[SCENE VI. London. The Tower.] Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, young RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, and LIEUTENANT of the Tower.

K. Hen. 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?
Lieu. Subjects may challenge nothing of
their sovereigns;

But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your Majesty.

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K. Hen. For what, lieutenant? For well using me?

Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kind

ness,

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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

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War. 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.
Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the

sway,

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To whom the heavens 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.
War. And I choose Clarence only for Pro-
tector.

K. Hen. Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.

Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,

That no dissension hinder government.

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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.
War. What answers Clarence to his sover-
eign's will?

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Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent;

For on thy fortune I repose myself.

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

Of whom you seem to have so tender care? Som. My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

K. Hen. 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.

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Enter the MAYOR and two Aldermen, below.

K. Edw. 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.

Glou. Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery, Out trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd.

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K. Edw. Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms?

Mont. To help King Edward in his time of storm,

As every loyal subject ought to do.

K. Edw. Thanks, good Montgomery; but

we now forget

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Our title to the crown and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
Mont. 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.
K. Edw. Nay, stay, Sir John, a while, and
we 'll debate

By what safe means the crown may be recover'd.

Mont. 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?
Glou. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on
nice points?

K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we 'll make our claim.

Till then, 't is wisdom to conceal our meaning.

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

Glou. And fearless minds climb soonest unto

[1.] Mess. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.

War. How far off is our brother Montague? Where is the post that came from Montague? [2.] Mess. By this at Daintry with a puissant troop.

Enter SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE,

War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son ?

And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now? Som. At Southam I did leave him with his forces,

And do expect him here some two hours hence. [Drum heard.]

War. Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum.

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Enter OXFORD, with drum and colours. War. O cheerful colours! see where Oxford comes ! Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! [He and his forces enter the city.] Glou. The gates are open, let us enter too. K. Edw. So other foes may set upon our backs.

Stand we in good array; for they no doubt
Will issue out again and bid us battle.

If not, the city being but of small defence,
We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same. «
War. O, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy
help.

Enter MONTAGUE, with drum and colours. Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster! [He and his forces enter the city.]

Glou. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason

Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear. K. Edw. The harder match'd, the greater victory.

My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.
Enter SOMERSET, with drum and colours.
Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
[He and his forces enter the city.]
Glou. Two of thy name, both Dukes of
Somerset,

Have sold their lives unto the house of York;
And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold.

Enter CLARENCE, with drum and colours. War. And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,

Of force enough to bid his brother battle;, With whom an upright zeal to right prevails More than the nature of a brother's love! Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick call.

Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this means?

[Taking his red rose out of his hel met.]

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I am so sorry for my trespass made
That, to deserve well at my brother's hands,
I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe,
With resolution, wheresoe'er I meet thee -
As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad-
To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.
And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,
And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks.
Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends;
And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.
K. Edw. Now welcome more, and ten times
more belov'd,

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Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate. Glou. Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like.

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I will away towards Barnet presently,
And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar'st.
K. Edw. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and
leads the way.

Lords, to the field! Saint George and victory! [Exeunt [King Edward and his company. March. Warwick and his company follow.

[SCENE II. A field of battle near Barnet.] Alarum and excursions. Enter KING EDWARD, bringing forth WARWICK wounded.

K. Edw. So, lie thou there. Die thou, and die our fear;

For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all. Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee, That Warwick's bones may keep thine company. [Exit.

War. Ah, who is nigh? Come to me, friend

or foe,

And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick?

And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful

wind.

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These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black veil,

Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun
To search the secret treasons of the world.
The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with

blood,

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Were lik'ned oft to kingly sepulchres;
For who liv'd king, but I could dig his grave?
And who durst smile when Warwick bent his
brow?

Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood!
My parks, my walks, my manors that I had,
Even now forsake me, and of all my lands
Is nothing left me but my body's length.
Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and

dust?

And, live we how we can, yet die we must. Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET.

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fly!

War. Why, then I would not fly. Ah, Montague,

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If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand, And with thy lips keep in my soul a while! Thou lov'st me not; for, brother, if thou didst, Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood That glues my lips and will not let me speak. Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead.

Som. Ah, Warwick! Montague hath breath'd his last;

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And to the latest gasp cried out for Warwick, And said, " Commend me to my valiant brother."

And more he would have said, and more he spoke,

Which sounded like a clamour in a vault,
That might not be distinguish'd; but at last 45
I well might hear, delivered with a groan,

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O, farewell, Warwick!"

War. Sweet rest his soul! Fly, lords, and save yourselves;

For Warwick bids you all farewell, to meet in heaven. [Dies.] Oxf. Away, away, to meet the Queen's great power!

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[Here they bear away his body. Exeunt.

[SCENE III. Another part of the field.] Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD in triumph; with GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and the rest. K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course,

And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory. But, in the midst of this bright-shining day, I spy a black, suspicious, threat'ning cloud," That will encounter with our glorious sun, Ere he attain his easeful western bed.

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