HENRY THE SIXTH PART 3

Act 4 Scene 3

(Enter three Watchmen, to guard King Edward's tent)
l1l	First Watchman	 Come on, my masters, each man take his stand.
l2l		The King by this is set him down to sleep.
l3l	Second Watchman	What, will he not to bed?
l4l	First Watchman	Why, no—for he hath made a solemn vow
l5l		Never to lie and take his natural rest
l6l		Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed.
l7l	Second Watchman	Tomorrow then belike shall be the day,
l8l		If Warwick be so near as men report.
l9l	Third Watchman	But say, I pray, what nobleman is that
l10l		That with the King here resteth in his tent?
l11l	First Watchman	’Tis the Lord Hastings, the King’s chiefest friend.
l12l	Third Watchman	O, is it so? But why commands the King
l13l		That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,
l14l		While he himself keeps in the cold field?
l15l	Second Watchman	’Tis the more honour, because more dangerous.
l16l	Third Watchman	Ay, but give me worship and quietness—
l17l		I like it better than a dangerous honour.
l18l		If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
l19l		’Tis to be doubted he would waken him.
l20l	First Watchman	Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.
l21l	Second Watchman	Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent
l22l		But to defend his person from night-foes?
		(Enter silently the Earl of Warwick, George Duke of Clarence, the Earl of Oxford, and the Duke of Somerset, with French soldiers)
l23l	Warwick	 This is his tent—and see where stand his guard.
l24l		Courage, my masters—honour now or never!
l25l		But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.
l26l	First Watchman	 Who goes there?
l27l	Second Watchman	Stay or thou diest.
		(Warwick and the rest all cry `Warwick, Warwick!" and set upon the guard, who fly, crying `Arm, arm!" Warwick and the rest follow them)