Shakespeare Portal

Act 4, Scene 8

London. The Palace.

  1. [Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and OXFORD.]
  2. Earl of Warwick
  3. 2372 What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
  4. 2373 With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders,
  5. 2374 Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
  6. 2375 And with his troops doth march amain to London;
  7. 2376 And many giddy people flock to him.
  8. King Henry VI
  9. 2377 Let's levy men and beat him back again.
  10. George, Duke of Clarence
  11. 2378 A little fire is quickly trodden out,
  12. 2379 Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.
  13. Earl of Warwick
  14. 2380 In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,
  15. 2381 Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war.
  16. 2382 Those will I muster up;—and thou, son Clarence,
  17. 2383 Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent
  18. 2384 The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.—
  19. 2385 Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
  20. 2386 Northampton, and in Leicestershire shalt find
  21. 2387 Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st. —
  22. 2388 And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
  23. 2389 In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.—
  24. 2390 My sovereign, with the loving citizens,
  25. 2391 Like to his island girt in with the ocean,
  26. 2392 Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs,
  27. 2393 Shall rest in London till we come to him.—
  28. 2394 Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply.—
  29. 2395 Farewell, my sovereign.
  30. King Henry VI
  31. 2396 Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope.
  32. George, Duke of Clarence
  33. 2397 In sign of truth I kiss your highness' hand.
  34. King Henry VI
  35. 2398 Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!
  36. Marquess of Montague
  37. 2399 Comfort, my lord;—and so I take my leave.
  38. Earl of Oxford
  39. 2400 And thus
  40. [kissing Henry's hand]
  41. Earl of Oxford
  42. 2401 I seal my truth, and bid
  43. 2402 adieu.
  44. King Henry VI
  45. 2403 Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
  46. 2404 And all at once, once more a happy farewell.
  47. Earl of Warwick
  48. 2405 Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.
  49. [Exeunt Warwick, Clarendon, Oxford, and Montague.]
  50. King Henry VI
  51. 2406 Here at the palace will I rest a while.—
  52. 2407 Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
  53. 2408 Methinks the power that Edward hath in field
  54. 2409 Should not be able to encounter mine.
  55. Duke of Exeter
  56. 2410 The doubt is that he will seduce the rest.
  57. King Henry VI
  58. 2411 That's not my fear; my meed hath got me fame.
  59. 2412 I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
  60. 2413 Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
  61. 2414 My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
  62. 2415 My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
  63. 2416 My mercy dried their water-flowing tears.
  64. 2417 I have not been desirous of their wealth
  65. 2418 Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies,
  66. 2419 Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd;
  67. 2420 Then, why should they love Edward more than me?
  68. 2421 No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace;
  69. 2422 And when the lion fawns upon the lamb
  70. 2423 The lamb will never cease to follow him.
  71. [Shout within 'A Lancaster! A Lancaster!']
  72. Duke of Exeter
  73. 2424 Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are these?
  74. [Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Soldiers.]
  75. Edward IV
  76. 2425 Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry! bear him hence,
  77. 2426 And once again proclaim us king of England.—
  78. 2427 You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow.
  79. 2428 Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry
  80. 2429 And swell so much the higher by their ebb.—
  81. 2430 Hence with him to the Tower! let him not speak.—
  82. [Exeunt some with King Henry.]
  83. Edward IV
  84. 2431 And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
  85. 2432 Where peremptory Warwick now remains.
  86. 2433 The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay,
  87. 2434 Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay.
  88. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  89. 2435 Away betimes, before his forces join,
  90. 2436 And take the great-grown traitor unawares.
  91. 2437 Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.
  92. [Exeunt.]