Act IV.
Scene VIII.
Scene VIII.—London. A Room in the
Palace.
Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK,
CLARENCE, MONTAGUE, EXETER, and
OXFORD.
War. What counsel, lords? Edward from
Belgia,
With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders,
Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
And with his troops doth march amain to
London;
And many giddy people flock to him.
Oxf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again.
Clar. A little fire is quickly trodden out,
Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.
War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted
friends,
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;
Whose will I muster up: and thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee:
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shall find
Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st:
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd
In Oxfordshire, shall muster up thy friends.
My sov'reign, with the loving citizens,
Like to his island girt in with the ocean,
Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs,
Shall rest in London till we come to him.
Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.
Farewell, my sovereign.
K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's
true hope.
Clar. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness'
hand.
H. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou for-
tunate!
Mont. Comfort, my lord; and so, I take my
leave.
Oxf. [Kissing HENRY'S hand.] And thus I
seal my truth, and bid adieu.
K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
And all at once, once more a happy farewell.
War. Farewell, sweet lords: let's meet at
Coventry.
[Exeunt all but KING HENRY and EXETER.
K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest awhile.
Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
Methinks the power that Edward hath in field
Should not be able to encounter mine.
Exe. The doubt is that he will seduce the
rest.
K. Hen. That's not my fear; my meed hath
got me fame:
I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dried their water-flowing tears;
I have not been desirous of their wealth;
Nor much oppressed them with great subsidies,
Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd.
Then why should they love Edward more than
me?
No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace:
And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb,
The lamb will never cease to follow him.
[Shout within' A Lancaster! A Lancaster!'
Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! what shouts are
these?
Enter KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER,
and Soldiers.
K. Edw. Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry!
bear him hence:
And once again proclaim us King of England.
You are the fount that makes small brooks to
flow:
Now stops thy spring; my sea Shall suck them dry,
And swell so much the higher by their ebb.
Hence with him to the Tower! let him not
speak. [Exeunt some with KING HENRY.
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains:
The sun shines hot; and, if we use delay,
Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay.
Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join,
And take the great-grown traitor unawares:
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.
[Exeunt.
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