1
London. The Parliament-house.
2
[Alarum. Enter YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK,] [p]MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Soldiers]
4
I wonder how the king escaped our hands.
5
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
6
While we pursued the horsemen of the north,
7
He slily stole away and left his men:
8
Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland,
9
Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat,
10
Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself,
11
Lord Clifford and Lord Stafford, all abreast,
12
Charged our main battle's front, and breaking in
13
Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.
14
King Edward IV (Plantagenet).
15
Lord Stafford's father, Duke of Buckingham,
16
Is either slain or wounded dangerously;
17
I cleft his beaver with a downright blow:
18
That this is true, father, behold his blood.
20
And, brother, here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood,
21
Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd.
22
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
23
Speak thou for me and tell them what I did.
24
[Throwing down SOMERSET's head]
25
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
26
Richard hath best deserved of all my sons.
27
But is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset?
29
Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt!
30
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
31
Thus do I hope to shake King Henry's head.
33
And so do I. Victorious Prince of York,
34
Before I see thee seated in that throne
35
Which now the house of Lancaster usurps,
36
I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close.
37
This is the palace of the fearful king,
38
And this the regal seat: possess it, York;
39
For this is thine and not King Henry's heirs'
40
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
41
Assist me, then, sweet Warwick, and I will;
42
For hither we have broken in by force.
44
We'll all assist you; he that flies shall die.
45
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
46
Thanks, gentle Norfolk: stay by me, my lords;
47
And, soldiers, stay and lodge by me this night.
50
And when the king comes, offer no violence,
51
Unless he seek to thrust you out perforce.
52
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
53
The queen this day here holds her parliament,
54
But little thinks we shall be of her council:
55
By words or blows here let us win our right.
56
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
57
Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house.
59
The bloody parliament shall this be call'd,
60
Unless Plantagenet, Duke of York, be king,
61
And bashful Henry deposed, whose cowardice
62
Hath made us by-words to our enemies.
63
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
64
Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute;
65
I mean to take possession of my right.
67
Neither the king, nor he that loves him best,
68
The proudest he that holds up Lancaster,
69
Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells.
70
I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares:
71
Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown.
72
[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, CLIFFORD,]
73
NORTHUMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXETER, and the rest]
75
My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits,
76
Even in the chair of state: belike he means,
77
Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer,
78
To aspire unto the crown and reign as king.
79
Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father.
80
And thine, Lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge
81
On him, his sons, his favourites and his friends.
82
Earl of Northumberland.
83
If I be not, heavens be revenged on me!
85
The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel.
87
What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down:
88
My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it.
90
Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland.
92
Patience is for poltroons, such as he:
93
He durst not sit there, had your father lived.
94
My gracious lord, here in the parliament
95
Let us assail the family of York.
96
Earl of Northumberland.
97
Well hast thou spoken, cousin: be it so.
99
Ah, know you not the city favours them,
100
And they have troops of soldiers at their beck?
102
But when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly.
104
Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart,
105
To make a shambles of the parliament-house!
106
Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words and threats
107
Shall be the war that Henry means to use.
108
Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne,
109
and kneel for grace and mercy at my feet;
111
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
114
For shame, come down: he made thee Duke of York.
115
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
116
'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was.
118
Thy father was a traitor to the crown.
120
Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown
121
In following this usurping Henry.
123
Whom should he follow but his natural king?
125
True, Clifford; and that's Richard Duke of York.
127
And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne?
128
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
129
It must and shall be so: content thyself.
131
Be Duke of Lancaster; let him be king.
132
Earl of Westmoreland.
133
He is both king and Duke of Lancaster;
134
And that the Lord of Westmoreland shall maintain.
136
And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget
137
That we are those which chased you from the field
138
And slew your fathers, and with colours spread
139
March'd through the city to the palace gates.
140
Earl of Northumberland.
141
Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief;
142
And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it.
143
Earl of Westmoreland.
144
Plantagenet, of thee and these thy sons,
145
Thy kinsman and thy friends, I'll have more lives
146
Than drops of blood were in my father's veins.
148
Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words,
149
I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger
150
As shall revenge his death before I stir.
152
Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats!
153
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
154
Will you we show our title to the crown?
155
If not, our swords shall plead it in the field.
157
What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown?
158
Thy father was, as thou art, Duke of York;
159
Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March:
160
I am the son of Henry the Fifth,
161
Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop
162
And seized upon their towns and provinces.
164
Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all.
166
The lord protector lost it, and not I:
167
When I was crown'd I was but nine months old.
168
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
169
You are old enough now, and yet, methinks, you lose.
170
Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head.
171
King Edward IV (Plantagenet).
172
Sweet father, do so; set it on your head.
173
Marquess of Montague.
174
Good brother, as thou lovest and honourest arms,
175
Let's fight it out and not stand cavilling thus.
176
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
177
Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly.
178
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
181
Peace, thou! and give King Henry leave to speak.
183
Plantagenet shall speak first: hear him, lords;
184
And be you silent and attentive too,
185
For he that interrupts him shall not live.
187
Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly throne,
188
Wherein my grandsire and my father sat?
189
No: first shall war unpeople this my realm;
190
Ay, and their colours, often borne in France,
191
And now in England to our heart's great sorrow,
192
Shall be my winding-sheet. Why faint you, lords?
193
My title's good, and better far than his.
195
Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king.
197
Henry the Fourth by conquest got the crown.
198
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
199
'Twas by rebellion against his king.
201
[Aside]I know not what to say; my title's weak.—
202
Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir?
203
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
206
An if he may, then am I lawful king;
207
For Richard, in the view of many lords,
208
Resign'd the crown to Henry the Fourth,
209
Whose heir my father was, and I am his.
210
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
211
He rose against him, being his sovereign,
212
And made him to resign his crown perforce.
214
Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd,
215
Think you 'twere prejudicial to his crown?
217
No; for he could not so resign his crown
218
But that the next heir should succeed and reign.
220
Art thou against us, Duke of Exeter?
222
His is the right, and therefore pardon me.
223
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
224
Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not?
226
My conscience tells me he is lawful king.
228
[Aside]All will revolt from me, and turn to him.
229
Earl of Northumberland.
230
Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st,
231
Think not that Henry shall be so deposed.
233
Deposed he shall be, in despite of all.
234
Earl of Northumberland.
235
Thou art deceived: 'tis not thy southern power,
236
Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,
237
Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud,
238
Can set the duke up in despite of me.
240
King Henry, be thy title right or wrong,
241
Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence:
242
May that ground gape and swallow me alive,
243
Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father!
245
O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart!
246
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
247
Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown.
248
What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords?
250
Do right unto this princely Duke of York,
251
Or I will fill the house with armed men,
252
And over the chair of state, where now he sits,
253
Write up his title with usurping blood.
254
[He stamps with his foot and the soldiers show]
257
My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one word:
258
Let me for this my life-time reign as king.
259
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
260
Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs,
261
And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou livest.
263
I am content: Richard Plantagenet,
264
Enjoy the kingdom after my decease.
266
What wrong is this unto the prince your son!
268
What good is this to England and himself!
269
Earl of Westmoreland.
270
Base, fearful and despairing Henry!
272
How hast thou injured both thyself and us!
273
Earl of Westmoreland.
274
I cannot stay to hear these articles.
275
Earl of Northumberland.
278
Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news.
279
Earl of Westmoreland.
280
Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king,
281
In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides.
282
Earl of Northumberland.
283
Be thou a prey unto the house of York,
284
And die in bands for this unmanly deed!
286
In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome,
287
Or live in peace abandon'd and despised!
288
[Exeunt NORTHUMBERLAND, CLIFFORD, and WESTMORELAND]
290
Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not.
292
They seek revenge and therefore will not yield.
296
Why should you sigh, my lord?
298
Not for myself, Lord Warwick, but my son,
299
Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit.
300
But be it as it may: I here entail
301
The crown to thee and to thine heirs for ever;
302
Conditionally, that here thou take an oath
303
To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live,
304
To honour me as thy king and sovereign,
305
And neither by treason nor hostility
306
To seek to put me down and reign thyself.
307
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
308
This oath I willingly take and will perform.
310
Long live King Henry! Plantagenet embrace him.
312
And long live thou and these thy forward sons!
313
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
314
Now York and Lancaster are reconciled.
316
Accursed be he that seeks to make them foes!
317
[Sennet. Here they come down]
318
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
319
Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle.
321
And I'll keep London with my soldiers.
323
And I to Norfolk with my followers.
324
Marquess of Montague.
325
And I unto the sea from whence I came.
326
[Exeunt YORK, EDWARD, EDMUND, GEORGE, RICHARD,]
327
WARWICK, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, their Soldiers, and
330
And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court.
331
[Enter QUEEN MARGARET and PRINCE EDWARD]
333
Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger:
338
Nay, go not from me; I will follow thee.
340
Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay.
342
Who can be patient in such extremes?
343
Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid
344
And never seen thee, never borne thee son,
345
Seeing thou hast proved so unnatural a father
346
Hath he deserved to lose his birthright thus?
347
Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I,
348
Or felt that pain which I did for him once,
349
Or nourish'd him as I did with my blood,
350
Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there,
351
Rather than have that savage duke thine heir
352
And disinherited thine only son.
354
Father, you cannot disinherit me:
355
If you be king, why should not I succeed?
357
Pardon me, Margaret; pardon me, sweet son:
358
The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me.
360
Enforced thee! art thou king, and wilt be forced?
361
I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch!
362
Thou hast undone thyself, thy son and me;
363
And given unto the house of York such head
364
As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance.
365
To entail him and his heirs unto the crown,
366
What is it, but to make thy sepulchre
367
And creep into it far before thy time?
368
Warwick is chancellor and the lord of Calais;
369
Stern Falconbridge commands the narrow seas;
370
The duke is made protector of the realm;
371
And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds
372
The trembling lamb environed with wolves.
373
Had I been there, which am a silly woman,
374
The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes
375
Before I would have granted to that act.
376
But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour:
377
And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself
378
Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed,
379
Until that act of parliament be repeal'd
380
Whereby my son is disinherited.
381
The northern lords that have forsworn thy colours
382
Will follow mine, if once they see them spread;
383
And spread they shall be, to thy foul disgrace
384
And utter ruin of the house of York.
385
Thus do I leave thee. Come, son, let's away;
386
Our army is ready; come, we'll after them.
388
Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak.
390
Thou hast spoke too much already: get thee gone.
392
Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me?
394
Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies.
396
When I return with victory from the field
397
I'll see your grace: till then I'll follow her.
399
Come, son, away; we may not linger thus.
400
[Exeunt QUEEN MARGARET and PRINCE EDWARD]
402
Poor queen! how love to me and to her son
403
Hath made her break out into terms of rage!
404
Revenged may she be on that hateful duke,
405
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,
406
Will cost my crown, and like an empty eagle
407
Tire on the flesh of me and of my son!
408
The loss of those three lords torments my heart:
409
I'll write unto them and entreat them fair.
410
Come, cousin you shall be the messenger.
412
And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all.
2
[Enter RICHARD, EDWARD, and MONTAGUE]
3
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
4
Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.
5
King Edward IV (Plantagenet).
6
No, I can better play the orator.
8
But I have reasons strong and forcible.
10
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
11
Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife?
12
What is your quarrel? how began it first?
13
King Edward IV (Plantagenet).
14
No quarrel, but a slight contention.
15
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
17
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
18
About that which concerns your grace and us;
19
The crown of England, father, which is yours.
20
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
21
Mine boy? not till King Henry be dead.
22
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
23
Your right depends not on his life or death.
24
King Edward IV (Plantagenet).
25
Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now:
26
By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe,
27
It will outrun you, father, in the end.
28
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
29
I took an oath that he should quietly reign.
30
King Edward IV (Plantagenet).
31
But for a kingdom any oath may be broken:
32
I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.
33
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
34
No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.
35
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
36
I shall be, if I claim by open war.
37
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
38
I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak.
39
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
40
Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.
41
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
42
An oath is of no moment, being not took
43
Before a true and lawful magistrate,
44
That hath authority over him that swears:
45
Henry had none, but did usurp the place;
46
Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose,
47
Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.
48
Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think
49
How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown;
50
Within whose circuit is Elysium
51
And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.
52
Why do we finger thus? I cannot rest
53
Until the white rose that I wear be dyed
54
Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart.
55
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
56
Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.
57
Brother, thou shalt to London presently,
58
And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.
59
Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk,
60
And tell him privily of our intent.
61
You Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham,
62
With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise:
63
In them I trust; for they are soldiers,
64
Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.
65
While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more,
66
But that I seek occasion how to rise,
67
And yet the king not privy to my drift,
68
Nor any of the house of Lancaster?
70
But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post?
72
The queen with all the northern earls and lords
73
Intend here to besiege you in your castle:
74
She is hard by with twenty thousand men;
75
And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.
76
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
77
Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou that we fear them?
78
Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;
79
My brother Montague shall post to London:
80
Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,
81
Whom we have left protectors of the king,
82
With powerful policy strengthen themselves,
83
And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.
85
Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not:
86
And thus most humbly I do take my leave.
88
[Enter JOHN MORTIMER and HUGH MORTIMER]
89
Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles,
90
You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;
91
The army of the queen mean to besiege us.
93
She shall not need; we'll meet her in the field.
94
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
95
What, with five thousand men?
96
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
97
Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need:
98
A woman's general; what should we fear?
100
King Edward IV (Plantagenet).
101
I hear their drums: let's set our men in order,
102
And issue forth and bid them battle straight.
103
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
104
Five men to twenty! though the odds be great,
105
I doubt not, uncle, of our victory.
106
Many a battle have I won in France,
107
When as the enemy hath been ten to one:
108
Why should I not now have the like success?
1
Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield.
2
[Alarums. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor]
3
Edmond, Earl of Rutland.
4
Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?
5
Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes!
6
[Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers]
8
Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life.
9
As for the brat of this accursed duke,
10
Whose father slew my father, he shall die.
12
And I, my lord, will bear him company.
14
Soldiers, away with him!
16
Ah, Clifford, murder not this innocent child,
17
Lest thou be hated both of God and man!
18
[Exit, dragged off by Soldiers]
20
How now! is he dead already? or is it fear
21
That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them.
22
Edmond, Earl of Rutland.
23
So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch
24
That trembles under his devouring paws;
25
And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey,
26
And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder.
27
Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword,
28
And not with such a cruel threatening look.
29
Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die.
30
I am too mean a subject for thy wrath:
31
Be thou revenged on men, and let me live.
33
In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood
34
Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter.
35
Edmond, Earl of Rutland.
36
Then let my father's blood open it again:
37
He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.
39
Had thy brethren here, their lives and thine
40
Were not revenge sufficient for me;
41
No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves
42
And hung their rotten coffins up in chains,
43
It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart.
44
The sight of any of the house of York
45
Is as a fury to torment my soul;
46
And till I root out their accursed line
47
And leave not one alive, I live in hell.
50
Edmond, Earl of Rutland.
51
O, let me pray before I take my death!
52
To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!
54
Such pity as my rapier's point affords.
55
Edmond, Earl of Rutland.
56
I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me?
59
Edmond, Earl of Rutland.
60
But 'twas ere I was born.
61
Thou hast one son; for his sake pity me,
62
Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just,
63
He be as miserably slain as I.
64
Ah, let me live in prison all my days;
65
And when I give occasion of offence,
66
Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause.
69
Thy father slew my father; therefore, die.
71
Edmond, Earl of Rutland.
72
Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae!
75
Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet!
76
And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade
77
Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood,
78
Congeal'd with this, do make me wipe off both.
1
Another part of the field.
3
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
4
The army of the queen hath got the field:
5
My uncles both are slain in rescuing me;
6
And all my followers to the eager foe
7
Turn back and fly, like ships before the wind
8
Or lambs pursued by hunger-starved wolves.
9
My sons, God knows what hath bechanced them:
10
But this I know, they have demean'd themselves
11
Like men born to renown by life or death.
12
Three times did Richard make a lane to me.
13
And thrice cried 'Courage, father! fight it out!'
14
And full as oft came Edward to my side,
15
With purple falchion, painted to the hilt
16
In blood of those that had encounter'd him:
17
And when the hardiest warriors did retire,
18
Richard cried 'Charge! and give no foot of ground!'
19
And cried 'A crown, or else a glorious tomb!
20
A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre!'
21
With this, we charged again: but, out, alas!
22
We bodged again; as I have seen a swan
23
With bootless labour swim against the tide
24
And spend her strength with over-matching waves.
25
[A short alarum within]
26
Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue;
27
And I am faint and cannot fly their fury:
28
And were I strong, I would not shun their fury:
29
The sands are number'd that make up my life;
30
Here must I stay, and here my life must end.
31
[Enter QUEEN MARGARET, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND,]
32
PRINCE EDWARD, and Soldiers]
33
Come, bloody Clifford, rough Northumberland,
34
I dare your quenchless fury to more rage:
35
I am your butt, and I abide your shot.
36
Earl of Northumberland.
37
Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet.
39
Ay, to such mercy as his ruthless arm,
40
With downright payment, show'd unto my father.
41
Now Phaethon hath tumbled from his car,
42
And made an evening at the noontide prick.
43
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
44
My ashes, as the phoenix, may bring forth
45
A bird that will revenge upon you all:
46
And in that hope I throw mine eyes to heaven,
47
Scorning whate'er you can afflict me with.
48
Why come you not? what! multitudes, and fear?
50
So cowards fight when they can fly no further;
51
So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons;
52
So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives,
53
Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers.
54
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
55
O Clifford, but bethink thee once again,
56
And in thy thought o'er-run my former time;
57
And, if though canst for blushing, view this face,
58
And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice
59
Whose frown hath made thee faint and fly ere this!
61
I will not bandy with thee word for word,
62
But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one.
64
Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thousand causes
65
I would prolong awhile the traitor's life.
66
Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, Northumberland.
67
Earl of Northumberland.
68
Hold, Clifford! do not honour him so much
69
To prick thy finger, though to wound his heart:
70
What valour were it, when a cur doth grin,
71
For one to thrust his hand between his teeth,
72
When he might spurn him with his foot away?
73
It is war's prize to take all vantages;
74
And ten to one is no impeach of valour.
75
[They lay hands on YORK, who struggles]
77
Ay, ay, so strives the woodcock with the gin.
78
Earl of Northumberland.
79
So doth the cony struggle in the net.
80
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
81
So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty;
82
So true men yield, with robbers so o'ermatch'd.
83
Earl of Northumberland.
84
What would your grace have done unto him now?
86
Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland,
87
Come, make him stand upon this molehill here,
88
That raught at mountains with outstretched arms,
89
Yet parted but the shadow with his hand.
90
What! was it you that would be England's king?
91
Was't you that revell'd in our parliament,
92
And made a preachment of your high descent?
93
Where are your mess of sons to back you now?
94
The wanton Edward, and the lusty George?
95
And where's that valiant crook-back prodigy,
96
Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice
97
Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies?
98
Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland?
99
Look, York: I stain'd this napkin with the blood
100
That valiant Clifford, with his rapier's point,
101
Made issue from the bosom of the boy;
102
And if thine eyes can water for his death,
103
I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal.
104
Alas poor York! but that I hate thee deadly,
105
I should lament thy miserable state.
106
I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York.
107
What, hath thy fiery heart so parch'd thine entrails
108
That not a tear can fall for Rutland's death?
109
Why art thou patient, man? thou shouldst be mad;
110
And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus.
111
Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance.
112
Thou wouldst be fee'd, I see, to make me sport:
113
York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown.
114
A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him:
115
Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on.
116
[Putting a paper crown on his head]
117
Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king!
118
Ay, this is he that took King Henry's chair,
119
And this is he was his adopted heir.
120
But how is it that great Plantagenet
121
Is crown'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath?
122
As I bethink me, you should not be king
123
Till our King Henry had shook hands with death.
124
And will you pale your head in Henry's glory,
125
And rob his temples of the diadem,
126
Now in his life, against your holy oath?
127
O, 'tis a fault too too unpardonable!
128
Off with the crown, and with the crown his head;
129
And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead.
131
That is my office, for my father's sake.
133
Nay, stay; lets hear the orisons he makes.
134
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
135
She-wolf of France, but worse than wolves of France,
136
Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth!
137
How ill-beseeming is it in thy sex
138
To triumph, like an Amazonian trull,
139
Upon their woes whom fortune captivates!
140
But that thy face is, vizard-like, unchanging,
141
Made impudent with use of evil deeds,
142
I would assay, proud queen, to make thee blush.
143
To tell thee whence thou camest, of whom derived,
144
Were shame enough to shame thee, wert thou not shameless.
145
Thy father bears the type of King of Naples,
146
Of both the Sicils and Jerusalem,
147
Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman.
148
Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult?
149
It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen,
150
Unless the adage must be verified,
151
That beggars mounted run their horse to death.
152
'Tis beauty that doth oft make women proud;
153
But, God he knows, thy share thereof is small:
154
'Tis virtue that doth make them most admired;
155
The contrary doth make thee wonder'd at:
156
'Tis government that makes them seem divine;
157
The want thereof makes thee abominable:
158
Thou art as opposite to every good
159
As the Antipodes are unto us,
160
Or as the south to the septentrion.
161
O tiger's heart wrapt in a woman's hide!
162
How couldst thou drain the life-blood of the child,
163
To bid the father wipe his eyes withal,
164
And yet be seen to bear a woman's face?
165
Women are soft, mild, pitiful and flexible;
166
Thou stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorseless.
167
Bids't thou me rage? why, now thou hast thy wish:
168
Wouldst have me weep? why, now thou hast thy will:
169
For raging wind blows up incessant showers,
170
And when the rage allays, the rain begins.
171
These tears are my sweet Rutland's obsequies:
172
And every drop cries vengeance for his death,
173
'Gainst thee, fell Clifford, and thee, false
175
Earl of Northumberland.
176
Beshrew me, but his passion moves me so
177
That hardly can I cheque my eyes from tears.
178
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
179
That face of his the hungry cannibals
180
Would not have touch'd, would not have stain'd with blood:
181
But you are more inhuman, more inexorable,
182
O, ten times more, than tigers of Hyrcania.
183
See, ruthless queen, a hapless father's tears:
184
This cloth thou dip'dst in blood of my sweet boy,
185
And I with tears do wash the blood away.
186
Keep thou the napkin, and go boast of this:
187
And if thou tell'st the heavy story right,
188
Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears;
189
Yea even my foes will shed fast-falling tears,
190
And say 'Alas, it was a piteous deed!'
191
There, take the crown, and, with the crown, my curse;
192
And in thy need such comfort come to thee
193
As now I reap at thy too cruel hand!
194
Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the world:
195
My soul to heaven, my blood upon your heads!
196
Earl of Northumberland.
197
Had he been slaughter-man to all my kin,
198
I should not for my life but weep with him.
199
To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul.
201
What, weeping-ripe, my Lord Northumberland?
202
Think but upon the wrong he did us all,
203
And that will quickly dry thy melting tears.
205
Here's for my oath, here's for my father's death.
208
And here's to right our gentle-hearted king.
210
Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester).
211
Open Thy gate of mercy, gracious God!
212
My soul flies through these wounds to seek out Thee.
215
Off with his head, and set it on York gates;
216
So York may overlook the town of York.
|
