King Henry VI, Part III

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	5
	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	10
	That with the king here resteth in his tent?
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?	15
Second Watchman	'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous.
Third Watchman	Ay, but give me worship and quietness;
	I like it better than a dangerous honour.
	If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
	'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.	20
First Watchman	Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.
Second Watchman	Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent,
	But to defend his person from night-foes?
	Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, andFrench soldiers, silent all
WARWICK	This is his tent; and see where stand his guard.
	Courage, my masters! honour now or never!	25
	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, reenterWARWICK, SOMERSET, and the rest, bringing KINGEDWARD 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.	30
KING EDWARD IV	The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted,
	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,	35
	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,	40
	Nor how to study for the people's welfare,
	Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?
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,	45
	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:	50
	Takes off his crown
	But Henry now shall wear the English crown,
	And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow.
	My Lord of Somerset, at my request,
	See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd
	Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.	55
	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;	60
	It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
	Exit, guarded
OXFORD	What now remains, my lords, for us to do
	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	65
	And see him seated in the regal throne.
	Exeunt