The drum begins to march KING EDWARD IV Nay, stay, Sir John, awhi le, and we'll debate By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. MONTAGUE 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 succor you:
Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title? GLOUCESTER Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? KING EDWARD IV 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. 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 IV Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right, And Henry but usurps the diadem. MONTAGUE Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself;And now will I be Edward's champion. HASTINGS Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd:
Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.
Flourish Soldier Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. MONTAGUE And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's right, By this I challenge him to single fight.
Throws down his gauntlet All Long live Edward the Fourth! KING EDWARD IV 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 SCENE VIII. London. The palace. Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, WARWICK, MONTAGUE, CLARENCE, EXETER, and OXFORD WARWICK What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders, Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, And with his troops doth march amain to London;And many giddy people flock to him. KING HENRY VI Let's levy men, and beat him back again. CLARENCE A little fire is quickly trodden out;Which, being suffer'd, 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 up 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 VI Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope. CLARENCE In sign of truth, I kiss your highness'
hand. KING HENRY VI Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate! MONTAGUE Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave. OXFORD And thus I seal my truth, and bid adieu. KING HENRY VI Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, And all at once, once more a happy farewell. WARWICK Farewell, sweet lords: let's meet at Coventry.
Exeunt all but KING HENRY VI and EXETER KING HENRY VI Here at the palace I will rest awhile.
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 VI That's not my fear; my meed hath got me fame:
I have not stopp'd 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 allay'd their swelling griefs, My mercy dried their water-flowing tears;I have not been desirous of their wealth, Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies.
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd:
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 Lancaster!' EXETER Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these?
Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers KING EDWARD IV 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 sha$l suck them dry, And swell so much the higher by their ebb.
Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.
Exeunt some with KING HENRY VI
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. GLOUCESTER Away betimes, before his forces join, And take the great-grown traitor unawares:
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.
