Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
|
Enter Warwick, wearing the red rose, the Mayor of
Coventry, two Messengers, and others, upon the walls. WARWICK
Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?—
How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow? FIRST MESSENGER
By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. He exits. WARWICK
How far off is our brother Montague?
Where is the post that came from Montague? 5 SECOND MESSENGER
By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. He exits. Enter, upon the walls, Somerville
wearing the red rose. WARWICK
Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?
And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now? SOMERVILLE
At Southam I did leave him with his forces
And do expect him here some two hours hence. 10 Drum offstage. WARWICK
Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum. SOMERVILLE
It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies.
The drum your Honor hears marcheth from Warwick. WARWICK
Who should that be? Belike unlooked-for friends. SOMERVILLE
They are at hand, and you shall quickly know. 15 | Warwick asks some messengers where Montague, George, and Oxford (or,
more important, their troops) are. He gets the deets for each one. When
he hears a drum, he thinks it's George, but it's actually Richard and
Edward. |
March. Flourish. Enter below, King Edward,
Richard, and Soldiers, including a Trumpeter,
all wearing the white rose. KING EDWARD
Go, Trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle. RICHARD
See how the surly Warwick mans the wall. WARWICK
O unbid spite, is sportful Edward come?
Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced,
That we could hear no news of his repair? 20 KING EDWARD
Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates,
Speak gentle words, and humbly bend thy knee?
Call Edward king, and at his hands beg mercy,
And he shall pardon thee these outrages. WARWICK
Nay, rather wilt thou draw thy forces hence, 25
Confess who set thee up and plucked thee down,
Call Warwick patron, and be penitent,
And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York. | Edward asks Warwick who he calls king. Warwick says he'd rather Edward just be Duke of York. Henry is the king, and Warwick says he's the king's loyal subject. |
RICHARD
I thought at least he would have said “the King.”
Or did he make the jest against his will? 30 WARWICK
Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift? RICHARD
Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give.
I’ll do thee service for so good a gift. WARWICK
’Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother. KING EDWARD
Why, then, ’tis mine, if but by Warwick’s gift. 35 WARWICK
Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight;
And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again,
And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject. KING EDWARD
But Warwick’s king is Edward’s prisoner.
And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this: 40
What is the body when the head is off? RICHARD
Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast,
But whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
The King was slyly fingered from the deck.
You left poor Henry at the Bishop’s palace, 45
And ten to one you’ll meet him in the Tower. KING EDWARD
’Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still. RICHARD
Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel
down.
Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools. 50 WARWICK
I had rather chop this hand off at a blow
And with the other fling it at thy face
Than bear so low a sail to strike to thee. KING EDWARD
Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,
This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair, 55
Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,
Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood:
“Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.” | Edward tells Warwick that Henry is actually in prison. Warwick says he's not worried, because he's got backup. |
Enter Oxford, below, wearing the red rose,
with Soldiers, Drum and Colors. WARWICK
O, cheerful colors, see where Oxford comes! OXFORD Oxford, Oxford for Lancaster! 60 Oxford and his troops exit as through a city gate. RICHARD
The gates are open; let us enter too. KING EDWARD
So other foes may set upon our backs.
Stand we in good array, for they no doubt
Will issue out again and bid us battle.
If not, the city being but of small defense, 65
We’ll quickly rouse the traitors in the same. Oxford enters aloft. WARWICK
O welcome, Oxford, for we want thy help. Enter Montague, below, wearing the red rose,
with Soldiers, Drum and Colors. MONTAGUE Montague, Montague for Lancaster! RICHARD
Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason
Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear! 70 Montague and his troops exit as through a city gate. KING EDWARD
The harder matched, the greater victory.
My mind presageth happy gain and conquest. Enter Somerset, below, wearing the red rose,
with Soldiers, Drum and Colors. SOMERSET Somerset, Somerset for Lancaster! RICHARD
Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset,
Have sold their lives unto the house of York, 75
And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold. Somerset and his troops exit as through a city gate. | Somerset and Montague enter with their men. Right on time. |
Enter Clarence, below, wearing the red rose,
with Soldiers, Drum and Colors. WARWICK
And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,
Of force enough to bid his brother battle,
With whom an upright zeal to right prevails
More than the nature of a brother’s love.— 80
Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick call. CLARENCE
Father of Warwick, know you what this means? He removes the red rose. Look, here I throw my infamy at thee. He throws the rose at Warwick. I will not ruinate my father’s house,
Who gave his blood to lime the stones together 85
And set up Lancaster. Why, trowest thou, Warwick,
That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,
To bend the fatal instruments of war
Against his brother and his lawful king?
Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath. 90
To keep that oath were more impiety
Than Jephthah when he sacrificed his daughter.
I am so sorry for my trespass made
That, to deserve well at my brother’s hands,
I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe, 95
With resolution, wheresoe’er I meet thee—
As I will meet thee if thou stir abroad—
To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.
And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee
And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks.— 100
Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends.—
And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
For I will henceforth be no more unconstant. | George enters, and Warwick welcomes him. Surprising everyone, George throws down his red rose and says he can't hate his own father's house. He apologizes to Richard and Edward for being fickle. |
KING EDWARD
Now, welcome more, and ten times more beloved,
Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate. 105 RICHARD
Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like. WARWICK
O, passing traitor, perjured and unjust. KING EDWARD
What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight?
Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears? WARWICK
Alas, I am not cooped here for defense. 110
I will away towards Barnet presently
And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar’st. KING EDWARD
Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way.— Warwick exits from the walls and descends. Lords, to the field! Saint George and victory! They exit. March. Warwick and his company follows. | They forgive him. Both sides leave and plan to fight at Barnet. |