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* Let us be backed with God, and with the seas,
* Which he hath given for fence impregnable,
* And with their helps only defend ourselves;
* In them, and in ourselves, our safety lies.

*

Clar. For this one speech, lord Hastings well deserves

To have the heir of the lord Hungerford.

K. Edw. Ay, what of that? It was my will, and

grant;

And, for this once, my will shall stand for law.

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Glo. And yet methinks your grace hath not done well,

To give the heir and daughter of lord Scales

• Unto the brother of your loving bride;

• She better would have fitted me, or Clarence. 'But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

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• Clar. Or else you would not have bestowed the heir 1

• Of the lord Bonville on your new wife's son,

And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.
K. Edw. Alas, poor Clarence! Is it for a wife,

• That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.

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• Clar. In choosing for yourself, you showed your

judgment;

Which being shallow, you shall give me leave

To play the broker in mine own behalf;

And to that end, I shortly mind to leave you.

K. Edw. Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king,

And not be tied unto his brother's will.

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Q. Eliz. My lords, before it pleased his majesty

• To raise my state to title of a queen,

'Do me but right, and you must all confess That I was not ignoble of descent,2

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1 Until the Restoration, minors coming into possession of great estates were in the wardship of the king, who bestowed them on his favorites; or, in other words, gave them up to plunder, and afterwards disposed of them in marriage as he pleased.

2 Her father was sir Richard Widville, knight, afterwards earl of Rivers; her mother Jaqueline, duchess dowager of Bedford, who was daughter of Peter of Luxemburg, earl of St. Paul, and widow of John duke of Bedford, brother to king Henry V.

* And meaner than myself have had like fortune. *But as this title honors me and mine,

*So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing, * Do cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow. K. Edw. My love, forbear to fawn upon their

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frowns.

'What danger, or what sorrow can befall thee,

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So long as Edward is thy constant friend,

And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?
Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,
Unless they seek for hatred at my hands;

• Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,
And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
* Glo. I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.
[Aside.

Enter a Messenger.

· K. Edw. Now, messenger, what letters, or what

news,

From France ?

'Mess. My sovereign liege, no letters; and few words,

But such as I, without your special pardon,

Dare not relate.

· K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee; therefore, in

brief,

Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them. 'What answer makes king Lewis unto our letters?

Mess. At my depart, these were his very words:
Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king,—
That Lewis of France is sending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? Belike he thinks me

Henry.

• But what said lady Bona to my marriage?

Mess. These were her words, uttered with mild disdain :

Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,
I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.

K. Edw. I blame not her; she could say little less;

1

She had the wrong. But what said Henry's queen?
For I have heard, that she was there in place.
Mess. Tell him, quoth she, my mourning weeds are

done,

And I am ready to put armor on.

· K. Edw. Belike, she minds to play the Amazon. But what said Warwick to these injuries?

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Mess. He, more incensed against your majesty Than all the rest, discharged me with these words: Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long.

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K. Edw. Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarned: ;

They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption. But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

Mess. Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so linked in friendship,

That young prince Edward marries Warwick's

daughter.

Clar. Belike, the elder; Clarence will have the younger.2

*Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,
*For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;
* That though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage
* I may not prove inferior to yourself.

You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.3

[Exit CLARENCE, and SOMERSET follows.

* Glo. Not I.

*My thoughts aim at a further matter; I

*

Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown. [Aside. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick!

* Yet am I armed against the worst can happen;

1 In place signifies there present. The expression is of frequent occurrence in old English writers. It is from the French en place.

2 This is consonant with the former passage of this play, though at variance with what really happened.

3 Johnson has remarked upon the actual improbability of Clarence making this speech in the king's hearing. Shakspeare followed the old play, where this line is also found.

* And haste is needful in this desperate case.
'Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed:
Myself in person will straight follow you.

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[Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFord. 'But ere I go, Hastings,—and Montague,Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest, Are near to Warwick, by blood, and by alliance. Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me? If it be so, then both depart to him;

I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends; 'But if you mind to hold your true obedience, • Give me assurance with some friendly vow, That I may never have you in suspect.

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Mont. So God help Montague, as he proves true! Hast. And Hastings, as he favors Edward's cause! K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by

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us ?

s?

Glo. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you. · K. Edw. Why so; then am I sure of victory. • Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour, • Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Plain in Warwickshire.

Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French and other Forces.

War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us.

Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET.

But, see, where Somerset and Clarence come.
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
Clar. Fear not that, my lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto War

wick;

And welcome, Somerset.-I hold it cowardice,
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

Hath pawned an open hand in sign of love;

Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother, Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.

But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.

And now what rests, but, in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamped,
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,

* With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents, * And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds;' * So we, well covered 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.

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* 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 near Warwick.

Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the King's 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

1 We are told by some of the writers of the Trojan story, that the capture of these horses was one of the necessary preliminaries of the fate of Troy.

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