William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Third Part

ACT IV. 8. SCENE VIII. London. The Palace.

[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, WARWICK, CLARENCE, MONTAGUE,
EXETER, and OXFORD.]

WARWICK.
What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders,
Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
And with his troops doth march amain to London;
And many giddy people flock to him.

KING HENRY.
Let's levy men and beat him back again.

CLARENCE.
A little fire is quickly trodden out,
Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.

WARWICK.
In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war.
Those will I muster up;--and thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee.--
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire shalt find
Men well inclin'd to hear what thou command'st. --
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.--
My sovereign, with the loving citizens,
Like to his island girt in with the ocean,
Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs,
Shall rest in London till we come to him.--
Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply.--
Farewell, my sovereign.

KING HENRY.
Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope.

CLARENCE.
In sign of truth I kiss your highness' hand.

KING HENRY.
Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!

MONTAGUE.
Comfort, my lord;--and so I take my leave.

OXFORD.
And thus [kissing Henry's hand] I seal my truth, and bid
adieu.

KING HENRY.
Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,
And all at once, once more a happy farewell.

WARWICK.
Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry.

[Exeunt Warwick, Clarendon, Oxford, and Montague.]

KING HENRY.
Here at the palace will I rest a while.--
Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?
Methinks the power that Edward hath in field
Should not be able to encounter mine.