S CENE II. Enter a Poft K. Edw. Now, Meffenger, what letters or what news from France? Poft. My Sovereign Liege, no letters, and few words; But fuch as I, without your fpecial pardon, Dare not relate. K. Edw. Go to, we pardon thee. So tell their words, as near as thou canst guess them. K. Edw. Is Lewis so brave? belike, he thinks me But what faid lady Bona to my marriage? Poft. These were her words, utter'd with mild difdain; -Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower fhortly, I'll wear the willow garland for his fake. K. Edw. I blame not her, fhe could fay little less; She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's Queen? For fo I heard, that fhe was there in place. Poft. Tell him, quoth the, my mourning weeds are done; And I am ready to put armour on. K. Edw. Belike, the means to play the Amazon. But what faid Warwick to these injuries? Poft. He, more incens'd against your Majefty Than all the reft, difcharg'd me with thefe words; -Tell him from me, that he hath done me Wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long. K. Edw. Ha! durft the Traitor breathe out fo proud words? Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd: Poft Poft. Ay, gracious Sov'reign, they're fo link'd in friendfhip, That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter. [Exit. Clar. Belike the younger; Clarence will have the elder.s -Now, brother King, farewel, and fit you fast, For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter; That though I want a Kingdom, yet in Marriage I may not prove inferior to yourfelf. * -You, that love me and Warwick, follow me. [Exe. Pembroke and Stafford. But ere I go, Haftings and Montague, I rather wish you foes, than hollow friends. 5 Belike the Elder; Clarence will have the Younger.] I have ventured to make Elder and Younger change Places in this Line against the Authority of All the printed Copies. The Rea fon of it will be obvious. THEOBALD. *You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.] That Clarence fhould make this fpeech in the king's hearing is very improbable, yet I do not fee how it can be palliated. The king never goes out, nor can Clarence be talking to a company apart, for he anfwers immediately to that which the Poft fays to the king. Mon. Mon. So God help Montague, as he proves true! Haft. And Haftings, as he favours Edward's Caufe! K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, will you ftand by us? Glo. Ay, in defpight of all that shall withstand K. Edw. Why fo. Then am I fure of victory. Now therefore let us hence, and lofe no hour, 'Till we meet Warwick with his foreign Power. [Exe. War. ar Ti you. Enter Warwick and Oxford, with French Soldiers. But fee, where Somerfet and Clarence come; War. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick; Hath pawn'd an open hand in fign of love; night's overture.] The author muft, I think, have written night's coverture. For though overture, which fignifies firft an opening, then an offer, may likewife mean an opportunity, yet in an overture feems to be an improper phrase. 6 His Soldiers lurking in the * 6 Town about.] Dr. Thirlby advifed the reading Towns here; the Guard in the Scene immediately following fays, but why commands the King, That his chief Followers lodge in THEOBALD. We may furprize and take him at our pleasure? With flight and manhood stole to Rhefus Tents, [They all cry, Henry! Why then, let's on our way in filent fort, For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George! SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Enter the Watchmen to guard the King's Tent. I Watch. Come on, my mafters, each man take his Stand: The King by this has fet him down to fleep. 2 Watch. What, will he not to bed? I Watch. Why, no; for he hath made a folemn vow, Never to lie and take his natural Reft, Till Warwick or himself be quite fuppreft. 2 Watch. Tomorrow then, belike, fhall be the day; If Warwick be fo near, as men report. 3 Watch. But fay, I pray, what Nobleman is that, That with the King here refteth in his tent? 1 Watch. 'Tis the Lord Haftings, the King's chiefeft friend. 3 Watch. O, is it fo?-But why commands the King, That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, While he himself keepeth in the cold field? 2 Watch. 'Tis the more honour, because the more dangerous. So we, well cover'd with the line may confirm the reading of night's black mantle,] This coverture. 3 Watch. 3 Watch. Ay, but give me worship and quietness I like it better than a dang'rous honour. If Warwick knew in what estate he stands, 'Tis to be doubted, he would waken him. 1 Watch. Unless our halberds did fhut up his paffage. 2 Watch. Ay; wherefore else guard we this royal tent, But to defend his perfon from night-foes? Enter Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, Somerset, and French Soldiers, filent all. War. This is his tent; and fee, where ftands his guard. -Courage, my mafters: honour now, or never! I Watch. Who goes there? 2 Watch. Stay, or thou dieft. [Warwick and the reft cry all, Warwick! Warwick! and fet upon the Guard; who fly, crying, Arms! Arms! Warwick and the reft following them.. The Drum beating, and Trumpets founding. Enter Warwick, Somerfet, and the rest, bringing the King out in a gown, fitting in a chair; Glofter and Haftings flying over the Stage. Som. What are they that fly there? War. Richard and Haftings. Let them go, here is the Duke. K. Edw. The Duke! why, Warwick, when we parted, Thou call'dft me King? War. Ay, but the cafe is alter'd. When you difgrac'd me in my ambassade, * And come now to create you Duke of York. * And come now to create you And come to new create you Duke Duke of York.] Might we read with a flight alteration à of York. That |