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

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 famed 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 heavens in thy nativity
Adjudged 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 pronounced a traitor,
And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

Clarence What else? and that succession be determined. 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 eclipsed.

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 framed 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 rescued 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 before’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 arrived
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. They descend. 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 enter’d,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.

Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen below. 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