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- $Unique_ID{SSP00366}
- $Title{King Henry VI, Part III: Act IV, Scene III}
- $Author{Shakespeare, William}
- $Subject{}
- $Log{Dramatis Personae*00350.txt}
-
- Portions copyright (c) CMC ReSearch, Inc., 1989
-
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
-
- KING HENRY VI, PART III
-
-
- ACT IV
- ................................................................................
-
-
- SCENE III: Edward's camp, near Warwick.
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-
- {Enter three Watchmen, to guard KING EDWARD IV's
- tent.}
-
- First Watchman: Come on, my masters, each man take his stand:
- The king by this is set him down to sleep.
-
- Second Watchman: What, will he not to bed?
-
- First Watchman: Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow
- Never to lie and take his natural rest
- Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd.
-
- Second Watchman: To-morrow then belike shall be the day,
- If Warwick be so near as men report.
-
- Third Watchman: But say, I pray, what nobleman is that
- That with the king here resteth in his tent? 10
-
- First Watchman: 'Tis the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.
-
- Third Watchman: O, is it so? But why commands the king
- That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,
- While he himself keeps in the cold field?
-
- Second Watchman: 'Tis the more honor, because more dangerous.
-
- Third Watchman: Ay, but give me worship and quietness;
- I like it better than a dangerous honor.
- If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
- 'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.
-
- First Watchman: Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. 20
-
- Second Watchman: Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent,
- But to defend his person from night-foes?
-
- {Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and
- French soldiers, silent all.}
-
- WARWICK: This is his tent; and see where stand his guard.
- Courage, my masters! honor now or never!
- But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.
-
- First Watchman: Who goes there?
-
- Second Watchman: Stay, or thou diest!
-
- [WARWICK and the rest cry all, 'Warwick! Warwick!'
- and set upon the Guard, who fly, crying, 'Arm!
- arm!' WARWICK and the rest following them.]
-
- {The drum playing and trumpet sounding, reenter
- WARWICK, SOMERSET, and the rest, bringing KING
- EDWARD IV out in his gown, sitting in a chair.
- RICHARD and HASTINGS fly over the stage.}
-
- SOMERSET: What are they that fly there?
-
- WARWICK: Richard and Hastings: let them go; here is
- The duke.
-
- KING EDWARD IV: The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted, 30
- Thou call'dst me king.
-
- WARWICK: Ay, but the case is alter'd:
- When you disgraced me in my embassade,
- Then I degraded you from being king,
- And come now to create you Duke of York.
- Alas! how should you govern any kingdom,
- That know not how to use ambassadors,
- Nor how to be contented with one wife,
- Nor how to use your brothers brotherly,
- Nor how to study for the people's welfare,
- Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies? 40
-
- KING EDWARD IV: Yea, brother of Clarence, are thou here too?
- Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down.
- Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance,
- Of thee thyself and all thy complices,
- Edward will always bear himself as king:
- Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,
- My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.
-
- WARWICK: Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king:
-
- [Takes off his crown.]
-
- But Henry now shall wear the English crown,
- And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow. 50
- My Lord of Somerset, at my request,
- See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd
- Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.
- When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,
- I'll follow you, and tell what answer
- Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.
- Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.
-
- [They lead him out forcibly.]
-
- KING EDWARD IV: What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
- It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
-
- [Exit, guarded.]
-
- OXFORD: What now remains, my lords, for us to do 60
- But march to London with our soldiers?
-
- WARWICK: Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do;
- To free King Henry from imprisonment
- And see him seated in the regal throne.
-
- [Exeunt.]