| ACT IV SCENE III | Edward's camp, near Warwick. | |
| [Enter three Watchmen, to guard KING EDWARD IV's tent] |
| First Watchman | Come on, my masters, each man take his stand: |
| The king by this is set him down to sleep. |
| Second Watchman | What, will he not to bed? |
| First Watchman | Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow |
| Never to lie and take his natural rest | 5 |
| Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd. |
| Second Watchman | To-morrow then belike shall be the day, |
| If Warwick be so near as men report. |
| Third Watchman | But say, I pray, what nobleman is that |
| That with the king here resteth in his tent? | 10 |
| First Watchman | 'Tis the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend. |
| Third Watchman | O, is it so? But why commands the king |
| That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, |
| While he himself keeps in the cold field? |
| Second Watchman | 'Tis the more honour, because more dangerous. | 15 |
| Third Watchman | Ay, but give me worship and quietness; |
| I like it better than a dangerous honour. |
| If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, |
| 'Tis to be doubted he would waken him. |
| First Watchman | Unless our halberds did shut up his passage. | 20 |
| Second Watchman | Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent, |
| But to defend his person from night-foes? |
| [
Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and
French soldiers, silent all
] |
| WARWICK | This is his tent; and see where stand his guard. |
| Courage, my masters! honour now or never! |
| But follow me, and Edward shall be ours. | 25 |
| First Watchman | Who goes there? |
| Second Watchman | 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 playing and trumpet sounding, reenter
WARWICK, SOMERSET, and the rest, bringing KING
EDWARD IV out in his gown, sitting in a chair.
RICHARD and 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 IV | The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted, | 30 |
| 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. | 35 |
| 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, | 40 |
| Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies? |
| KING EDWARD IV | 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, | 45 |
| 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, | 50 |
| 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, | 55 |
| 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 IV | What fates impose, that men must needs abide; |
| It boots not to resist both wind and tide. | 60 |
| [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. | 65 |
[Exeunt] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)