Than all the rest, discharged me with these words:

"Tell him from me that he hath done me

wrong,

110

And therefore I'll uncrown him ere 't be long.' K. Edw. Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?

Well, I will arm me; being thus forewarn'd: They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.

But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret? Post. Aye, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd in friendship,

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

Clar. Belike the elder; Clarence will have the

younger.

Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast, For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;

120

That, though I want a kingdom, yet in mar

I

riage

may not prove inferior to yourself.

You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

118. "elder

[Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows.

elder."-I. G.

younger"; Ff. (from Qq.); Theobald, “younger

123. Johnson has remarked upon the actual improbability of Clarence making this speech in the king's hearing. When the earl of Essex attempted to raise a rebellion in the city, with a design, as was supposed, to storm the queen's palace, he ran about the streets with his sword drawn, crying out, "They that love me, follow me."H. N. H.

Glou. [Aside] Not I:

My thoughts aim at a further matter; I

Stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown. K. Edw. Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick!

Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen;
And haste is needful in this desperate case.
Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf 130
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed:
Myself in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford.
But, ere I go, Hastings and Montague,
Resolve my
doubt. You twain, of all the rest,
Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance:
Tell me if you love Warwick more than me;
If it be so, then both depart to him;

I rather wish you foes than hollow friends:
But if you mind to hold your true obedience, 140
Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
That I may never have you in suspect.

Mont. So God help Montague as he proves true!
Hast. And Hastings as he favors Edward's cause!
K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by

us?

Glou. Aye, in despite of all that shall withstand

you.

K. Edw. Why, so! then am I sure of victory.

Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour,
Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.
[Exeunt.

126. "the love"; Pope, "love.”—I. G.
128. "Yet am I arm'd”; Vaughan, “Yet am I warn’d.”—I. G.

SCENE II

A plain in Warwickshire.

Enter Warwick and Oxford, with French soldiers. War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers swarm to us.

Enter Clarence and Somerset.

But see where Somerset and Clarence comes!
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?

Clar. Fear not that, my lord.

War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick;

And welcome, Somerset: I hold it cowardice

To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love; Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother,

10

Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings:
But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter
shall be thine.

And now what rests but, in night's coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,

We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
Our scouts have found the adventure very easy:

12. "Sweet Clarence"; Pope, “friend”; Capell, "Clarence." Many modern editions omit "but."-I. G.

15. "towns"; Theobald (Thirlby conj.); Ff., "town.”—I. G.

That as Ulysses and stout Diomede

With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus'

tents,

20

And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds,

So we, well cover'd with the night's black man-
tle,

At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,
And seize himself; I say not, slaughter him,
For I intend but only to surprise him.
You that will follow me to this attempt,
Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.
[They all cry, 'Henry!'
Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort:
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint

George!

SCENE III

[Exeunt.

Edward's camp, near Warwick.

Enter three watchmen, to guard the King's tent. First Watch. Come on, my masters, each man take his stand:

The king by this is set him down to sleep. Second Watch. What, will he not to bed?

21. It had been prophesied that if the horses of the Thracian Rhesus drank of the Xanthus and grazed on the Trojan plains, the Greeks would never take Troy. Wherefore Diomede and Ulysses killed him at night, and carried off his horses. Vide Iliad, x.; Ovid, Metamorphoses, xiii. 98-108, 249-252. Virgil, Æneid, i. 469–473.— I. G.

First Watch. Why, no; for he hath made a solemn

Vow,

Never to lie and take his natural rest,

Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd. Second Watch. To-morrow then belike shall be the day,

If Warwick be so near as men report.

Third Watch. But say, I pray, what nobleman is that,

10

That with the king here resteth in his tent? First Watch. "Tis the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.

Third Watch. 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 Watch. "Tis the more honor, because more dangerous.

Third Watch. Aye, but give me worship and quiet

ness;

I like it better than a dangerous honor.

If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
"Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

First Watch. Unless our halberds did shut up his

passage.

20

Second Watch. Aye, wherefore else guard we his royal tent,

But to defend his person from night-foes?

14. "keeps"; so Ff. 3, 4; Ff. 1, 2, "keepes"; Theobald "keepeth"; Hanmer, "keeps here"; Vaughan, "keeps out"; Keightley, "field here."-I. G.

15. "more dangerous"; so Ff. 1, 2; Ff. 3, 4, "the more d."; Hanmer, "dangerous.”—I G.