'MESS. My fovereign liege, no letters; and few words,

But fuch as I, without your fpecial pardon, Dare not relate.

'K. EDW. Go to, we pardon thee: therefore, in

brief,

Tell me their words as near as thou canft guess them.

'What answer makes king Lewis unto our letters?
MESS. At my depart, thefe were his very words;
Go tell falfe Edward, thy fupposed king,—
That Lewis of France is fending over maskers,
To revel it with him and his new bride.

K. EDW. Is Lewis fo brave? belike, he thinks me Henry.

But what faid lady Bona to my marriage ?

MESS. These were her words, utter'd with mild difdain;

Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower fhortly,
I'll wear the willow garland for his fake.

K. EDW. I blame not her, fhe could fay little

lefs;

'She had the wrong. But what faid Henry's queen? For I have heard, that she was there in place.3 MESS. Tell him, quoth fhe, my mourning weeds are done,+

And I am ready to put armour on.

2

to my marriage?] The quartos read-
to these wrongs." STEEVENS.

3She was there in place.] This expreffion, fignifying, fhe was there prefent, occurs frequently in old English writers. MALONE.

En place, a Gallicifm. STEEVENS.

4 — are done,] i. e. are consumed, thrown off. The word

'K. EDW. Belike, the minds to play the Amazon. But what faid Warwick to these injuries?

'MESS. He, more incens'd against your majesty 'Than all the reft, difcharg'd me with these words; Tell him from me, that he hath done me wrong, And therefore I'll uncrown him, ere't be long.

K. EDW. Ha! durft the traitor breathe out fo proud words?

'Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd : They fhall have wars, and pay for their prefump

tion.

But fay, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

MESS. Ay, gracious fovereign; they are fo link'd in friendship,

That young prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

CLAR. Belike, the elder; Clarence will have the younger.5

*Now, brother king, farewell, and fit you fast, * For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter; *That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage

is often used in this fenfe by the writers of our author's age. So, in his Rape of Lucrece:

"And if poffefs'd, as foon decay'd and done

"As is the morning's filver-melting dew." MALONE.

5 Belike, the elder; Clarence will have the younger.] I have ventured to make elder and younger change places in this line against the authority of all the printed copies. The reafon of it will be obvious. THEOBALD.

Clarence having in fact married Ifabella, the elder daughter of Warwick, Mr. Theobald made elder and younger change places in this line; in which he has been followed, I think, improperly, by the fubfequent editors: The author of the old play, where this line is found, might from ignorance or intentionally have deviated from hiftory, in his account of the person whom Clarence married. See a former note, p. 131, n. 4. MALONE.

* I may not prove inferior to yourself.You, that love me and Warwick, follow me." [Exit CLARENCE, and SOMERSET follows.

*GLO. Not I:7

* My thoughts aim at a further matter; I
* Stay not for love of Edward, but the crown.

[Afide. K. EDW. Clarence and Somerfet both gone to Warwick!

* Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; * And hafte is needful in this defperate cafe.

6 You, that love me and Warwick, follow me.] That Clarence should make this fpeech in the King's hearing is very improbable, yet I do not fee how it can be palliated. The King never goes out, nor can Clarence be talking to a company apart, for he answers immediately to that which the Poft says to the King. JOHNSON.

When the Earl of Effex attempted to raise a rebellion in the city, with a defign, as was fuppofed, to ftorm the Queen's palace, he ran about the streets with his fword drawn, crying out, They that love me, follow me." STEEVENS,

Clarence certainly speaks in the hearing of the King, who immediately after his brother has retired, exclaims, that he is gone to join with Warwick.

This line is in the old quarto play. One nearly refembling it is likewife found in The Battle of Alcazar, 1594:

Myfelf will lead the way,

"And make a paffage with my conquering fword,

66

Knee-deep in blood of these accurfed Moors; "And they that love my honour, follow me."

So alfo, in our author's King Richard III:

"The reft that love me, rife, and follow me."

MALONE.

7 Glo. Not 1:] After Clarence goes out, we have in the old play the following dialogue; part of which Shakspeare rejected, and tranfpofed the reft:

66

"Edw. Clarence and Somerset fled to Warwick !
What fay you, brother Richard, will you ftand to us?" &c.
MALONE.

See note 9, in the following page. STEEVENS.

<

Pembroke, and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed:
Myfelf in person will straight follow you.

[Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFORD. But, ere I go, Haftings, and Montague,'Refolve my doubt. You twain, of all the reft, 'Are near to Warwick, by blood, and by alliance: Tell me, if you love Warwick more than me?

If it be fo, then both depart to him;

"I rather with you foes, than hollow friends;
But if you mind to hold your true obedience,
"Give me affurance with fome friendly vow,
< That I may never have you in fufpect.

MONT. So God help Montague, as he proves true!
HAST. And Haftings, as he, favours Edward's

C

caufe!

K. EDW. Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

GLO. Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.9

Pembroke, and Stafford, &c.] The quartos give the paffage

thus:

9

"Pembroke, go raife an army prefently;

"Pitch up my tent; for in the field this night
"I mean to reft; and, on the morrow morn,

"I'll march to meet proud Warwick, ere he land
"Thofe ftraggling troops which he hath got in France.
"But ere I go, Montague and Haftings, you

"Of all the reft are neareft allied in blood

"To Warwick; therefore tell me if you favour
"Him more than me, or not; fpeak truly, for
"I had rather have you open enemies

"Than hollow friends." STEEVENS.

Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you ] The quartos continue the fpeech thus:

K. HEN. Why fo; then am I fure of victory. Now therefore let us hence; and lofe no hour. Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Plain in Warwickshire.

Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French and other Forces.

WAR. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; The common people by numbers fwarm to us.

Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET.

But, fee, where Somerset and Clarence come ;-
Speak fuddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
CLAR. Fear not that, my lord.

WAR. Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto
Warwick;

And welcome, Somerset :-I hold it cowardice,
To reft mistrustful where a noble heart

Hath pawn'd an open hand in fign of love;
Elfe might I think, that Clarence, Edward's brother,
Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings:
But welcome, Clarence;' my daughter fhall be thine.

"Ay, my lord, in defpight of all that fhall withstand you;
"For why hath nature made me halt downright
"But that I fhould be valiant, and ftand to it?
"For if I would, I cannot run away." STEEVENS.

But welcome, Clarence ;] Old copy, redundantly,-fweet Clarence. STEEVENS.