'He shall here find his friends, with horse and men, To set him free from his captivity.

Enter King EDWARD, and a Huntsman.

'Hunt. This way, my lord; for this way lies the game.

'K. Edw. Nay, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen stand.

'Now, brother of Gloster, lord Hastings, and the rest, '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 ship from thence to Flanders.

'Glo. Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning.

'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, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown;

that I may repossess the crown. [Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

A Room in the Tower.

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,
* At last, by notes of household harmony,
*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,
* 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,

'For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

* War. Your grace hath still been fam'd 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:3
* Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace,
*For choosing me, when Clarence is in place.*

• — few men rightly temper with the stars:] I suppose the meaning is, that few men conform their temper to their destiny; which King Henry did, when finding himself unfortunate he gave the management of publick affairs to more prosperous hands.

JOHNSON.

* Clar. No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway, *To whom the heavens, in thy nativity,

Adjudg'd an olive branch, and laurel crown, * As likely to be blest in peace, and war;

* And therefore I yield thee my free consent.

* War. And I choose Clarence only for protector. * K. Hen. Warwick, and Clarence, give me both your hands;

*Now join your hands, and, with your hands, your hearts,

* That no dissention 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.

War. What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?

* Clar. That he consents, if Warwick yield consent;

* For on thy fortune I repose myself.

* War. Why then, though loath, yet must I be

content:

* We'll yoke together, like a double shadow * 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 pronounc'd a traitor, * And all his lands and goods be confiscate.

t

Clar. What else? and that succession be determin'd.

* War. Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his

part.

*K. Hen. But, with the first of all your chief

affairs,

in place.] i. e. here present.

* Let me entreat, (for I command no more,) * 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 eclips'd.

Clar. It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed. "K. Hen. My lord of Somerset, what youth is that, 'Of whom you seem to have so tender care? 'Som. My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.

• K. Hen. Come hither, England's hope: If secret powers [Lays his Hand on his Head. '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 fram'd to wear a crown, "His hand to wield a scepter; and himself '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 Messenger.

*War. What news, my friend?

* Mess. That Edward is escaped from your brother, * And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

* War. Unsavoury news: But how made he escape? * Mess. He was convey'd by Richard duke of Glos

ter,

* And the lord Hastings, who attended him" * In secret ambush on the forest side,

* And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him;

5 This pretty lad-] He was afterwards Henry VII, a man who put an end to the civil war of the two houses, but no otherwise remarkable for virtue. Shakspeare knew his trade. Henry VII. was grandfather to Queen Elizabeth, and the king from whom James inherited. JOHNSON.

attended him—] i. e. waited for him.

For hunting was his daily exercise.

* War. 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 King HENRY, WAR. CLAR. Lieut. and Attendants.

*Som. 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 Rich mond;

* 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 Britany, * Till storms be past of civil enmity.

* Oxf. Ay; for, if Edward repossess the crown, * "Tis like, that Richmond with the rest shall down. *Som. It shall be so; he shall to Britany.

* Come therefore, let's about it speedily. [Exeunt.

SCENE VII.

Before York.

Enter King EDWARD, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and Forces.

'K. Edw. Now, brother Richard, lord Hastings, and the rest;

Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,

' And says that once more I shall interchange My waned state for Henry's regal crown.

Well have we pass'd, and now repass'd the seas,