William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Third Part

ACT IV. 7. SCENE VII. Before York (continued)

HASTINGS.
Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule.

GLOSTER.
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.--
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand;
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.

KING EDWARD.
Then be it as you will; for 't is my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.

MONTGOMERY.
Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself,
And now will I be Edward's champion.

HASTINGS.
Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd.--
Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.

[Gives him a paper. Flourish.]

SOLDIER.
[Reads.] 'Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God,
King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland,' etc.

MONTGOMERY.
And whoso'er gainsays King Edward's right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.

[Throws down gauntlet.]

ALL.
Long live Edward the Fourth!

KING EDWARD.
Thanks, brave Montgomery, and thanks unto you all;
If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now for this night let's harbour here in York;
And when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon
We'll forward towards Warwick and his mates,
For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.--
Ah, froward Clarence! how evil it beseems thee
To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.--
Come on, brave soldiers; doubt not of the day,
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.

[Exeunt.]