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 so lemn 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. VOL. VI. Ꮓ * 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 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 his guard. 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 fly, crying-Arm! Arm! WARWICK, and the rest, following them. The Drum beating, and Trumpets sounding, Re-enter WARWICK, and the rest, bringing the King out in a Gown, sitting in a Chair; GLOSTER and HASTINGS fly. 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 call'dst me king? War. Ay, but the case is alter'd : When you disgrac'd me in my embassade, * K. Edw. Yea, brother of Clarence, art 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. War. Then, for his mind,' be Edward England's [Takes off his Crown. king: 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. 'When I have fought with Pembroke and his fel lows, '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. z 2 i. e. In his mind; as far as his own mind goes. * K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must needs abide; * It boots not to resist both wind and tide. [Exit King EDWARD, led out; SOMERSET 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. 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 per son. Riv. Then is my sovereign slain? 'Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken pri soner; 'Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard, 'Or by his foe surpriz'd at unawares : 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; *And I the rather wean me from despair, * 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,) 'I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary, To save at least the heir of Edward's right; There shall I rest secure from force, and fraud. 'Come therefore, let us fly, while we may fly; 'If Warwick take us, we are sure to die. [Exeunt, |