Duke of Clarence, and ⌈soldiers⌉