1 Watch.
Come on, my masters, each man take his stand;
The king, by this, is set him down to sleep.

2 Watch.
What, will he not to bed?

1 Watch.
Why, no: for he hath made a solemn vow,
Never to lie and take his natural rest,
'Till Warwick, or himself, be quite supprest.

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

3 Watch.
But say, I pray, what nobleman is that,
That with the king here resteth in his tent?

1 Watch.
'Tis the lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.

3 Watch.
O, is it so? But why commands the king,
That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,
While he himself keepeth in the cold field?

2 Watch.
'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous.

3 Watch.
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.

1 Watch.
Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

2 Watch.
Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal tent,
But to defend his person from night-foes? Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and French soldiers, silent all.

War.
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.

1 Watch.
Who goes there?

2 Watch.
Stay, or thou diest. [Warwick, and the rest, cry all,—Warwick! Warwick! and set upon the guard; who fly, crying,—Arm! Arm! Warwick, and the rest, following them. The drum beating, and trumpets sounding. Enter Warwick, Somerset, and the rest, bringing the king out in a gown, sitting in a chair: Gloster and Hastings fly over the stage.

Som.
What are they that fly there?

War.
Richard, and Hastings: let them go, here's the duke.

K. Edw.
The duke! why, Warwick, when, we parted last,
Thou call'dst me king?

War.
Ay, but the case is alter'd:
When you disgrac'd me in my embassage,
Then I degraded you from being king,
^{9 note}
And come now to create you duke of York.
Alas! how should you govern any kingdom,
That know not how to use embassadors;
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 shrowd yourself from enemies?

K. Edw.
Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?
Nay, then I see, that Edward needs must down.—
Yet, Warwick, in despight 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.

War.
Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king: [Takes off his 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 convey'd
Unto my brother, archbishop of York.
When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
I'll follow you, and tell what answer
Lewis, and the lady Bona, send to him:—
Now, for a while, farewel, good duke of York.

K. Edw.
What fates impose, that men must needs abide;

It boots not to resist both wind and tide. [Exit king Edward, led out.

Oxf.
^{1 note}








What now remains, my lords, for us to do,
But march to London with our soldiers?

War.
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.

Previous section

Next section