Henry VI (Parts I, II and III) (Signet Classics)

March. Flourish. Enter Edward, Richard and Soldiers

  KING EDWARD IV Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle16.

  GLOUCESTER See how the surly17 Warwick mans the wall.

  WARWICK O, unbid spite, is sportful18 Edward come?

  Where slept our scouts or how are they seduced,

  That we could hear no news of his repair20?

  KING EDWARD IV 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.

  WARWICK Nay, rather, wilt thou draw25 thy forces hence,

  Confess who set thee up and plucked thee down,

  Call Warwick patron27 and be penitent?

  And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.

  GLOUCESTER I thought, at least, he would have said the king,

  Or did he make the jest against his will?

  WARWICK Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?

  GLOUCESTER Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl32 to give.

  I'll do thee service for so good a gift.

  WARWICK 'Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.

  KING EDWARD IV Why then 'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift.

  WARWICK Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight36,

  And weakling, Warwick takes his gift again,

  And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.

  KING EDWARD IV But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner.

  And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:

  What is the body when the head is off?

  GLOUCESTER Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast42,

  But whiles he thought to steal the single ten43,

  The king was slyly fingered44 from the deck.

  You left poor Henry at the bishop's palace,

  And ten to one you'll meet him in the Tower.

  EDWARD 'Tis even so, yet you are Warwick still47.

  GLOUCESTER Come, Warwick, take the time48, kneel down, kneel down.

  Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools49.

  WARWICK I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,

  And with the other fling it at thy face,

  Than bear so low a sail to strike to thee.

  KING EDWARD IV Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,

  This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,

  Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,

  Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,

  'Wind-changing57 Warwick now can change no more.'

  Enter Oxford with Drum and Colours

  WARWICK O, cheerful colours, see where Oxford comes!

  He and his forces enter the city

  OXFORD Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

  GLOUCESTER The gates are open, let us enter too.

  KING EDWARD IV So other foes may set upon our backs61.

  Stand we in good array62, for they no doubt

  Will issue out again and bid63 us battle;

  If not, the city being but of small defence64,

  Oxford appears on the walls

  We'll quickly rouse65 the traitors in the same.

  WARWICK O, welcome, Oxford, for we want66 thy help.

  Enter Montague with Drum and Colours

  He and his forces enter the city

  MONTAGUE Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!

  GLOUCESTER Thou and thy brother both shall buy68 this treason

  Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.

  KING EDWARD IV The harder matched70, the greater victory.

  My mind presageth happy71 gain and conquest.

  Enter Somerset with Drum and Colours

  He and his forces enter the city

  SOMERSET Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!

  GLOUCESTER Two of thy name73, 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

  WARWICK And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,

  Of force enough to bid his brother battle,

  With whom an upright zeal to right78 prevails

  More than the nature79 of a brother's love.

  Come, Clarence, come. Thou wilt, if Warwick call.

  CLARENCE Father81 of Warwick, know you what this means?

  Takes red rose out of his hat Throws it at Warwick

  Look here, I throw my infamy at thee.

  I will not ruinate83 my father's house,

  Who gave his blood to lime84 the stones together,

  And set up Lancaster. Why, trowest thou85, Warwick,

  That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt86, unnatural,

  To bend87 the fatal instruments of war

  Against his brother and his lawful king?

  Perhaps thou wilt object89 my holy oath:

  To keep that oath were more impiety

  Than Jephthah, when he sacrificed his daughter.91

  I am so sorry for my trespass92 made

  That, to deserve well at my brother's hands,

  I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe,

  With resolution, wheresoe'er I meet thee --

  As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad96 --

  To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.

  And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,

  And to my brother turn my blushing99 cheeks.--

  Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends.--

  And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,

  For I will henceforth be no more unconstant102.

  KING EDWARD IV Now welcome more, and ten times more beloved,

  Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate.

  GLOUCESTER Welcome, good Clarence, this is brotherlike.

  WARWICK O passing106 traitor, perjured and unjust!

  KING EDWARD IV What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight?

  Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?

  WARWICK Alas, I am not cooped109 here for defence.

  I will away towards Barnet presently110,

  And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar'st.

  KING EDWARD IV Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way.--

  Lords, to the field. Saint George and victory!

  Exeunt [King Edward and his company].March. Warwick and his company follows

  [Act 5 Scene 2]

  running scene 18

  Alarum and excursions. Enter Edward bringing forth Warwick wounded

  KING EDWARD IV So, lie thou there. Die thou, and die our fear,

  For Warwick was a bug that feared2 us all.

  Now, Montague, sit fast3: I seek for thee,

  That4 Warwick's bones may keep thine company.

  Exit

  WARWICK Ah, who is nigh? Come to me, friend or foe,

  And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick?

  Why ask I that? My mangled body shows,

  My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows,

  That I must yield my body to the earth

  And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe.

  Thus yields the cedar11 to the axe's edge,

  Whose arms12 gave shelter to the princely eagle,

  Under whose shade the ramping13 lion slept,

  Whose top-branch overpeered Jove's spreading tree14

  And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind.

  These eyes, that now are dimmed with death's black veil,

  Have been as piercing as the midday sun,

  To search18 the secret treasons of the world.

  The wrinkles in my brows, now filled with blood,

  Were likened oft to kingly sepulchres,

  For who lived king, but I could dig his grave?

  And who durst smile when Warwick bent his brow22?

  Lo, now my glory smeared in dust and blood.

  My parks, my walks24, my manors that I had,

&nb
sp; Even now forsake me; and of all my lands

  Is nothing left me but my body's length.

  Why, what is pomp27, rule, reign, but earth and dust?

  And live we how we can, yet die we must.

  Enter Oxford and Somerset

  SOMERSET Ah, Warwick, Warwick, wert thou as we are,

  We might recover all our loss again.

  The queen from France hath brought a puissant power31.

  Even now we heard the news. Ah, couldst thou fly.

  WARWICK Why, then I would not fly. Ah, Montague,

  If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand

  And with thy lips keep in my soul awhile35.

  Thou lov'st me not, for, brother, if thou didst,

  Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood

  That glues my lips and will not let me speak.

  Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead.

  SOMERSET Ah, Warwick, Montague hath breathed his last,

  And to the latest gasp cried out for Warwick

  And said 'Commend me to my valiant brother.'

  And more he would have said, and more he spoke,

  Which sounded like a cannon in a vault,

  That mought45 not be distinguished, but at last

  I well might hear, delivered with a groan,

  'O, farewell, Warwick!'

  WARWICK Sweet rest his soul. Fly, lords, and save yourselves,

  Dies

  For Warwick bids you all farewell to meet in heaven.

  OXFORD Away, away, to meet the queen's great power.

  Here they bear away his body. Exeunt

  [Act 5 Scene 3]

  running scene 18 continues

  Flourish. Enter King Edward in triumph, with Richard, Clarence and the rest

  KING EDWARD IV Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course,

  And we are graced with wreaths of victory.

  But, in the midst of this bright-shining day,

  I spy a black, suspicious, threat'ning cloud,

  That will encounter with our glorious sun,

  Ere he attain his easeful western bed.

  I mean, my lords, those powers that the queen

  Hath raised in Gallia8 have arrived our coast

  And, as we hear, march on to fight with us.

  CLARENCE A little gale will soon disperse that cloud

  And blow it to the source from whence it came.

  Thy very beams will dry those vapours up,

  For every cloud engenders not a storm.

  GLOUCESTER The queen is valued14 thirty thousand strong,

  And Somerset with Oxford fled to her:

  If she have time to breathe16, be well assured

  Her faction will be full as strong as ours.

  KING EDWARD IV We are advertised18 by our loving friends

  That they do hold their course toward Tewkesbury19.

  We, having now the best at Barnet field,

  Will thither straight, for willingness rids way21,

  And as we march, our strength will be augmented

  In every county as we go along.

  Strike up the drum, cry 'Courage!' and away.

  Exeunt

  [Act 5 Scene 4]

  running scene 19

  Flourish. March. Enter the Queen, young Edward, Somerset, Oxford and Soldiers

  QUEEN MARGARET Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss,

  But cheerly2 seek how to redress their harms.

  What though the mast be now blown overboard,

  The cable broke, the holding-anchor4 lost,

  And half our sailors swallowed in the flood5?

  Yet lives our pilot6 still. Is't meet that he

  Should leave the helm and like a fearful lad,

  With tearful eyes add water to the sea

  And give more strength to that which hath too much,

  Whiles, in his moan10, the ship splits on the rock,

  Which industry11 and courage might have saved?

  Ah, what a shame! Ah, what a fault were this!

  Say Warwick was our anchor: what of that?

  And Montague our topmast: what of him?

  Our slaughtered friends the tackles15: what of these?

  Why, is not Oxford here another anchor?

  And Somerset another goodly mast?

  The friends of France our shrouds18 and tacklings?

  And, though unskilful, why not Ned19 and I

  For once allowed the skilful pilot's charge20?

  We will not from21 the helm to sit and weep,

  But keep our course, though the rough wind say no,

  From shelves23 and rocks that threaten us with wreck.

  As good to chide the waves as speak them fair.

  And what is Edward but a ruthless sea?

  What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit?

  And Richard but a ragged27 fatal rock?

  All these the enemies to our poor bark28.

  Say you can swim, alas, 'tis but a while:

  Tread on the sand, why, there you quickly sink,

  Bestride31 the rock, the tide will wash you off,

  Or else you famish, that's a three-fold death.

  This speak I, lords, to let you understand,

  If case some one of you would fly from us,

  That there's no hoped-for mercy with the brothers

  More than with ruthless waves, with sands and rocks.

  Why, courage then: what cannot be avoided

  'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear.

  PRINCE EDWARD Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit

  Should, if a coward heard her speak these words,

  Infuse his breast with magnanimity41

  And make him, naked, foil a man at arms42.

  I speak not this as doubting any here,

  For did I but suspect a fearful man

  He should have leave to go away betimes45,

  Lest in our need he might infect another

  And make him of like spirit to himself.

  If any such be here -- as God forbid --

  Let him depart before we need his help.

  OXFORD Women and children50 of so high a courage,

  And warriors faint: why, 'twere perpetual shame.

  O, brave young prince, thy famous grandfather52

  Doth live again in thee: long mayst thou live

  To bear his image and renew his glories!

  SOMERSET And he that will not fight for such a hope,

  Go home to bed, and like the owl by day,

  If he arise, be mocked and wondered at.

  QUEEN MARGARET Thanks, gentle Somerset. Sweet Oxford, thanks.

  PRINCE EDWARD And take his thanks that yet59 hath nothing else.

  Enter a Messenger

  MESSENGER Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand.

  Ready to fight: therefore be resolute.

  [He may exit]

  OXFORD I thought no less: it is his policy62

  To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided63.

  SOMERSET But he's deceived: we are in readiness.

  QUEEN MARGARET This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness65.

  OXFORD Here pitch our battle66, hence we will not budge.

  Flourish and march. Enter Edward, Richard, Clarence and Soldiers

  KING EDWARD IV Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood,

  Which by the heavens' assistance and your strength,

  Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night.

  I need not add more fuel to your fire,

  For well I wot ye blaze71 to burn them out.

  Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords!

  QUEEN MARGARET Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say

  My tears gainsay74, for every word I speak,

  Ye see I drink the water of my eye.

  Therefore no more but this: Henry, your sovereign,

  Is prisoner to the foe, his state77 usurped,

  His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects s
lain,

  His statutes cancelled and his treasure spent,

  And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil80.

  You fight in justice. Then, in God's name, lords,

  Be valiant and give signal to the fight.

  Alarum, retreat, excursions. Exeunt

  [Act 5 Scene 5]

  running scene 19 continues

  Flourish. Enter Edward, Richard [and] Clarence [with] Queen, Oxford, Somerset, [prisoners]

  KING EDWARD IV Now here a period of tumultuous broils1.

  Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight2.

  For Somerset, off with his guilty head.

  Go, bear them hence: I will not hear them speak.

  OXFORD For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words.

  SOMERSET Nor I, but stoop6 with patience to my fortune.

  Exeunt [Oxford and Somerset, guarded]

  QUEEN MARGARET So part we sadly in this troublous world,

  To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem8.

  KING EDWARD IV Is proclamation made that who9 finds Edward

  Shall have a high reward, and he10 his life?

  GLOUCESTER It is, and lo11 where youthful Edward comes!

  Enter [Soldiers with] the Prince

  KING EDWARD IV Bring forth the gallant12, let us hear him speak.

  What? Can so young a thorn begin to prick?

  Edward, what satisfaction14 canst thou make

  For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects,

  And all the trouble thou hast turned me to?

  PRINCE EDWARD Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York.

  Suppose that I am now my father's mouth.

  Resign thy chair19, and where I stand kneel thou,

  Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee,

  Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.

  QUEEN MARGARET Ah, that thy father had been so resolved!

  GLOUCESTER That you might still have worn the petticoat,

  And ne'er have stol'n the breech24 from Lancaster.

  PRINCE EDWARD Let Aesop fable25 in a winter's night,