HENRY THE SIXTH PART 3

Act 4 Scene 2

(Enter the Earls of Warwick and Oxford in England, with French soldiers)
l1l	Warwick	 Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well.
l2l		The common sort by numbers swarm to us.
		(Enter the Dukes of Clarence and Somerset)
l3l		But see where Somerset and Clarence comes.
l4l		Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
l5l	George Of Clarence	Fear not that, my lord.
l6l	Warwick	Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick—
l7l		And welcome, Somerset. I hold it cowardice
l8l		To rest mistrustful where a noble heart
l9l		Hath pawned an open hand in sign of love,
l10l		Else might I think that Clarence, Edward’s brother,
l11l		Were but a feignèd friend to our proceedings.
l12l		But come, sweet Clarence, my daughter shall be thine.
l13l		And now what rests but, in night’s coverture,
l14l		Thy brother being carelessly encamped,
l15l		His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
l16l		And but attended by a simple guard,
l17l		We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
l18l		Our scouts have found the adventure very easy#
l19l		That, as Ulysses and stout Diomed
l20l		With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus’ tents
l21l		And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds,
l22l		So we, well covered with the night’s black mantle,
l23l		At unawares may beat down Edward’s guard
l24l		And seize himself—I say not “slaughter him”,
l25l		For I intend but only to surprise him.
l26l		You that will follow me to this attempt,
l27l		Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.
		(They all cry `Henry")
l28l		Why, then, let’s on our way in silent sort,
l29l		For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!
		(Exeunt)