ARKCODEX
Act V, Scene 1
1Coventry.
2Enter Warwick, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers, and others upon the walls.
3WarwickWhere is the post that came from valiant Oxford?
How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?
4First MessengerBy this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.
5WarwickHow far off is our brother Montague?
Where is the post that came from Montague?
6Second MessengerBy this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.
7Enter Sir John Somerville.
8WarwickSay, Somerville, what says my loving son?
And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
9SomersetAt Southam I did leave him with his forces,
And do expect him here some two hours hence. Drum heard.
10WarwickThen Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum.
11SomersetIt is not his, my lord; here Southam lies:
The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.
12WarwickWho should that be? belike, unlook’d-for friends.
13SomersetThey are at hand, and you shall quickly know.
14March: flourish. Enter King Edward, Gloucester, and soldiers.
15King EdwardGo, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle.
16GloucesterSee how the surly Warwick mans the wall!
17WarwickO unbid spite! is sportful Edward come?
Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced,
That we could hear no news of his repair?
18King EdwardNow, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates,
Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee,
Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy?
And he shall pardon thee these outrages.
19WarwickNay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence,
Confess who set thee up and pluck’d thee down,
Call Warwick patron and be penitent?
And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.
20GloucesterI thought, at least, he would have said the king;
Or did he make the jest against his will?
21WarwickIs not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?
22GloucesterAy, by my faith, for a poor earl to give:
I’ll do thee service for so good a gift.
23Warwick’Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.
24King EdwardWhy then ’tis mine, if but by Warwick’s gift.
25WarwickThou art no Atlas for so great a weight:
And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;
And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.
26King EdwardBut Warwick’s king is Edward’s prisoner:
And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:
What is the body when the head is off?
27GloucesterAlas, that Warwick had no more forecast,
But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
The king was slyly finger’d from the deck!
You left poor Henry at the Bishop’s palace,
And, ten to one, you’ll meet him in the Tower.
28King Edward’Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still.
29GloucesterCome, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down:
Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools.
30WarwickI had rather chop this hand off at a blow,
And with the other fling it at thy face,
Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee.
31King EdwardSail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,
This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,
Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,
Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,
“Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.”
32Enter Oxford, with drum and colours.
33WarwickO cheerful colours! see where Oxford comes!
34OxfordOxford, Oxford, for Lancaster! He and his forces enter the city.
35GloucesterThe gates are open, let us enter too.
36King EdwardSo 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.
37WarwickO, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy help.
38Enter Montague, with drum and colours.
39MontagueMontague, Montague, for Lancaster! He and his forces enter the city.
40GloucesterThou and thy brother both shall buy this treason
Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
41King EdwardThe harder match’d, the greater victory:
My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.
42Enter Somerset, with drum and colours.
43SomersetSomerset, Somerset, for Lancaster! He and his forces enter the city.
44GloucesterTwo 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.
45Enter Clarence, with drum and colours.
46WarwickAnd 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.
47ClarenceFather of Warwick, know you what this means? Taking his red rose out of his hat.
Look here, I throw my infamy at thee:
I will not ruinate my father’s house,
Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
And set up Lancaster. Why, trow’st thou, Warwick,
That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,
To bend the fatal instruments of war
Against his brother and his lawful king?
Perhaps thou 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 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.
48King EdwardNow welcome more, and ten times more beloved,
Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate.
49GloucesterWelcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like.
50WarwickO passing traitor, perjured and unjust!
51King EdwardWhat, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight?
Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?
52WarwickAlas, I am not coop’d here for defence!
I will away towards Barnet presently,
And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou darest.
53King EdwardYes, 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.