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 arriv'd
From Ravenspurg haven before the gates of York,
But that we enter, as into our dukedom?

Glo. The gates made fast!-Brother, I like not this; For many men, that stumble at the threshold,

Are well foretold-that danger lurks within.

K. Edw. Tush, man! abodements must not now af fright us :

By fair or foul means we must enter in,

For hither will our friends repair to us.

Hast. My liege, I'll knock once more, to summon them. Enter, on the walls, the Mayor of York, and his Brethren. May. My lords, we were forewarned of your coming, And shut the gates for safety of ourselves;

For now we owe allegiance unto Henry.

K. Edw. But, master mayor, if Henry be your king, Yet Edward, at the least, is duke of York.

May. True, my good lord; I know you for no less. K. Ed. Why, and I challenge nothing but my dukedom; As being well content with that alone.

Glo. But, when the fox hath once got in his nose, He'll soon find means to make the body follow.

[Aside Hast. Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt? Open the gates, we are king Henry's friends. May. Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open'd. [Exeunt from above. Glo. A wise stout captain, and persuaded soon!

Hast 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.

Re-enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below.

K. Ed. 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.

77] The Mayor is willing we should enter, so he may not be blamed. JOHNS

For Edward will defend the town, and thee,
And all those friends that deign to follow me.

Drum. Enter MONTGOMERY, and Forces, marching. Glo. Brother, this is sir John Montgomery,

Our trusty friend, unless I be deceiv'd.

K. Ed. Welcome, sir John! But why come you in arms? Montg. 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

Our title to the crown; and only claim

Our dukedom, till God please to send the rest.

Montg. 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.

[A March begun. K. Edw. Nay, stay, sir John, a while; and we'll debate, By what safe means the crown may be recover'd. Montg. 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 should we fight, if you pretend no title ?

Glo. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points? K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim :

Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.

Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule. Glo. And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns. Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand; The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.*

K. Edw. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right, And Henry but usurps the diadem.

Montg. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself; And now will I be Edward's champion.

Hast. Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd. -Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.

Flourish.

[Gives him a paper. Sold. [reads.] Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c.

Monig. And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's right,

[8] Bruit-i. e. noise, report. STEEVENS.- This French word bruit was very early made a denizen of our language. Thus in the Bible: "Behold the noise of the bruit is come."-Jeremiah, x. 22. WHALLEY.

By this I challenge him to single fight.

[Throws down his gauntlet. All. Long live Edward the Fourth!

K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery ;-and thanks unto you all.

If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York:
And, when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon,

We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates ;
For, well I wot, that Henry is no soldier.--
Ah, froward Clarence !—how evil it beseems thee,
To flatter Henry, and forsake thy brother!

Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.-
Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day;
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.

SCENE VIII.

[Exeunt.

London. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD.

War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,

With hasty Germans, and blunt Hollanders,
Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
And with his troops doth march amain to London
And many giddy people flock to him,

K.H. Let's levy men, and beat them back again.9
Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out;
Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.

War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;

Those will I muster up-and thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee :—
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find
Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st :-
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.-

-

My sovereign, with the loving citizens,-
Like to his island, girt in with the ocean,

[9] This line expresses a spirit of war so unsuitable to the character of Henry, that I would give the first cold speech to the king, and the brisk answer to Warwick. This line is not in the old quarto: and when Henry said nothing, the first / speech might be as properly given to Warwick as to any other. JOHNSON. Every judicious reader must concur in Dr. Johnson's opinion. STEEVENS

Or modest Dian, circled with her nymphs,-
Shall rest in London, till we come to him.-

Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.—
Farewell, my sovereign.

K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope.
Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand.
K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!
Mont. Comfort, my lord :-and so I take my leave.
Oxf. And thus [Kissing HENRY's hand.] I seal my truth,
and bid adieu.

K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
And all at once, once more a happy farewell.
War. Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.
[Exe. WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, and MONT.
K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest a while.
Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
Methinks, the power, that Edward hath in field,
Should not be able to encounter mine.

Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest.
K. Hen. That's not my fear, my meed hath got me
fame.'

I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dry'd their water-flowing tears :
I have not been desirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies,
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd;
Then why should they love Edward more than me?
No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace:
And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb,

The lamb will never cease to follow him.

[Shout within. A Lancaster! A Lancaster!
Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these?
Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Soldiers.
K. Edw. Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry, bear him

hence,

And once again proclaim us king of England.

[1] This word signifies merit, both as a verb and a substantive.

SIR J. HAWKINS. [2] Surely the shouts that ushered king Edward should be, A York! A York! I suppose the author did not write the marginal directions, and the players confount ed the characters. JOHNSON.

You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow;
Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry,
And swell so much the higher by their ebb.—
Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.

[Exeunt some with King HENRY. And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course, Where peremptory Warwick now remains : The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay, Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay. Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join, And take the great-grown traitor unawares :

Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry. [Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-Coventry. Enter, upon the Walls, WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers, and others. Warwick.

WHERE is the post, that came from valiant Oxford ?
How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

1 Mes. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.
War. How far off is our brother Montague ?—
Where is the post that came from Montague?
2 Mes. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.
Enter Sir JOHN SOMERVILLE.

War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son? And, by the guess, how nigh is Clarence now? Somerv. 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. Somerv. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies ; The drum your honour hears, marcheth from Warwick. War. Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for

friends.

Somero. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know. Drums. Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Forces marching. K. Edw. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle. Glo. See, how the surly Warwick mans the wall. War. Oh, unbid spite! is sportful Edward come? Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduc'd That we could hear no news of his repair?

K. Edw. Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates, Speak gentle words, and humbly bend thy knee?