Текст книги "William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition"

Автор книги: William Shakespeare

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4.1 Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester, George Duke of Clarence, the Duke of Somerset, and the Marquis of Montague

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you

Of this new marriage with the Lady Gray?

Hath not our brother made a worthy choice ?

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

Alas, you know ’tis far from hence to France;

How could he stay till Warwick made return?

SOMERSET

My lords, forbear this talk—here comes the King.

Flourish. Enter King Edward, the Lady Gray his

Queen, the Earl of Pembroke, and the Lords

Stafford and Hastings. Four stand on one side ⌈of

the King⌉, and four on the other

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER And his well-chosen bride.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

I mind to tell him plainly what I think.

KING EDWARD

Now, brother of Clarence, how like you our choice,

That you stand pensive, as half-malcontent?

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

As well as Louis of France, or the Earl of Warwick,

Which are so weak of courage and in judgement

That they’ll take no offence at our abuse.

KING EDWARD

Suppose they take offence without a cause—

They are but Louis and Warwick; I am Edward,

Your king and Warwick’s, and must have my will.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

And you shall have your will, because our king.

Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.

KING EDWARD

Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too ?

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Not I, no—God forbid that I should wish them severed

Whom God hath joined together. Ay, and ’twere pity

To sunder them that yoke so well together.

KING EDWARD

Setting your scorns and your mislike aside,

Tell me some reason why the Lady Gray

Should not become my wife and England’s queen.

And you too, Somerset and Montague,

Speak freely what you think.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

Then this is my opinion: that King Louis

Becomes your enemy for mocking him

About the marriage of the Lady Bona.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge,

Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.

KING EDWARD

What if both Louis and Warwick be appeased

By such invention as I can devise?

MONTAGUE

Yet, to have joined with France in such alliance

Would more have strengthened this our

commonwealth

’Gainst foreign storms than any home-bred marriage.

HASTINGS

Why, knows not Montague that of itself

England is safe, if true within itself?

MONTAGUE

But the safer when ’tis backed with France.

HASTINGS

’Tis better using France than trusting France.

Let us be backed with God and with the seas

Which he hath giv’n for fence impregnable,

And with their helps only defend ourselves.

In them and in ourselves our safety lies.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves

To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.

KING EDWARD

Ay, what of that? It was my will and grant—

And for this once my will shall stand for law.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well

To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales

Unto the brother of your loving bride.

She better would have fitted me or Clarence,

But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

Or else you would not have bestowed the heir

Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife’s son,

And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.

KING EDWARD

Alas, poor Clarence, is it for a wife

That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

In choosing for yourself you showed your judgement,

Which being shallow, you shall give me leave

To play the broker in mine own behalf,

And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.

KING EDWARD

Leave me, or tarry. Edward will be king,

And not be tied unto his brother’s will.

LADY GRAY

My lords, before it pleased his majesty

To raise my state to title of a queen,

Do me but right, and you must all confess

That I was not ignoble of descent—

And meaner than myself have had like fortune.

But as this title honours me and mine,

So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,

Doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.

KING EDWARD

My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns.

What danger or what sorrow can befall thee

So long as Edward is thy constant friend,

And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?

Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too—

Unless they seek for hatred at my hands,

Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,

And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER (aside)

I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.

Enter the Post from France

KING EDWARD

Now, messenger, what letters or what news from France ?

POST

My sovereign liege, no letters and few words,

But such as I, without your special pardon,

Dare not relate.

KING EDWARD

Go to, we pardon thee. Therefore, in brief,

Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them.

What answer makes King Louis unto our letters?

POST

At my depart these were his very words:

‘Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king,

That Louis of France is sending over masquers

To revel it with him and his new bride.’

KING EDWARD

Is Louis so brave ? Belike he thinks me Henry.

But what said Lady Bona to my marriage?

POST

These were her words, uttered with mild disdain:

‘Tell him in hope he’ll prove a widower shortly,

I’ll wear the willow garland for his sake.’

KING EDWARD

ame not her, she could say little less;

She had the wrong. But what said Henry’s queen?

For I have heard that she was there in place.

POST

‘Tell him‘, quoth she, ’my mourning weeds are done,

And I am ready to put armour on.’

KING EDWARD

Belike she minds to play the Amazon.

But what said Warwick to these injuries?

POST

He, more incensed against your majesty

Than all the rest, discharged me with these words:

‘Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,

And therefore I’ll uncrown him ere’t be long.’

KING EDWARD

Ha! Durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarned.

They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.

But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

POST

Ay, gracious sovereign, they are so linked in friendship

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick’s daughter.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger.

Now, brother King, farewell, and sit 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 yourself.

You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Not I—⌈aside⌉ my thoughts aim at a further matter.

I stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown.

KING EDWARD

Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick?

Yet am I armed against the worst can happen,

And haste is needful in this desp’rate case.

Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf

Go levy men and make prepare for war.

They are already, or quickly will be, landed.

Myself in person will straight follow you.

Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford

But ere I go, Hastings and Montague,

Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,

Are near’st to Warwick by blood and by alliance.

Tell me if you love Warwick more than me.

If it be so, then both depart to him—

I rather wish you foes than hollow friends.

But if you mind to hold your true obedience,

Give me assurance with some friendly vow

That I may never have you in suspect.

MONTAGUE

So God help Montague as he proves true.

HASTINGS

And Hastings as he favours Edward’s cause.

KING EDWARD

Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.

KING EDWARD

Why, so. Then am I sure of victory.

Now, therefore, let us hence and lose no hour

Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power. Exeunt

4.2 Enter the Earls of Warwick and Oxford in England, with French soldiers

WARWICK

Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well.

The common sort by numbers swarm to us.

Enter the Dukes of Clarence and Somerset

But see where Somerset and Clarence comes.

Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends ?

GEORGE OF CLARENCE Fear not that, my lord.

WARWICK

Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick—

And welcome, Somerset. I hold it cowardice

To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

Hath pawned an open hand in sign of love,

Else might I think that Clarence, Edward’s brother,

Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.

But come, sweet Clarence, my daughter shall be thine.

And now what rests but, in night’s coverture,

Thy brother being carelessly encamped,

His soldiers lurking in the towns about,

And but attended by a simple guard,

We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?

Our scouts have found the adventure very easy;

That, as Ulysses and stout Diomed

With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus’ tents

And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds,

So we, well covered with the night’s black mantle,

At unawares may beat down Edward’s guard

And seize himself—I say not ‘slaughter him’,

For I intend but only to surprise him.

You that will follow me to this attempt,

Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.

They all cry ‘Henry’

Why, then, let’s on our way in silent sort,

For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

Exeunt

4.3 Enter three Watchmen, to guard King Edward’s tent

FIRST WATCHMAN

Come on, my masters, each man take his stand.

The King by this is set him down to sleep.

SECOND WATCHMAN What, will he not to bed?

FIRST WATCHMAN

Why, no—for he hath made a solemn vow

Never to lie and take his natural rest

Till Warwick or himself be quite suppressed.

SECOND WATCHMAN

Tomorrow then belike shall be the day,

If Warwick be so near as men report.

THIRD WATCHMAN

But say, I pray, what nobleman is that

That with the King here resteth in his tent?

FIRST WATCHMAN

’Tis the Lord Hastings, the King’s chiefest friend.

THIRD WATCHMAN

O, is it so ? But why commands the King

That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,

While he himself keeps in the cold field?

SECOND WATCHMAN

’Tis the more honour, because more dangerous.

THIRD WATCHMAN

Ay, but give me worship and quietness—

I like it better than a dangerous honour.

If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,

’Tis to be doubted he would waken him.

FIRST WATCHMAN

Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

SECOND WATCHMAN

Ay, wherefore else guard we his royal tent

But to defend his person from night-foes?

Enter silently the Earl of Warwick, George Duke of

Clarence, the Earl of Oxford, and the Duke of

Somerset, with French soldiers

WARWICK

This is his tent—and see where stand his guard.

Courage, my masters—honour now or never!

But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

FIRST WATCHMAN Who goes there?

SECOND WATCHMAN Stay or thou diest.

Warwick and the rest all cry ‘Warwick, Warwick!’

and set upon the guard, who fly, crying ‘Arm, arm!’

Warwick and the rest follow them

4.4 With the drummer playing and trumpeter sounding, enter the Earl of Warwick, the Duke of Somerset, and the rest bringing King Edward out in his gown, sitting in a chair. Richard Duke of Gloucester and Lord Hastings flies over the stage

SOMERSET What are they that fly there?

WARWICK

Richard and Hastings—let them go. Here is the Duke.

KING EDWARD

‘The Duke’! Why, Warwick, when we parted,

Thou calledst me king.

WARWICK Ay, but the case is altered.

When you disgraced me in my embassade,

Then I degraded you from being king,

And come now to create you Duke of York.

Alas, how should you govern any kingdom

That know not how to use ambassadors,

Nor how to be contented with one wife,

Nor how to use your brothers brotherly,

Nor how to study for the people’s welfare,

Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

KING EDWARD (seeing George)

Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?

Nay, then, I see that Edward needs must down.

Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance,

Of thee thyself and all thy complices,

Edward will always bear himself as king.

Though fortune’s malice overthrow my state,

My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.

WARWICK

Then, for his mind, be Edward England’s king.

Warwick takes off Edward’s crown

But Henry now shall wear the English crown,

And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow.

My lord of Somerset, at my request,

See that, forthwith, Duke Edward be conveyed

Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.

When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,

I’ll follow you, and tell what answer

Louis and the Lady Bona send to him.

Now for a while farewell, good Duke of York.

They begin to lead Edward out forcibly

KING EDWARD

What fates impose, that men must needs abide.

It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

Exeunt some with Edward

OXFORD

What now remains, my lords, for us to do

But march to London with our soldiers?

WARWICK

Ay, that’s the first thing that we have to do—

To free King Henry from imprisonment

And see him seated in the regal throne. Exeunt

4.5 Enter Earl Rivers and his sister, Lady Gray, Edward’s queen

RIVERS

Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

LADY GRAY

Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn

What late misfortune is befall’n King Edward?

RIVERS

What? Loss of some pitched battle against Warwick?

LADY GRAY

No, but the loss of his own royal person.

RIVERS Then is my sovereign slain?

LADY GRAY

Ay, almost stain—for he is taken prisoner,

Either betrayed by falsehood of his guard

Or by his foe surprised at unawares,

And, as I further have to understand,

Is new committed to the Bishop of York,

Fell Warwick’s brother, and by that our foe.

RIVERS

These news, I must confess, are full of grief.

Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may.

Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.

LADY GRAY

Till then fair hope must hinder life’s decay,

And I the rather wean me from despair

For love of Edward’s offspring in my womb.

This is it that makes me bridle passion

And bear with mildness my misfortune’s cross.

Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear

And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,

Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown

King Edward’s fruit, true heir to th’English crown.

RIVERS

But, madam, where is Warwick then become?

LADY GRAY

I am informed that he comes towards London

To set the crown once more on Henry’s head.

Guess thou the rest—King Edward’s friends must down.

But to prevent the tyrant’s violence—

For trust not him that hath once broken faith—

I’ll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,

To save at least the heir of Edward’s right.

There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.

Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly.

If Warwick take us, we are sure to die. Exeunt

4.6 Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley, ⌈with soldiers⌉

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Now my lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley,

Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither

Into this chiefest thicket of the park.

Thus stands the case: you know our King, my brother,

Is prisoner to the Bishop here, at whose hands

He hath good usage and great liberty,

And, often but attended with weak guard,

Comes hunting this way to disport himself.

I have advertised him by secret means

That if about this hour he make this way

Under the colour of his usual game,

He shall here find his friends with horse and men

To set him free from his captivity.

Enter King Edward and a Huntsman with him

HUNTSMAN

This way, my lord—for this way lies the game.

KING EDWARD

Nay, this way, man—see where the huntsmen stand.

Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the

rest,

Stand you thus close to steal the Bishop’s deer?

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Brother, the time and case requireth haste.

Your horse stands ready at the park corner.

KING EDWARD But whither shall we then?

HASTINGS To Lynn, my lord,

And shipped from thence to Flanders.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER ⌈aside⌉

Well guessed, believe me—for that was my meaning.

KING EDWARD

Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

But wherefore stay we? ’Tis no time to talk.

KING EDWARD

Huntsman, what sayst thou? Wilt thou go along?

HUNTSMAN

Better do so than tarry and be hanged.

RICHARD OF GLOUCESTER

Come then, away—let’s have no more ado.

KING EDWARD

Bishop, farewell—shield thee from Warwick’s frown,

And pray that I may repossess the crown. Exeunt

4.7 Flourish. Enter the Earl of Warwick and George Duke of Clarence ⌈with the crown⌉. Then enter King Henry, the Earl of Oxford, the Duke of Somerset ⌈withl young Henry Ear⌉ of Richmond, the Marquis of Montague, and the Lieutenant of the Tower

KING HENRY

Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends

Have shaken Edward from the regal seat

And turned my captive state to liberty,

My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,

At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

LIEUTENANT

Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns—

But if an humble prayer may prevail,

I then crave pardon of your majesty.

KING HENRY

For what, Lieutenant? For well using me?

Nay, be thou sure I’ll well requite thy kindness,

For that it made my prisonment a pleasure—

Ay, such a pleasure as encagèd birds

Conceive when, after many moody thoughts,

At last by notes of household harmony

They quite forget their loss of liberty.

But, Warwick, after God, thou sett’st me free,

And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee.

He was the author, thou the instrument.

Therefore, that I may conquer fortune’s spite

By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me,

And that the people of this blessed land

May not be punished with my thwarting stars,

Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,

I here resign my government to thee,

For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

WARWICK

Your grace hath still been famed for virtuous,

And now may seem as wise as virtuous

By spying and avoiding fortune’s malice,

For few men rightly temper with the stars.

Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace:

For choosing me when Clarence is in place.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,

To whom the heav’ns in thy nativity

Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,

As likely to be blest in peace and war.

And therefore I yield thee my free consent.

WARWICK

And I choose Clarence only for Protector.

KING HENRY

Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.

Now join your hands, and with your hands your

hearts,

That no dissension hinder government.

I make you both Protectors of this land,

While I myself will lead a private life

And in devotion spend my latter days,

To sin’s rebuke and my creator’s praise.

WARWICK

What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

That he consents, if Warwick yield consent,

For on thy fortune I repose myself.

WARWICK

Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content.

We’ll yoke together, like a double shadow

To Henry’s body, and supply his place—

I mean in bearing weight of government—

While he enjoys the honour and his ease.

And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful

Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor,

And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

What else? And that succession be determined.

WARWICK

Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

KING HENRY

But with the first of all your chief affairs,

Let me entreat—for I command no more—

That Margaret your queen and my son Edward

Be sent for, to return from France with speed.

For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear

My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.

GEORGE OF CLARENCE

It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

KING HENRY

My lord of Somerset, what youth is that

Of whom you seem to have so tender care?

SOMERSET

My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

KING HENRY

Come hither, England’s hope.

King Henry lays his hand on Richmond’s head If secret powers

Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,

This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss.

His looks are full of peaceful majesty,

His head by nature framed to wear a crown,

His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself

Likely in time to bless a regal throne.

Make much of him, my lords, for this is he

Must help you more than you are hurt by me.

Enter a Post

WARWICK What news, my friend?

POST

That Edward is escaped from your brother

And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

WARWICK

Unsavoury news—but how made he escape ?

POST

He was conveyed by Richard Duke of Gloucester

And the Lord Hastings, who attended him

In secret ambush on the forest side

And from the Bishop’s huntsmen rescued him—

For hunting was his daily exercise.

WARWICK

My brother was too careless of his charge.

(To King Henry) But let us hence, my sovereign, to

provide

A salve for any sore that may betide.

Exeunt all but Somerset, Richmond, and Oxford

SOMERSET (to Oxford)

My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s,

For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,

And we shall have more wars before’t be long.

As Henry’s late presaging prophecy

Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond,

So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts,

What may befall him, to his harm and ours.

Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,

Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany,

Till storms be past of civil enmity.

OXFORD

Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown,

’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.

SOMERSET

It shall be so—he shall to Brittany.

Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily. Exeunt