The Third Part Of King Henry The Sixth

1 Enter, Warwick, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers and others, upon
2 the walls.
3 WARWICK.
4 Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?
5 How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?
6 1 MESSENGER.
7 By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.
8 WARWICK.
9 How far off is our brother Montague?
10 Where is the post that came from Montague?
11 2 MESSENGER.
12 By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.
13 Enter Sir John Somerville.
14 WARWICK.
15 Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?
16 And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
17 SOMERVILLE.
18 At Southam I did leave him with his forces
19 And do expect him here some two hours hence.
20 [_Drum heard._]
21 WARWICK.
22 Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum.
23 SOMERVILLE.
24 It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies.
25 The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.
26 WARWICK.
27 Who should that be? Belike, unlooked-for friends.
28 SOMERVILLE.
29 They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.
30 March. Flourish. Enter King Edward, Richard (Duke of Gloucester) and
31 Soldiers.
32 KING EDWARD.
33 Go, trumpet, to the walls and sound a parle.
34 RICHARD.
35 See how the surly Warwick mans the wall.
36 WARWICK.
37 O, unbid spite! Is sportful Edward come?
38 Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced,
39 That we could hear no news of his repair?
40 KING EDWARD.
41 Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates,
42 Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee?
43 Call Edward King and at his hands beg mercy,
44 And he shall pardon thee these outrages.
45 WARWICK.
46 Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence,
47 Confess who set thee up and plucked thee down,
48 Call Warwick patron and be penitent,
49 And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.
50 RICHARD.
51 I thought, at least, he would have said the King;
52 Or did he make the jest against his will?
53 WARWICK.
54 Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?
55 RICHARD.
56 Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give;
57 I’ll do thee service for so good a gift.
58 WARWICK.
59 ’Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.
60 KING EDWARD.
61 Why, then, ’tis mine, if but by Warwick’s gift.
62 WARWICK.
63 Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight;
64 And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;
65 And Henry is my King, Warwick his subject.
66 KING EDWARD.
67 But Warwick’s king is Edward’s prisoner;
68 And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:
69 What is the body when the head is off?
70 RICHARD.
71 Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast,
72 But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
73 The king was slily fingered from the deck!
74 You left poor Henry at the Bishop’s palace,
75 And ten to one you’ll meet him in the Tower.
76 KING EDWARD.
77 ’Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still.
78 RICHARD.
79 Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down.
80 Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools.
81 WARWICK.
82 I had rather chop this hand off at a blow
83 And with the other fling it at thy face,
84 Than bear so low a sail to strike to thee.
85 KING EDWARD.
86 Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,
87 This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,
88 Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,
89 Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood:
90 “Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.”
91 Enter Oxford with drum and colours.
92 WARWICK.
93 O cheerful colours! See where Oxford comes!
94 OXFORD.
95 Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!
96 [_He and his forces enter the city._]
97 RICHARD.
98 The gates are open; let us enter too.
99 KING EDWARD.
100 So other foes may set upon our backs.
101 Stand we in good array, for they no doubt
102 Will issue out again and bid us battle;
103 If not, the city being but of small defence,
104 We’ll quietly rouse the traitors in the same.
105 WARWICK.
106 O, welcome, Oxford, for we want thy help.
107 Enter Montague with drum and colours.
108 MONTAGUE.
109 Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!
110 [_He and his forces enter the city._]
111 RICHARD.
112 Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason
113 Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
114 KING EDWARD.
115 The harder matched, the greater victory.
116 My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.
117 Enter Somerset with drum and colours.
118 SOMERSET.
119 Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
120 [_He and his forces enter the city._]
121 RICHARD.
122 Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset,
123 Have sold their lives unto the House of York;
124 And thou shalt be the third if this sword hold.
125 Enter George (Duke of Clarence) with drum and colours.
126 WARWICK.
127 And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,
128 Of force enough to bid his brother battle;
129 With whom an upright zeal to right prevails
130 More than the nature of a brother’s love.
131 [_Richard and George whisper._]
132 Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt if Warwick call.
133 GEORGE.
134 Father of Warwick, know you what this means?
135 [_Taking the red rose from his hat and throws the rose at Warwick._]
136 Look here, I throw my infamy at thee.
137 I will not ruinate my father’s house,
138 Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
139 And set up Lancaster. Why, trowest thou, Warwick,
140 That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,
141 To bend the fatal instruments of war
142 Against his brother and his lawful King?
143 Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath.
144 To keep that oath were more impiety
145 Than Jephthah’s when he sacrificed his daughter.
146 I am so sorry for my trespass made
147 That, to deserve well at my brother’s hands,
148 I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe,
149 With resolution, whereso’er I meet thee—
150 As I will meet thee if thou stir abroad—
151 To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.
152 And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,
153 And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks.
154 Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends.
155 And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
156 For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.
157 KING EDWARD.
158 Now, welcome more, and ten times more beloved,
159 Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate.
160 RICHARD.
161 Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like.
162 WARWICK.
163 O passing traitor, perjured and unjust!
164 KING EDWARD.
165 What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight?
166 Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?
167 WARWICK.
168 Alas! I am not cooped here for defence!
169 I will away towards Barnet presently
170 And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar’st.
171 KING EDWARD.
172 Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way.
173 Lords, to the field! Saint George and victory!
174 [_Exeunt. March. Warwick and his company follows._]