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A Plain in Warwickshire. | |
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Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French and other Forces. | |
| War. Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well; | |
| The common people by numbers swarm to us. | |
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Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET. | 5 |
| But see where Somerset and Clarence come! | |
| Speak suddenly, 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, | 10 |
| To rest mistrustful where a noble heart | |
| Hath pawn’d an open hand in sign of love; | |
| Else might I think that Clarence, Edward’s brother, | |
| Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings: | |
| But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine. | 15 |
| And now what rests, but in night’s coverture, | |
| Thy brother being carelessly encamp’d, | |
| His soldiers lurking in the towns about, | |
| And but attended by a simple guard, | |
| We may surprise and take him at our pleasure? | 20 |
| Our scouts have found the adventure very easy: | |
| That as Ulysses, and stout Diomede, | |
| With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus’ tents, | |
| And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds; | |
| So we, well cover’d with the night’s black mantle, | 25 |
| At unawares may beat down Edward’s guard, | |
| And seize himself; I say not, slaughter him, | |
| For I intend but only to surprise him. | |
| You, that will follow me to this attempt, | |
| Applaud the name of Henry with your leader. [They all cry ‘Henry!’ | 30 |
| Why, then, let’s on our way in silent sort. | |
| For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George! [Exeunt. | |
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