The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE I. _Coventry_.
_Enter_ WARWICK, _the_ Mayor of Coventry, _two_ Messengers, _and others upon the walls_. _War._ Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford? [cea001] How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow? _First Mess._ By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. _War._ How far off is our brother Montague? Where is the post that came from Montague? ·cea005· _Second Mess._ By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. _Enter_ SIR JOHN SOMERVILE. _War._ Say, Somervile, what says my loving son? [cea007] And, by thy 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. [cea010] [_Drum heard._ _War._ Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum. _Som._ It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies: [cea012] The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick. [cea013] _War._ Who should that be? belike, unlook’d-for friends. _Som._ They are at hand, and you shall quickly know. ·cea015· _March: flourish. Enter_ KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, _and soldiers_. _K. Edw._ Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle. [cea016] _Glou._ See how the surly Warwick mans the wall! _War._ O unbid spite! is sportful Edward come? Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced, That we could hear no news of his repair? ·cea020· _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? [cea023] And he shall pardon thee these outrages.
_War._ Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, ·cea025· Confess who set thee up and pluck’d thee down, Call Warwick patron and be penitent? [cea027] And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York. _Glou._ I thought, at least, he would have said the king; Or did he make the jest against his will? ·cea030· _War._ Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift? _Glou._ Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give: I’ll do thee service for so good a gift. _War._ ’Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother. _K. Edw._ Why then ’tis mine, if but by Warwick’s gift. ·cea035· _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: ·cea040· What is the body when the head is off? _Glou._ Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast, But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten, [cea043] The king was slily finger’d from the deck! [cea044] You left poor Henry at the Bishop’s palace, ·cea045· And, ten to one, you’ll meet him in the Tower. _K. Edw._ ’Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still. _Glou._ Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down: [cea048] Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools.
_War._ I had rather chop this hand off at a blow, [cea050] And with the other fling it at thy face, 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, Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off, ·cea055· Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood, ‘Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.’ [cea057] _Enter_ OXFORD, _with drum and colours_. _War._ O cheerful colours! see where Oxford comes! [cea058] _Oxf._ Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! [cea059] [_He and his forces enter the city._ _Glou._ The gates are open, let us enter too. ·cea060· _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, [cea064] We’ll quickly rouse the traitors in the same. ·cea065· _War._ O, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy help. _Enter_ MONTAGUE, _with drum and colours_. _Mont._ Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! [cea067] [_He and his forces enter the city._ _Glou._ Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason [cea068] Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. _K. Edw._ The harder match’d, the greater victory: ·cea070· 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._ _Glou._ 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. ·cea075· _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 [cea078] More than the nature of a brother’s love! [cea079] Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick call. ·cea080· _Clar._ Father of Warwick, know you what this means? [cea081] [_Taking his red rose out of his hat._ 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, And set up Lancaster. Why, trow’st thou, Warwick, [cea085] That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural, [cea086] To bend the fatal instruments of war Against his brother and his lawful king? Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath: To keep that oath were more impiety ·cea090· Than Jephthah’s, when he sacrificed his daughter. [cea091] I am so sorry for my trespass made That, to deserve well at my brother’s hands, I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe, With resolution, wheresoe’er I meet thee-- ·cea095· As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad-- To plague thee for thy foul misleading me. And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee, And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks. Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends: ·cea100· And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults, For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.
_K. Edw._ Now welcome more, and ten times more beloved, Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate. [cea104] _Glo._ Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like. ·cea105· _War._ O passing traitor, perjured and unjust! _K. Edw._ What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town, and fight? Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? _War._ Alas, I am not coop’d here for defence! I will away towards Barnet presently, ·cea110· And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou darest. _K. Edw._ 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 follow._
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.