K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest awhile. Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest. I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands, [Shout within. A Lancaster! A Lancaster! Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these? Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry, bear him hence, And once again proclaim us king of England.-- Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join, And take the great-grown traitor unawares: Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry. [Exeunt. SCENE 1. COVENTRY. Enter, upon the Walls, WARWICK, the Mayor of War. Where is the post, that came from valiant Oxford? How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow? 1 Mess. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. War. How far off is our brother Montague?Where is the post that came from Montague? 2 Mess. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. Enter SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE. War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son? And, by the guess, how nigh is Clarence now? Som. At Southam I did leave him with his forces, And do expect him here some two hours hence. [Drum heard. War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum. Som. It is not his, my lord: here Southam lies; The drum your honour hears, marcheth from Warwick. War. Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends. Som. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know. Drums. Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and K. Edw. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle. K. Edw. 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. War. Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee down?Call Warwick-patron, and be penitent, And thou shalt still remain the duke of York. War. Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift? War. "Twas I, that gave the kingdom to thy brother. K.Edw. Why, then,'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift. War. Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight: And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again; And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject. K. Edw. But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner: And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this,What is the body, when the head is off? Glo. Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast, Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools. Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee. K. Edw. Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend; This hand, fast wound about thy coal black hair, War. O cheerful colours! see, where Oxford comes! [Oxford and his Forces enter the City. Glo. The gates are open, let us enter too. K. Edw. 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. War. O, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy help. Enter MONTAGUE, with Drum and Colours. Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! [He and his Forces enter the City. Glo. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. K. Edw. The harder match'd, the greater victory; My mind presageth happy gain, and conquest. Enter SOMERSET, with Drum and Colours. Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster! [He and his Forces enter the City. Glo. Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset, Have sold their lives unto the house of York; And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold. Enter CLARENCE, with Drum and Colours. War. 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 :— Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick calls. Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this means? [Taking the red Rose out of his Cap. 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, To bend the fatal instruments of war That, to deserve well at my brother's hands, K. Edw. Now welcome more, and ten times more be- [fight? : I will away towards Barnet presently, SCENE II. A Field of Battle near BARNET. Alarums and Excursions. Enter KING EDWARD, bringing in WARWICK, wounded. K. Edw. So, lie thou there: die thou, and die our fear For Warwick was a bug, that fear'd us all.— Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee, That Warwick's bones may keep thine company. [Exit. |