Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,

His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,

We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
Our scouts have found the adventure very easy:
That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede,

172

With slight 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. ́

[They all cry, Henry! Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort: For Warwick and his friends, God and saint George!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

EDWARD'S Camp. Enter the Watchmen to guard his

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?

180

1 Watch. Why no: for he hath made a solemn

vow,

Never

Never to lie and take his natural rest,

'Till Warwick, or himself, be quite supprest.

2 Watch. To-morrow then, belike, shall be the day, If Warkwick 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.

189 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 dan

gerous.

3 Watch. 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.

1 Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his pas

sage.

2 Watch. Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal

tent,

But to defend his person from night-foes?

200

Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and French Soldiers, silent all.

War. This is his tent; and see, where stand his

guard.

Courage, my masters: honour now, or never!

But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

1 Watch.

1 Watch. Who goes there?

2 Watch. Stay, or thou diest.

[WARWICK, and the Rest, cry all-Warwick! Warwick! and set upon the Guard; who fly, cry. ing-Arm! Arm! WARWICK, and the Rest, following them.

The Drum beating, and Trumpets sounding.

Enter WARWICK, SOMERSET, and the Rest, bringing the King out in a Gown, sitting in a Chair: GLOSTER and HASTINGS fly over the Stage.

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 calld'st me king!

War. Ay, but the case is alter'd:
When you disgrac'd me in my embassage,
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 embassadors ;
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 shrowd yourself from enemies?

210

K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here

too?

I

220

Nay,

Nay, then I see, that Edward needs must down.-
Yet, Warwick, in despight 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.

War. 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.—

My lord of Somerset, at my request,

230

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, farewel, good duke of York. K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must needs abide; 1

It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

[Exit King EDWARD, led cut.

Oxf. What now remains, my lords, for us to do,

But march to London with our soldiers?

240

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.

SCENE

SCENE IV.

London. The Palace. Enter the Queen, and RIVERS.

Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

Queen. 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?

Queen. No, but the loss of his own royal person.
Riv. Then is my sovereign slain ?

Queen. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner; 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.

251

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.

Queen. 'Till then, fair hope must hinder life's decay. And I the rather wean me from despair, 260

womb :

For love of Edward's offspring in my
This is it that makes me bridle my 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

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »