*To search the secret treasons of the world. The wrinkles in my brows, now filled with blood, For who lived king, but I could dig his grave? Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET. Som. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are, *We might recover all our loss again! The queen from France hath brought a puissant power; Even now we heard the news. Ah, couldst thou fly! War. Why, then I would not fly.-Ah, Montague, *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 breathed his last; 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 cannon in a vault,1 • That might not be distinguished; but, at last, I well might hear delivered with a groan O, farewell, Warwick! War. 1 The old play has this line: Sweet rest to his soul! "Which sounded like a clamor in a vault." [Dies. Fly, lords, and save yourselves; for Warwick bids SCENE III. Another Part of the Field. Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD in triumph; with CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and the rest. K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, And we are graced with wreaths of victory. • But, in the midst of this bright-shining day, 'I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud, 'That will encounter with our glorious sun, • Ere he attain his easeful, western bed; I mean, my lords,-those powers, that the queen 'Hath raised in Gallia, have arrived1 our coast, And, as we hear, march on to fight with us. * * Clar. A little gale will soon disperse that cloud, *And blow it to the source from whence it came. Thy very beams will dry those vapors up; * For every cloud engenders not a storm. *Glo. The queen is valued thirty thousand strong, And Somerset, with Oxford, fled to her; If she have time to breathe, be well assured, Her faction will be full as strong as ours. K. Edw. We are advértised by our loving friends, That they do hold their course towards Tewksbury; 'We, having now the best at Barnet field, 6 Will thither straight, for willingness rids way; • And, as we march, our strength will be augmented In every county as we go along. Strike up the drum; cry-Courage! and away. [Exeunt. 1 Arrived is here used in an active form. SCENE IV. Plains near Tewksbury. March. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE EDWARD, SOMERSET, OXFORD, and Soldiers. * Q. Mar. Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss,1 * But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. And give more strength to that which hath too much; *Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock, *Which industry and courage might have saved? * Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this! Say, Warwick was our anchor; what of that? 'And Montague our top-mast; what of him? 6 Our slaughtered friends the tackles; what of these? Why, is not Oxford here another anchor? And Somerset another goodly mast? The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? 'And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I For once allowed the skilful pilot's charge? We will not from the helm, to sit and weep; * But keep our course, though the rough wind say—no, *From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck. * As good to chide the waves, as speak them fair. *And what is Edward, but a ruthless sea? * What Clarence, but a quicksand of deceit? * And Richard, but a ragged, fatal rock? *All these the enemies to our poor bark. * Say, you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while: 1 This speech, in the original play, is expressed in eleven lines. Malone thinks its extraordinary expansion into thirty-seven lines a decisive proof that the old play was the production of some writer who preceded Shak speare. *Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink: * Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off, * Or else you famish; that's a threefold death. *This speak I, lords, to let you understand, * In case some one of you would fly from us, * That there's no hoped-for mercy with the brothers, *More than with ruthless waves, with sands, and rocks. Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided, "Twere childish weakness to lament, or fear. * *Prince. Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit, * Should, if a coward heard her speak these words, * Infuse his breast with magnanimity, * And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. 'He should have leave to go away betimes; Let him depart, before we need his help. Oxf. Women and children of so high a courage And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame.' O, brave young prince! thy famous grandfather Doth live again in thee. Long mayst thou live, To bear his image, and renew his glories! Som. And he, that will not fight for such a hope, Go home to bed, and like the owl by day, If he arise, be mocked and wondered at. * Q. Mar. Thanks, gentle Somerset ;-sweet Oxford, thanks. *Prince. And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing else. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand, Ready to fight; therefore be resolute. Oxf. I thought no less; it is his policy, To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided. Som. But he's deceived; we are in readiness. Q. Mar. This cheers my heart, to see your forward ness. Oxf. Here pitch our battle; hence we will not budge. March. Enter, at a distance, KING EDWARD, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and Forces. K. Edw. Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, Which, by the Heavens' assistance, and your strength, Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. * I need not add more fuel to your fire, * For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out. * Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords. Q. Mar. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say, My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes. • Therefore, no more but this :-Henry, your sovereign, Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurped, • His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, His statutes cancelled, and his treasure spent ; And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil. You fight in justice; then, in God's name, lords, 'Be valiant, and give signal to the fight. [Exeunt both Armies. SCENE V. Another part of the same. Alarums: Excursions: and afterwards a retreat. Then enter KING EDWARD, CLARENCE, GLoster, and Forces; with QUEEN MARGARET, Oxford, and SOMERSET, prisoners. K. Edw. Now, here a period of tumultuous broils. Away with Oxford to Hammes castle1 straight: For Somerset, off with his guilty head. 'Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. 1 A castle in Picardy, where Oxford was confined for many years. |