TPTT The Third Part of Henry the Sixth: ACT IV
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. London. The palace.
SCENE II. A plain in Warwickshire.
SCENE III. Edward's camp, near Warwick.
SCENE IV. London. The palace.
SCENE V. A park near Middleham Castle In Yorkshire.
SCENE VI. London. The Tower.
SCENE VII. Before York.
SCENE VIII. London. The palace.
ACT V
About the Play
Feedback
  Search:   
for:

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More
SCENE VI. London. The Tower.
Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, HENRY OF RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, and Lieutenant of the Tower
KING HENRY VI
      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,
5     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 VI
      For what, lieutenant? for well using me?
10    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
      At last by notes of household harmony
15    They quite forget their loss of liberty.
      But, Warwick, after God, thou set'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
20    By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me,
      And that the people of this blessed land
      May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars,
      Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,
      I here resign my government to thee,
25    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:
30    Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace,
      For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
CLARENCE
      No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
      To whom the heavens in thy nativity
      Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,
35    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 VI
      Warwick and Clarence give me both your hands:
      Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,
40    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
45    What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?
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
50    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,
55    And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
CLARENCE
      What else? and that succession be determined.
WARWICK
      Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
KING HENRY VI
      But, with the first of all your chief affairs,
      Let me entreat, for I command no more,
60    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.
CLARENCE
      It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
KING HENRY VI
65    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 VI
      Come hither, England's hope.

Lays his hand on his head

      If secret powers
70    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
75    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,
80    And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
WARWICK
      Unsavoury news! but how made he escape?
Post
      He was convey'd by Richard Duke of Gloucester
      And the Lord Hastings, who attended him
      In secret ambush on the forest side
85    And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him;
      For hunting was his daily exercise.
WARWICK
      My brother was too careless of his charge.
      But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide
      A salve for any sore that may betide.
Exeunt all but SOMERSET, HENRY OF RICHMOND, and OXFORD
SOMERSET
90    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,
95    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
100   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

      3 KING HENRY VI
Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene