Thou call'dst me king? • War. Ay, but the case is alter'd: When you disgrac'd 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 shrowd yourself from enemies? * K. Edw. Yea, brother1 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. War. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king:2 [Takes off his 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 convey'd "Unto my brother, archbishop of York. When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows, 'I'll follow you, and tell what answer Lewis, and the lady Bona, send to him : Now, for a while, farewel, good duke of York. * K. Edw. What fates impose, that men must needs abide; *It boots not to resist both wind and tide. [Exit. K. EDW., led out; Soм. with him. 9 And come now to create you duke of York.] Might we not read, with a slight alteration? And come to new-create you duke of York. Johnson. 1 Yea, brother &c.] In the old play this speech consists of only these two lines: "Well, Warwick, let fortune do her worst, Henry has made the same declaration in a former scene. Malone. Then, for his mind, be Edward England's king:] That is, in his mind; as far as his own mind goes. M. Mason. * Oxf. What now remains,3 my lords, for us to do, *But march to London with our soldiers? War. 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. SCENE IV. London. A Room in the Palace. [Exeunt. Enter Queen ELIZABETH and RIVERS.4 • Riv. Madam, what makes you in this sudden change? Q. Eliz. Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn, • What late misfortune is befall'n king Edward? Riv. What, loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick? • Q. Eliz. No, but the loss of his own royal person. Riv. Then is my sovereign slain? Q. Eliz. Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner; 3 What now remains, &c.] Instead of this and the following speech, the quartos have: "Clar. What follows now? all hitherto goes well. "And bid her come with speed to join with us. "War. Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do, "And free king Henry from imprisonment, "And see him seated on the regal throne. "Come, let 's away; and, having past these cares, "I'll post to York, and see how Edward fares." Steevens. 4 Enter Rivers.] Throughout this scene the quartos vary in almost every speech from the folio. The variations, however, are hardly such as to deserve notice. Steevens. They are, however, so marked, as to prove decisively, I think, that either Shakspeare wrote two distinct pieces on this subject at different periods, or that the play as exhibited in the folio was his, and that in quarto the production of a preceding writer. Let the second speech of Rivers be read with this view: "What losse? of some pitcht battaile against Warwicke? "Tush, feare not, faire queene, but cast these cares aside. "King Edward's noble mind his honour doth display, "And Warwick may lose, though then he got the day." See also the speech of Clarence quoted in the last note. Malone. Would not this prove rather too much, as a similar inference might be drawn from the two copies of Romeo and Juliet, in 1597 ånd 1599? Steevens. Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard, 'Or by his foe surpriz'd 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. 'Riv. 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. * Q. Eliz. Till then, fair hope must hinder life's decay. * And I the rather wean me from despair, womb: *For love of Edward's offspring in my Ay, ay, * 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 the English crown. * Riv. But, madam, where is Warwick then become? 'Q. Eliz. 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) • Ì 'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary, To save at least the heir of Edward's right; SCENE V.5 [Exeunt. A Park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire. Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, Sir WILLIAM STANLEY, and Others. 'Glo. Now, my lord Hastings, and sir William Stanley, 5 Scene V.] In new forming these pieces Shakspeare transposed not only many lines and speeches, but some from the scenes. This scene in the original play precedes that which he has made the fourth scene of this Act. Malone. 6 A Park near Middleham —] Shakspeare follows his authority Holinshed, in the representation here given of King Edward's VOL. X. Li Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither, Thus stands the case: You know, our king, my brother, And often, but attended with weak guard, 'He shall here find his friends, with horse and men, To set him free from his captivity. Enter King EDWARD, and a Huntsman. Now, brother of Gloster, lord Hastings, and the rest, 6 Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer? Glo. Brother, the time and case requireth haste; Your horse stands ready at the park corner. K. Edw. But whither shall we then? Hast. To Lynn, my lord; and ships from thence to Glo. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my capture and imprisonment. But honest Raphael misled him, as he himself was misled by his predecessor Hall. The whole is untrue: Edward was never in the hands of Warwick. Ritson. 7 Now, my lord Hastings, &c.] 1 shall insert the speech corresponding to this in the old play, as the comparison will show the reader in what manner Shakspeare proceeded, where he merely retouched and expanded what he found in the elder drama, without the addition of any new matter: 8 "Glo. Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley, "And see where the huntsman and he doth come." Malone and ship-] The first folio has shipt. The correction was made by the editor of the second folio. Malone. K. Edw. Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness. * Glo. But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk. ♦ K. Edw. Huntsman, what say'st thou wilt thou go along? Hunt. Better do. so, than tarry and be hang'd. * Glo. Come then, away; let's have no more ado. 'K. Edw. Bishop, farewel: shield thee from Warwick's frown; And pray that I may repossess the crown. SCENE VI. A Room in the Tower. [Exeunt. Enter King HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, young RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, Lieutenant of the Tower, and Attendants. *K. Hen. Master lieutenant, now that God and friends * Have shaken Edward from the regal seat; * And turn'd my captive state to liberty, *My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys; *At our enlargement what are thy due fees? *Lieu. Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; * But, if an humble prayer may prevail, * I then crave pardon of your majesty. *K. Hen. For what, lieutenant? for well using me? * Nay, be thou sure, I'll well requite thy kindness, *For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure: * Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds * Conceive, when, after many moody thoughts, * Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite, May not be punish'd 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. * War. Your grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous |