The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 221

KING EDWARD. Ay, what of that? it was my will and grant; And for this once my will shall stand for law.

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.

CLARENCE. Or else you would not have bestow'd 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.

CLARENCE. In choosing for yourself you show'd your judgment, 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.

QUEEN ELIZABETH. My lords, before it pleas'd his Majesty To raise my state to t.i.tle of a queen, Do me but right, and you must all confess That I was not ign.o.ble of descent: And meaner than myself have had like fortune.

But as this t.i.tle 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.

GLOUCESTER. [Aside] I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.

Enter a POST

KING EDWARD. Now, messenger, what letters or what news From France?

MESSENGER. 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 Lewis unto our letters?

MESSENGER. At my depart, these were his very words: 'Go tell false Edward, the supposed king, That Lewis of France is sending over masquers To revel it with him and his new bride.'

KING EDWARD. IS Lewis so brave? Belike he thinks me Henry.

But what said Lady Bona to my marriage?

MESSENGER. These were her words, utt'red with mild disdain: 'Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow-garland for his sake.'

KING EDWARD. I blame 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.

MESSENGER. '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?

MESSENGER. He, more incens'd against your Majesty Than all the rest, discharg'd 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 forewarn'd.

They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.

But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

MESSENGER. Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd in friends.h.i.+p That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

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, and SOMERSET follows GLOUCESTER. [Aside] Not I.

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 arm'd 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 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 a.s.surance with some friendly vow, That I may never have you in suspect.

MONTAGUE. So G.o.d 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?

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 pow'r. Exeunt

SCENE II.

A plain in Warwicks.h.i.+re

Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French soldiers

WARWICK. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us.

Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET

But see where Somerset and Clarence comes.

Speak suddenly, my lords- are we all friends?

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 n.o.ble heart Hath p.a.w.n'd 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 welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.

And now what rests but, in night's coverture, Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd, 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 Diomede With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents, And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds, So we, well cover'd 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, G.o.d and Saint George! Exeunt

SCENE III.

Edward's camp, near Warwick

Enter three WATCHMEN, to guard the KING'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 suppress'd.

SECOND WATCHMAN. To-morrow then, belike, shall be the day, If Warwick be so near as men report.

THIRD WATCHMAN. But say, I pray, what n.o.bleman 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 wors.h.i.+p and quietness; I like it better than 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 pa.s.sage.

SECOND WATCHMAN. Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent But to defend his person from night-foes?