The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare [book recommendations based on other books txt] 📗

well requite thy kindness, For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure; Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds

Conceive when, after many moody thoughts, At last by notes of household harmony They quite forget their loss of liberty.

But, Warwick, after God, thou set’st me free, And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee; He was the author, thou the instrument.

Therefore, that I may conquer fortune’s spite By living low where fortune cannot hurt me, And that the people of this blessed land May not be punish’d with my thwarting stars, Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, I here resign my government to thee,

For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

WARWICK. Your Grace hath still been fam’d for virtuous, And now may seem as wise as virtuous

By spying and avoiding fortune’s malice, For few men rightly temper with the stars; Yet in this one thing let me blame your Grace, For choosing me when Clarence is in place.

CLARENCE. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway, To whom the heav’ns in thy nativity

Adjudg’d an olive branch and laurel crown, As likely to be blest in peace and war; And therefore I yield thee my free consent.

WARWICK. And I choose Clarence only for Protector.

KING HENRY. Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.

Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts, That no dissension hinder government.

I make you both Protectors of this land, While I myself will lead a private life And in devotion spend my latter days, To sin’s rebuke and my Creator’s praise.

WARWICK. What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?

CLARENCE. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent, For on thy fortune I repose myself.

WARWICK. Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content.

We’ll yoke together, like a double shadow To Henry’s body, and supply his place; I mean, in bearing weight of government, While he enjoys the honour and his ease.

And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful Forthwith that Edward be pronounc’d a traitor, And all his lands and goods confiscated.

CLARENCE. What else? And that succession be determin’d.

WARWICK. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

KING HENRY. But, with the first of all your chief affairs, Let me entreat-for I command no more-That Margaret your Queen and my son Edward Be sent for to return from France with speed; For till I see them here, by doubtful fear My joy of liberty is half eclips’d.

CLARENCE. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

KING HENRY. My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that, Of whom you seem to have so tender care?

SOMERSET. My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

KING HENRY. Come hither, England’s hope.

[Lays his hand on his head]

If secret powers

Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts, This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.

His looks are full of peaceful majesty; His head by nature fram’d to wear a crown, His hand to wield a sceptre; and himself Likely in time to bless a regal throne.

Make much of him, my lords; for this is he Must help you more than you are hurt by me.

 

Enter a POST

 

WARWICK. What news, my friend?

POST. That Edward is escaped from your brother And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

WARWICK. Unsavoury news! But how made he escape?

POST. He was convey’d by Richard Duke of Gloucester And the Lord Hastings, who attended him In secret ambush on the forest side

And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescu’d him; For hunting was his daily exercise.

WARWICK. My brother was too careless of his charge.

But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide A salve for any sore that may betide.

Exeunt all but SOMERSET, RICHMOND, and OXFORD

SOMERSET. My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s; For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help, And we shall have more wars befor’t be long.

As Henry’s late presaging prophecy

Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts, What may befall him to his harm and ours.

Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany, Till storms be past of civil enmity.

OXFORD. Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown, ‘Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.

SOMERSET. It shall be so; he shall to Brittany.

Come therefore, let’s about it speedily. Exeunt

SCENE VII.

Before York

 

Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, and soldiers KING EDWARD. Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest, Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends, And says that once more I shall interchange My waned state for Henry’s regal crown.

Well have we pass’d and now repass’d the seas, And brought desired help from Burgundy; What then remains, we being thus arriv’d From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York, But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

GLOUCESTER. The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this; For many men that stumble at the threshold Are well foretold that danger lurks within.

KING EDWARD. Tush, man, abodements must not now affright us.

By fair or foul means we must enter in, For hither will our friends repair to us.

HASTINGS. My liege, I’ll knock once more to summon them.

 

Enter, on the walls, the MAYOR OF YORK and his BRETHREN

 

MAYOR. My lords, we were forewarned of your coming And shut the gates for safety of ourselves, For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.

KING EDWARD. But, Master Mayor, if Henry be your King, Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York.

MAYOR. True, my good lord; I know you for no less.

KING EDWARD. Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom, As being well content with that alone.

GLOUCESTER. [Aside] But when the fox hath once got in his nose, He’ll soon find means to make the body follow.

HASTINGS. Why, Master Mayor, why stand you in a doubt?

Open the gates; we are King Henry’s friends.

MAYOR. Ay, say you so? The gates shall then be open’d.

[He descends]

GLOUCESTER. A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded!

HASTINGS. The good old man would fain that all were well, So ‘twere not long of him; but being ent’red, I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade Both him and all his brothers unto reason.

 

Enter, below, the MAYOR and two ALDERMEN

 

KING EDWARD. So, Master Mayor. These gates must not be shut But in the night or in the time of war.

What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys; [Takes his keys]

For Edward will defend the town and thee, And all those friends that deign to follow me.

 

March. Enter MONTGOMERY with drum and soldiers GLOUCESTER. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv’d.

KING EDWARD. Welcome, Sir john! But why come you in arms?

MONTGOMERY. To help King Edward in his time of storm, As every loyal subject ought to do.

KING EDWARD. Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget Our title to the crown, and only claim Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.

MONTGOMERY. Then fare you well, for I will hence again.

I came to serve a king and not a duke.

Drummer, strike up, and let us march away.

[The drum begins to march]

KING EDWARD. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and we’ll debate By what safe means the crown may be recover’d.

MONTGOMERY. What talk you of debating? In few words: If you’ll not here proclaim yourself our King, I’ll leave you to your fortune and be gone To keep them back that come to succour you.

Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?

GLOUCESTER. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?

KING EDWARD. When we grow stronger, then we’ll make our claim; Till then ‘tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.

HASTINGS. Away with scrupulous wit! Now arms must rule.

GLOUCESTER. And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.

Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand; The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.

KING EDWARD. Then be it as you will; for ‘tis my right, And Henry but usurps the diadem.

MONTGOMERY. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself; And now will I be Edward’s champion.

HASTINGS. Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim’d.

Come, fellow soldier, make thou proclamation.

[Gives him a paper. Flourish]

SOLDIER. [Reads] ‘Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, &c.’

MONTGOMERY. And whoso’er gainsays King Edward’s right, By this I challenge him to single fight.

[Throws down gauntlet]

ALL. Long live Edward the Fourth!

KING EDWARD. Thanks, brave Montgomery, and thanks unto you all; If fortune serve me, I’ll requite this kindness.

Now for this night let’s harbour here in York; And when the morning sun shall raise his car Above the border of this horizon,

We’ll forward towards Warwick and his mates; For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.

Ah, froward Clarence, how evil it beseems the To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!

Yet, as we may, we’ll meet both thee and Warwick.

Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day, And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay. Exeunt

SCENE VIII.

London. The palace

 

Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, MONTAGUE, CLARENCE, OXFORD, and EXETER

 

WARWICK. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders, Hath pass’d in safety through the narrow seas And with his troops doth march amain to London; And many giddy people flock to him.

KING HENRY. Let’s levy men and beat him back again.

CLARENCE. A little fire is quickly trodden out, Which, being suffer’d, rivers cannot quench.

WARWICK. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends, Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; Those will I muster up, and thou, son Clarence, Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent, The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.

Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham, Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find Men well inclin’d to hear what thou command’st.

And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov’d, In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.

My sovereign, with the loving citizens, Like to his island girt in with the ocean Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs, Shall rest in London till we come to him.

Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply.

Farewell, my sovereign.

KING HENRY. Farewell, my Hector and my Troy’s true hope.

CLARENCE. In sign of truth, I kiss your Highness’ hand.

KING HENRY. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!

MONTAGUE. Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave.

OXFORD. [Kissing the KING’S band] And thus I seal my truth and bid adieu.

KING HENRY. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, And all at once, once more a happy farewell.

WARWICK. Farewell, sweet lords; let’s meet at Coventry.

Exeunt all but the KING and EXETER

KING HENRY. Here at the palace will I rest a while.

Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?

Methinks the power that Edward hath in field Should not be able to encounter mine.

EXETER. The doubt is that he will seduce the rest.

KING HENRY. That’s not my fear; my meed hath got me fame: I have not stopp’d mine ears to their demands, Nor posted off their suits with slow delays; My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds, My mildness hath allay’d their swelling griefs, My mercy dried their water-flowing tears; I have not been desirous of their wealth, Nor much oppress’d them with great subsidies, Nor forward of revenge, though they much err’d.

Then why should they love Edward more than me?

No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace; And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb, The lamb will never cease to