Coventry.
 Enter WARWICK, 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?

1st Messenger	By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.

Warwick	How far off is our brother Montague?
	Where is the post that came from Montague?

2nd Messenger	By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.

                            Enter SOMERVILLE.

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.
													[Drum.
Warwick	Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum.

Somerville	It is not his, my lord. Here Southam lies;
	The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.

Warwick	Who should that be? Belike, unlooked-for friends.

Somerville	They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.

                             March. Flourish.
                Enter KING EDWARD, RICHARD, and SOLDIERS.

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?

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,
	Confess who set thee up and plucked thee down,
	Call Warwick patron, and be penitent?
	And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York?

Richard	I thought at least he would have said the king;
	Or did he make the jest against his will?

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.

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,
	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 slily fingered from the deck!
	You left poor Henry at the bishop's palace,
	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.

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,
	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'.

                   Enter OXFORD with DRUM and COLOURS.

Warwick	O cheerful colours! See where Oxford comes!

Oxford	Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!
						[OXFORD and his FORCES go in to the city.

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 defence,
	We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same.

Warwick	O welcome, Oxford, for we want thy help.

                  Enter MONTAGUE with DRUM and COLOURS.

Montague	Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!
					 [MONTAGUE and his FORCES go in to the city.

Richard	Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason
	Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.

King Edward	The harder matched, the greater victory:
	My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.

                  Enter SOMERSET with DRUM and COLOURS.

Somerset	Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
					 [SOMERSET and his FORCES go in to the city.

Richard	Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset,
	Have sold their lives unto the House of York,
	And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold.

                   Enter GEORGE with DRUM and COLOURS.

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.

George	Clarence, Clarence, for Lancaster!

King Edward	Et tu, Brute - wilt thou stab Caesar too?
	A parley, sirrah, to George of Clarence.
													[Sound a parley.
							 RICHARD and GEORGE whispers together.

Warwick	Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt if Warwick call.

George	Father of Warwick, know you what this means?
							 [He takes his red rose out of his hat
												and throws it at Warwick.
	Look, here I throw my infamy at thee.
	I will not ruinate my father's house,
	Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
	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:
	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 brothers' hands,
	I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe,
	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.
	Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends:
	And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
	For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.

King Edward	Now welcome more, and ten times more beloved,
	Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate.

Richard	Welcome, good Clarence; this is brotherlike.

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 defence!
	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.
	Lords, to the field; Saint George and victory!
							  [Exeunt KING EDWARD and his COMPANY.
						 [March. WARWICK and his COMPANY follows.
