Enter LIEUTENANT and OFFICER.
Lieut. Has King Henry walk'd forth this morning? Offi. No, sir; but it is near his hour.
Lieut. At any time, when you see him here,
Let no stranger into the garden;
I would not have him star'd at-See, who's that,
Now ent'ring at the gate?
Ofi. Sir, the Lord Stanley.
My noble lord, you're welcome to the Tower:
I heard last night you late arriv'd with news
Of Edward's victory to his joyful queen.
Stanley. Yes, sir; and I am proud to be the man,
That first brought home the last of civil broils:
The houses now of York and Lancaster,
Like bloody brothers, fighting for a birthright,
No more shall wound the parent, that would part
Edward now sits secure on England's throne.
Lieut. Near Tewksbury, my lord, I think they
Has the enemy lost any men of note ?
Stanley. Sir, I was posted home,
Ere an account was taken of the slain:
But, as I left the field, a proclamation,
From the king, was made in search of Edward,
Son to your prisoner, King Henry the Sixth,
Which gave reward to those discov'ring him,
And him his life, if he'd surrender.
Lieut. That brave young prince, I fear, 's unlike
Too high of heart, to brook submissive life:
This will be heavy news to Henry's ear,
For on this battle's cast, his all was set.
Stanley. King Henry and ill fortune are familiar;
He ever threw with an indifferent hand,
But never yet was known to lose his patience:
How does he pass the time in his confinement?
Lieut. As one whose wishes never reach'd a crown;
The king seems dead in him-but, as a man,
He sighs sometimes in want of liberty.
Sometimes he reads, and walks, and wishes,
That fate had bless'd him with an humbler birth,
Not to have felt the falling from a throne,
Stanley. Were it not possible to see this king?
They say, he'll freely talk with Edward's friends,
And even treats them with respect and honour.
Lieut. This is his usual time of walking forth
(For he's allow'd the freedom of the garden)
After his morning prayer; he seldom fails;
Behind this arbour we, unseen, may stand
A while to observe him.
K. Hen. By this time the decisive blow is struck;
Either my queen and son are bless'd with victory,
Or I'm the cause no more of civil broils.
'Would I were dead, if Heav'n's good will were so;
For what is in this world but grief and care?
What noise and bustle do kings make to find it;
When life's but a short chase, our game content,
Which, most pursu'd, is most compell'd to fly;
And he, that mounts him on the swiftest hope,
Shall often run his courser to a stand;
While the poor peasant, from some distant hill,
Undanger'd and at ease, views all the sport,
And sees content take shelter in his cottage.
Stanley. He seems extremely mov'd.
Lieut. Does he know you?
Stanley. No; nor would I have him.
Lieut. We'll show ourselves. [They come forward.
K. Hen. Why, there's another check to proud am-
That man received his charge from me, and now
I'm his prisoner-he locks me to my rest.
Such an unlook'd-for change who could suppose,
That saw him kneel to kiss the hand that rais'd him?
But that I should not now complain of,
Since I to that, 'tis possible, may owe
His civil treatment of me-'Morrow, Lieutenant;
Is any news arriv'd?-Who's that with you?
Lieut. A gentleman, that came last night express From Tewksbury-We've had a battle.
K. Hen. Comes he to me with letters, or advice?
Lieut. Sir, he's King Edward's officer, your foe.
K. Hen. Then he won't flatter me-You're wel-
Not less because you are King Edward's friend,
For I have almost learn'd myself to be so;
Could I but once forget I was a king,
I might be truly happy, and his subject.
You've gain'd a battle; is't not so ?
Stanley. We have, sir,-how, will reach your ear
K. Hen. If to my loss, it can't too soon-pray,
For fear makes mischief greater than it is.
My queen! my son! say, sir, are they living?
Stanley. Since my arrival, sir, another post
Came in, which brought us word, your queen and son
Were prisoners now at Tewksbury.
K. Hen. Heav'n's will be done! the hunters have them now,
And I have only sighs and prayers to help them ?
Stanley. King Edward, sir, depends upon his sword,
Yet prays heartily when the battle's won;
And soldiers love a bold and active leader.
Fortune, like women, will be close pursu'd;
The English are high mettled, sir, and 'tis
No easy part to fit them well-King Edward
Feels their temper, and 'twill be hard to throw him.
K. Hen. Alas! I thought them men, and rather
To win their hearts by mildness than severity.
My soul was never form'd for cruelty;
In my eyes, justice has seem'd bloody;
When, on the city gates, I have beheld
A traitor's quarters parching in the sun,
My blood has turn'd with horror at the sight;
I took them down, and bury'd, with his limbs,
The memory of the dead man's deeds-Perhaps
That pity made me look less terrible,
Giving the mind of weak rebellion spirit;
For kings are put in trust for all mankind,
And when themselves take injuries, who is safe ?
If so, I have deserv'd these frowns of fortune.
Offi. Sir, here's a gentleman brings a warrant,
For his access to King Henry's presence.
Lieut. I come to him. [Exit, with OFFICER.
Stanley. His business may require your privacy;
I'll leave you, sir, wishing you all the good
That can be wish'd-not wronging him I serve. [Exit.
K. Hen. Farewell!
Who can this be! a sudden coldness,
Like the damp hand of death, has seiz'd my limbs: I fear some heavy news!
Enter LIEUTENANT.
Who is it, good Lieutenant ?
Lieut. A gentleman, sir, from Tewksbury: he seems
A melancholy messenger-for, when I ask'd
What news, his answer was a deep-fetch'd sigh:
I would not urge him, but I fear 'tis fatal.
K. Hen. Fatal indeed! his brow's the title-page, That speaks the nature of a tragic volume. Say, friend, how does my queen! my son! Thou tremblest, and the whiteness of thy cheek Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand. Ev'n such a man, so faint, so spiritless, So dull, so dead in look, so woe begone, Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night, And would have told him half his Troy was burn'd. But Priam found the fire, ere he his tongue, And I my poor son's death, ere thou relat'st it. Now wouldst thou say your son did thus, and thus, And thus your queen! so fought the valiant Ox
Stopping my greedy ear with their bold deeds;
But, in the end, (to stop my ear indeed)
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