Henry VI, Part III, William Shakespeare [detective books to read txt] 📗

Hastings fly over the stage. Somerset What are they that fly there? Warwick

Richard and Hastings: let them go; here is
The duke.

King Edward

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,
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,
Nor how to study for the people’s welfare,
Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

King Edward

Yea, brother of Clarence, are 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.

Warwick

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,
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 farewell, good Duke of York. They lead him out forcibly.

King Edward

What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
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
And see him seated in the regal throne. Exeunt.

Scene IV

London. The palace.

Enter Queen Elizabeth and Rivers. Rivers Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? Queen Elizabeth

Why brother Rivers, are you yet to learn
What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?

Rivers What! loss of some pitch’d battle against Warwick? Queen Elizabeth No, but the loss of his own royal person. Rivers Then is my sovereign slain? Queen Elizabeth

Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner,
Either betray’d by falsehood of his guard
Or by his foe surprised 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.

Rivers

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 Elizabeth

Till then fair hope must hinder life’s decay.
And I the rather wean me from despair
For love of Edward’s offspring in my womb:
This is it that makes me bridle 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
King Edward’s fruit, true heir to the English crown.

Rivers But, madam, where is Warwick then become? Queen Elizabeth

I am inform’d 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.

Scene V

A park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire.

Enter Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley. Gloucester

Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley,
Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,
Into this chiefest thicket of the park.
Thus stands the case: you know our king, my brother,
Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands
He hath good usage and great liberty,
And, often but attended with weak guard,
Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advertised him by secret means
That if about this hour he make his way
Under the colour of his usual game,
He shall here find his friends with horse and men
To set him free from his captivity.

Enter King Edward and a Huntsman with him. Huntsman This way, my lord; for this way lies the game. King Edward

Nay, this way, man: see where the huntsmen stand.
Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop’s deer?

Gloucester

Brother, the time and case requireth haste:
Your horse stands ready at the park-corner.

King Edward But whither shall we then? Hastings

To Lynn, my lord,
And ship from thence to Flanders.

Gloucester Well guess’d, believe me; for that was my meaning. King Edward Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness. Gloucester But wherefore stay we? ’tis no time to talk. King Edward Huntsman, what say’st thou? wilt thou go along? Huntsman Better do so than tarry and be hang’d. Gloucester Come then, away; let’s ha’ no more ado. King Edward

Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick’s frown;
And pray that I may repossess the crown. Exeunt.

Scene VI

London. The Tower.

Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clarence, Warwick, Somerset, young Richmond, Oxford, Montague, and Lieutenant of the Tower. King Henry

Master lieutenant, now that God and friends
Have shaken Edward from the regal seat,
And turn’d my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

Lieutenant

Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;
But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your majesty.

King Henry

For what, lieutenant? for well using me?
Nay, be thou sure I’ll 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