WARWICK
Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?
How far is lord, mine honest fellow?
1 MESSENGER
By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.
WARWICK
How far off is our brother Montague?
Where is the post that came from Montague?
2 MESSENGER
By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.
WARWICK
Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?
And, by guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
SOMERVILLE
At Southam I did leave him with his forces
And do expect him here some two hours .
WARWICK
Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum.
SOMERVILLE
It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies.
The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.
WARWICK
Who should that be? , unlooked-for friends.
SOMERVILLE
They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.
KING EDWARD
Go, trumpet, to the walls and sound a parle.
RICHARD
See how the surly Warwick mans the wall.
WARWICK
O, unbid spite! Is sportful Edward come?
Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced,
That we could hear no news of his repair?
KING EDWARD
Now, Warwick, wilt ope the city gates,
Speak gentle words and humbly bend knee?
Call Edward King and at his hands beg mercy,
And he shall pardon these outrages.
WARWICK
Nay, rather, wilt draw forces ,
Confess who set up and plucked down,
Call Warwick patron and be penitent,
And still remain the Duke of York.
RICHARD
I thought, at least, he would have said the King;
Or did he make the jest against his will?
WARWICK
Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?
RICHARD
Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give;
I’ll do service for so good a gift.
WARWICK
I that gave the kingdom to brother.
KING EDWARD
Why, then, mine, if but by Warwick’s gift.
WARWICK
art no Atlas for so great a weight;
And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;
And Henry is my King, Warwick his subject.
KING EDWARD
But Warwick’s king is Edward’s prisoner;
And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:
What is the body when the head is off?
RICHARD
Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast,
But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
The king was slily fingered from the deck!
You left poor Henry at the Bishop’s palace,
And ten to one you’ll meet him in the Tower.
KING EDWARD
even so; yet you are Warwick still.
RICHARD
Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down.
Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools.
WARWICK
I had rather chop this hand off at a blow
And with the other fling it at face,
Than bear so low a sail to strike to .
KING EDWARD
Sail how canst, have wind and tide friend,
This hand, fast wound about coal-black hair,
Shall, whiles head is warm and new cut off,
Write in the dust this sentence with blood:
“Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.”
WARWICK
O cheerful colours! See where Oxford comes!
OXFORD
Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!
RICHARD
The gates are open; let us enter too.
KING EDWARD
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 quietly rouse the traitors in the same.
WARWICK
O, welcome, Oxford, for we want help.
MONTAGUE
Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!
RICHARD
and brother both shall buy this treason
Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
KING EDWARD
The harder matched, the greater victory.
My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.
SOMERSET
Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
RICHARD
Two of name, both Dukes of Somerset,
Have sold their lives unto the House of York;
And be the third if this sword hold.
WARWICK
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.
WARWICK
Come, Clarence, come; wilt if Warwick call.
GEORGE
Father of Warwick, know you what this means?
GEORGE
Look here, I throw my infamy at .
I will not ruinate my father’s house,
Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
And set up Lancaster. Why, trowest , Warwick,
That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,
To bend the fatal instruments of war
Against his brother and his lawful King?
Perhaps wilt object my holy oath.
To keep that oath were more impiety
Than Jephthah’s when he sacrificed his daughter.
I am so sorry for my trespass made
That, to deserve well at my brother’s hands,
I here proclaim myself mortal foe,
With resolution, whereso’er I meet —
As I will meet if stir abroad—
To plague for foul misleading me.
And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy ,
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.
KING EDWARD
Now, welcome more, and ten times more beloved,
Than if never hadst deserved our hate.
RICHARD
Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like.
WARWICK
O passing traitor, perjured and unjust!
KING EDWARD
What, Warwick, wilt leave the town and fight?
Or shall we beat the stones about ears?
WARWICK
Alas! I am not cooped here for defence!
I will away towards Barnet
And bid battle, Edward, if dar’st.
KING EDWARD
Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way.
Lords, to the field! Saint George and victory!