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Henry VI, Pt. 3: Act V, Scene 1

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Henry VI, Pt. 3
Act V, Scene 1

Scene 1

Coventry.

  1. Enter Warwick, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers, and
  2. others, upon the walls.

Earl of Warwick

1 - 2
  1. Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?
  2. How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

Oxford Messenger

3
  1. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.

Earl of Warwick

4 - 5
  1. How far off is our brother Montague?
  2. Where is the post that came from Montague?

Montague Messenger

6
  1. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.
  1. Enter Sir John Somervile.

Earl of Warwick

7 - 8
  1. Say, Somervile, what says my loving son?
  2. And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?

Sir John Somervile

9 - 10
  1. At Southam I did leave him with his forces,
  2. And do expect him here some two hours hence.
  1. Drum heard.

Earl of Warwick

11
  1. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum.

Sir John Somervile

12 - 13
  1. It is not his, my lord, here Southam lies;
  2. The drum your honor hears marcheth from Warwick.

Earl of Warwick

14
  1. Who should that be? Belike unlook’d-for friends.

Sir John Somervile

15
  1. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.
  1. March. Flourish. Enter King Edward, Richard of Gloucester,
  2. and Soldiers.

King Edward

16
  1. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle.

Duke of Gloucester

17
  1. See how the surly Warwick mans the wall!

Earl of Warwick

18 - 20
  1. O unbid spite, is sportful Edward come?
  2. Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduc’d,
  3. That we could hear no news of his repair?

King Edward

21 - 24
  1. Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city-gates,
  2. Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee,
  3. Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy?
  4. And he shall pardon thee these outrages.

Earl of Warwick

25 - 28
  1. Nay rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence,
  2. Confess who set thee up and pluck’d thee down,
  3. Call Warwick patron, and be penitent?
  4. And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.

Duke of Gloucester

29 - 30
  1. I thought, at least, he would have said the King,
  2. Or did he make the jest against his will?

Earl of Warwick

31
  1. Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?

Duke of Gloucester

32 - 33
  1. Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give.
  2. I’ll do thee service for so good a gift.

Earl of Warwick

34
  1. ’Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.

King Edward

35
  1. Why then ’tis mine, if but by Warwick’s gift.

Earl of Warwick

36 - 38
  1. Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight;
  2. And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again,
  3. And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.

King Edward

39 - 41
  1. But Warwick’s king is Edward’s prisoner.
  2. And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:
  3. What is the body when the head is off?

Duke of Gloucester

42 - 46
  1. Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast,
  2. But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
  3. The king was slyly finger’d from the deck!
  4. You left poor Henry at the Bishop’s palace,
  5. And ten to one you’ll meet him in the tower.

King Edward

47
  1. ’Tis even so, yet you are Warwick still.

Duke of Gloucester

48 - 49
  1. Come, Warwick, take the time, kneel down, kneel down.
  2. Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools.

Earl of Warwick

50 - 52
  1. I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,
  2. And with the other fling it at thy face,
  3. Than bear so low a sail to strike to thee.

King Edward

53 - 57
  1. Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,
  2. This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,
  3. Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,
  4. Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood:
  5. “Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.”
  1. Enter Oxford with Drum and Colors.

Earl of Warwick

58
  1. O cheerful colors! See where Oxford comes!

Earl of Oxford

59
  1. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!
  1. He and his forces enter the city.

Duke of Gloucester

60
  1. The gates are open, let us enter too.

King Edward

61 - 65
  1. So other foes may set upon our backs.
  2. Stand we in good array; for they no doubt
  3. Will issue out again and bid us battle.
  4. If not, the city being but of small defense,
  5. We’ll quickly rouse the traitors in the same.
Cassell's Illustrated Shakespeare

Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford? How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

From: Cassell's Illustrated Shakespeare

Mary Cowden Clarke, Charles Cowden Clarke, 1870

Earl of Warwick

66
  1. O, welcome, Oxford, for we want thy help.
  1. Enter Montague with Drum and Colors.

Marquess Montague

67
  1. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!
  1. He and his forces enter the city.

Duke of Gloucester

68 - 69
  1. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason
  2. Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.

King Edward

70 - 71
  1. The harder match’d, the greater victory:
  2. My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.
  1. Enter Somerset with Drum and Colors.

Duke of Somerset

72
  1. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
  1. He and his forces enter the city.

Duke of Gloucester

73 - 75
  1. Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset,
  2. Have sold their lives unto the house of York,
  3. And thou shalt be the third, and this sword hold.
  1. Enter Clarence with Drum and Colors.

Earl of Warwick

76 - 80
  1. And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,
  2. Of force enough to bid his brother battle;
  3. With whom an upright zeal to right prevails
  4. More than the nature of a brother’s love!
  5. Gloucester and Clarence whisper together.
  6. Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick call.

Duke of Clarence

81 - 102
  1. Father of Warwick, know you what this means?
  2. Look here, I throw my infamy at thee.
  3. Clarence takes his red rose out of his hat and throws it at
  4. Warwick.
  5. I will not ruinate my father’s house,
  6. Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
  7. And set up Lancaster. Why, trowest thou, Warwick,
  8. That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,
  9. To bend the fatal instruments of war
  10. Against his brother and his lawful king?
  11. Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath:
  12. To keep that oath were more impiety
  13. Than Jephthah when he sacrific’d his daughter.
  14. I am so sorry for my trespass made
  15. That to deserve well at my brother’s hands,
  16. I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe;
  17. With resolution, wheresoe’er I meet thee
  18. (As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad),
  19. To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.
  20. And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,
  21. And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks.
  22. Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends;
  23. And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
  24. For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.

King Edward

103 - 104
  1. Now welcome more, and ten times more belov’d,
  2. Than if thou never hadst deserv’d our hate.

Duke of Gloucester

105
  1. Welcome, good Clarence, this is brother-like.

Earl of Warwick

106
  1. O passing traitor, perjur’d and unjust!

King Edward

107 - 108
  1. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town, and fight?
  2. Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?

Earl of Warwick

109 - 111
  1. Alas, I am not coop’d here for defense!
  2. I will away towards Barnet presently,
  3. And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar’st.

King Edward

112 - 113
  1. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way.
  2. Lords, to the field! Saint George and victory!
  1. Exeunt King Edward and his company. March. Warwick and his
  2. company follows.
The Counti of Warwick; the shire towne and citie of Coventre described

The Counti of Warwick; the shire towne and citie of Coventre described

John Speed, circa 1611

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