William Shakespeare: King Henry IV Part II

ACT IV.
2. SCENE II. Another part of the forest. (continued)

ARCHBISHOP.
Against ill chances men are ever merry;
But heaviness foreruns the good event.

WESTMORELAND.
Therefore be merry, coz; since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus, "some good thing comes tomorrow."

ARCHBISHOP.
Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.

MOWBRAY.
So much the worse, if your own rule be true.

[Shouts within.]

LANCASTER.
The word of peace is render'd: hark, how they shout!

MOWBRAY.
This had been cheerful after victory.

ARCHBISHOP.
A peace is of the nature of a conquest;
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser.

LANCASTER.
Go, my lord.
And let our army be discharged too.

[Exit Westmoreland.]

And, good my lord, so please you, let our trains
March by us, that we may peruse the men
We should have coped withal.

ARCHBISHOP.
Go, good Lord Hastings,
And, ere they be dismiss'd, let them march by.

[Exit Hastings.]

LANCASTER.
I trust, lords, we shall lie to-night together.

[Re-enter Westmoreland.]

Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still?

WESTMORELAND.
The leaders, having charge from you to stand,
Will not go off until they hear you speak.

LANCASTER.
They know their duties.

[Re-enter Hastings.]

HASTINGS.
My lord, our army is dispersed already:
Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their courses
East, west, north, south; or, like a school broke up,
Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place.

WESTMORELAND.
Good tidings, my Lord Hastings; for the which
I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason:
And you, lord archbishop, and you, Lord Mowbray,
Of capital treason I attach you both.

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