Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well;
The common people by numbers swarm to us.
Believe me, my lord, everything has gone well so far; the common people are gathering to join us in great numbers.
Trust me, your Majesty, things are going great. The people are coming to our side by the thousands.
things going well lots of people joining us
Warwick reaches for Homer to justify a night ambush on a sleeping king. The reference to Ulysses and Diomedes stealing Rhesus' horses is from the 'Doloneia' — the night episode of the Iliad that was considered somewhat disreputable even in antiquity, a story of cunning and stealth rather than heroic single combat. Shakespeare's Warwick chooses it deliberately. He isn't embarrassed by the comparison; he's proud of it. The Kingmaker operates by cunning, and his military genius is largely organizational and political — getting the right people in the right place before the fight — rather than personal valor on a battlefield. The classical reference gives the plan a veneer of literary respectability that barely disguises its essential seediness: they're going to kidnap a sleeping man.
But see where Somerset and Clarence comes.
Speak suddenly, my lords: are we all friends?
But look, here come Somerset and Clarence. Speak quickly, my lords: are we all friends?
Hold on, here come Somerset and Clarence. Quick, everyone—are we all actually good here?
wait here comes somerset & clarence everyone ok? we good?
Fear not that, my lord.
Don't be afraid of that, my lord.
Don't worry about that, sir.
don't worry
Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick;
And welcome, Somerset. I hold it cowardice
To rest mistrustful where a noble heart
Hath pawned 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.
And now what rests but, in night’s coverture,
Thy brother being carelessly encamped,
His soldiers lurking in the towns about,
And but attended by a simple guard,
We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?
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 covered with the night’s black mantle,
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.
Then, kind Clarence, welcome to Warwick; and welcome, Somerset. I consider it cowardly to remain suspicious when a noble person has shown an open hand as a sign of friendship. Otherwise I might think that Clarence, Edward's brother, was only pretending to help us. But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter will be yours. And now what's left but, under cover of night, when your brother is carelessly camped with his soldiers scattered around the towns and attended by only a small guard, we may attack and capture him whenever we wish? Our scouts have found the attack very easy. Just as Ulysses and brave Diomede used cunning and courage to sneak to Rhesus' tent and brought back the Thracian fatal horses, so we, well hidden by night's black cloak, can catch Edward's guard unaware and capture him himself. I'm not saying kill him, for I only mean to capture him. You who will follow me in this attempt, show your support for Henry as your leader.
Welcome to Warwick, Clarence; welcome, Somerset. I think it's cowardly to doubt someone when a noble heart shows you an open hand. Otherwise I'd think Clarence was just pretending to be with us. But welcome, Clarence; my daughter is yours. So here's the plan: Edward's brother is camped carelessly, his soldiers are scattered around in the nearby towns, and he's guarded by just a handful of men. We can take him easily whenever we want. Our scouts say it's a piece of cake. Just like when Ulysses and Diomede sneaked into Rhesus' tent and stole those famous horses, we'll sneak in under cover of darkness, take Edward's guards by surprise, and capture him. I'm not saying we kill him—just capture him. Anyone who's with me on this, show your support for King Henry as I lead you.
welcome clarence and somerset it's cowardly to doubt you my daughter is yours clarence here's the plan edward is carelessly camped his soldiers scattered his guard is small we can take him easily follow me and support henry as your leader
The exchange is blunt: Clarence comes over and gets Warwick's daughter. Warwick says so plainly and publicly, sealing it in front of Somerset and Oxford. This is marriage as alliance, alliance as transaction — the medieval political logic that Edward violated by marrying Elizabeth Woodville for love. The irony is that Clarence is now participating in exactly the system his brother rejected, and he's on the weaker end: he needs Warwick's daughter more than Warwick needs him. Keep watching Clarence: he is the only York brother who doesn't have an obvious through-line of ambition. He switches sides twice in this play, driven by self-interest and resentment. Understanding why makes his eventual fate in Richard III — drowned in a butt of malmsey wine on his own brother's orders — one of the Wars of the Roses' most poignant ironies.
Why then, let’s on our way in silent sort,
For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!
Then let's be on our way silently, for Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!
Alright, let's move quietly. For Warwick and his allies—God and Saint George!
let's go silent for warwick & his crew god & saint george!
The Reckoning
This is the flip side of the previous scene's political collapse — the meeting point where all the defectors converge. Warwick accepts Clarence with deliberate warmth (and a daughter as a sweetener), then outlines the night operation with military precision. The tone is that of conspirators who believe they've already won. The irony is that they will win — briefly — before losing everything.
If this happened today…
A disgruntled COO who just quit a startup meets with a rival firm's founder. Two other defectors from the old company show up to the meeting. Someone says 'are we all on the same page?' and everyone nods. Then the founder starts explaining the hostile takeover plan: tonight, while the CEO is asleep at his desk (everyone knows he sleeps at the office), they're going to walk in and grab him. There's a WhatsApp group called 'Henry' that's been quiet for months. They're about to make it very active.