Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd, * With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents, * And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds; * So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle, * At unawares may beat down Edward's guard, * And seize himself; I say not-slaughter him, * For I intend but only to surprise him. * You, that will follow me to this attempt, • Applaud the name of Henry, with your leader. George! [They all cry, Henry! Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort: tent. *1 Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his stand; * The king, by this, is set him down to sleep. *2 Watch. What, will he not to-bed? *1 Watch. 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. *2 Watch. To-morrow then, belike, shall be the day, * If Warwick be so near as men report. *3 Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is that, * That with the king here resteth in his tent? *1 Watch. 'Tis the lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend. *3 Watch. O, is it so? But why commands the king, * That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, * While he himself keepeth in the cold field? *2 Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous. *3 Watch. Ay; but give me worship and quiet ness, * I like it better than a dangerous honour. *1 Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. *2 Watch. Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal tent, * But to defend his person from night-foes? Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and forces. War. This is his tent; and see, where stand 'Courage, my masters: honour now, or never! 2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest. [Warwick, and the rest, cry all-Warwick! Warwick! and set upon the guard; who Ay, crying-Arm! Arm! Warwick, and the rest, following them. The drum beating, and trumpets sounding. Reenter Warwick, and the rest, bringing the King out in a gown, sitting in a chair; Gloster and Hastings Ay. Som. What are they that fly there? War. Richard, and Hastings: let them go, here's the duke. K. Edw. The duke! why, Warwick, when we parted last, Thou callidst me king! War. Ay, but the case is alter'd : When you disgrac'd me in my embassade, • Then I degraded you from being king, * K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too? * Nay, then I see, that Edward needs must down.- But Henry now shall wear the English crown, needs abide; * It boots not to resist both wind and tide. [Exit King Edw. led out; Som. with him. * Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do, * But march to London with our soldiers? War. 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. (1) i. e. In his mind; as far as his own mind goes. SCENE IV. -London. A room in the palace. Enter Queen Elizabeth and Rivers. Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn, • What late misfortune is befall'n king Edward? Riv. What, loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick? Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal person. Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken pris oner; Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard, • Or by his foe surpris'd at unawares: And, as I further have to understand, Is new committed to the bishop of York, Fell Warwick's brother, and by that our foe. Riv. These news, I must confess, are full of grief: Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may; Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day. * Q. Eliz. Till then, fair hope must hinder life's decay. * And I the rather wean me from despair, * For love of Edward's offspring in my womb : * This is it that makes me bridle passion, * And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross; * Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear, * And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs, * Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown • King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown. * Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then be come? Q. Eliz. I am informed, that he comes towards London, * To set the crown once more on Henry's head: * Guess thou the rest; king Edward's friends must down. But to prevent the tyrant's violence (For trust not him that hath once broken faith,) SCENE V.-A Park near Middleham Castle, in Yorkshire. Enter Gloster, Hastings, Sir William Stanley, and others. Glo. Now, my lord Hastings, and sir William Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither, 'Into this chiefest thicket of the park. Thus stands the case: You know, our king, my brother, Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands He hath good usage and great liberty; And often, but attended with weak guard, Comes hunting this way to disport himself. I have advértis'd him by secret means, That if about this hour, he make this way, Under the colour of his usual game, • He shall here find his friends, with horse and men, To set him free from his captivity. Enter King Edward, and a Huntsman. Hunt. This way, my lord; for this way lies the Now, brother of Gloster, lord Hastings, and the rest, • Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer? Hast. To Lynn, my lord; and ship from thence |