William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Third Part

ACT IV. 3. SCENE III. Edward's Camp near Warwick.

[Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the KING'S tent.]

1 WATCHMAN.
Come on, my masters, each man take his stand;
The king by this is set him down to sleep.

2 WATCHMAN.
What, will he not to bed?

1 WATCHMAN.
Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow
Never to lie and take his natural rest
Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd.

2 WATCHMAN.
To-morrow, then, belike shall be the day,
If Warwick be so near as men report.

3 WATCHMAN.
But say, I pray, what nobleman is that
That with the king here resteth in his tent?

1 WATCHMAN.
'T is the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.

3 WATCHMAN.
O, is it So? But why commands the king
That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,
While he himself keeps in the cold field?

2 WATCHMAN.
'T is the more honour, because more dangerous.

3 WATCHMAN.
Ay, but give me worship and quietness;
I like it better than dangerous honour.
If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
'T is to be doubted he would waken him.

1 WATCHMAN.
Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

2 WATCHMAN.
Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal tent
But to defend his person from night-foes?

[Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET,
and Forces silently.]

WARWICK.
This is his tent; and see where, stand his guard.
Courage, my masters! honour now or never!
But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

1 WATCHMAN.
Who goes there?

2 WATCHMAN.
Stay, or thou diest.