And bashful Henry depos’d, whose cowardice I am the son of Henry the Fifth,
Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

Who made the dauphin and the French to stoop,
York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute; And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces.
I mean to take possession of my right.

War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. Wur. Neither the king, nor he that loves him K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not l; best,

When I was crown'a, I was but nine months old. The proudest he that holds up Lancaster,

Rich. You are old enough now, and yet methinks Dares stir a wing, it Warwick shake his bells.

you lose : I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares:- Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown. Erw. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head,

[WARWICK leads York to the Throne, who Mont. Good brother, [TO YORK.) as thou lov'st seats himself:

and honor'st arms,

Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Flourish. Enter King HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTH- Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king UMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXETER, and others,

will ily. with red Roses in their Hats.

York. Sons, peace! K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel

K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave

to speak. sits, Even in the chair of state! belike, he means,

War. Plantagenet shall speak first :-hear him, (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that talse peer,) And be you silent and attentive too,

lords; To aspire unto the crown, and reign as king

For he, that interrupts him, shall not live.
Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father;
And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd

K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my

kingly throne, revenge On him, his sons, his favorites, and his friends.

Whercin my grandsire, and my father, sat? North. lil be not, heaven be revenged on me!

No: first shall war unpeople this my realm; Clit. The hope thereof makes Clitlord mourn in

Ay, and their colors,-otten borne in France;

And now in England, to our heart's great sorrow,steel. West. What, shall we suffer this ? let's pluck him

Shall be my winding sheet.-Why faint you, lords?

My title's good, and better far than his. down: My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it.

War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. k. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland.

K. Hen. Henry the Fourth by conquest got the

crown. Clif. Patience is for poltroons, and such as he; He durst not sit there had your father liv'd.

York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. My gracious lord, here in the parliament

K. Hen. I know not what to say; my title's weak. Let us assail the family of York.

Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir ? Norih. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so.

York. What then?

K. Hen. An if he may, then am I lawful king: K. Hien. Ah, know you not, the city tavors them, And they have troops of soldiers at their beck?

For Richard, in the view of many lords, Exe. But when the duke is slain, they'll quickly Whose heir my father was, and I am his.

Resign'd the crown to Henry the Fourth; ty. K. Hen: Far be the thought of this from Henry's and made him to resign his crown perforce.

York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, heart To make a shambles of the parliament-house!

War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats,

Think you, 'iwere prejudicial to his crown? Shall be the war that Henry means to use.-

Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown,

But that the next heir should succeed and reign. [They advance to the DUKE. Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne,

K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter? And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet;

Ere. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. I am thy sovereign.

York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer York.

Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee duke

Exe. My conscience tells me, he is lawful king.

K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to of York.

him. York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was.

North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, Exe. Thy tather was a traitor to the crown. War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown,

Think not, that Henry shall be so de pos'd. In following this usurping Henry.

War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural

North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy southern

power, king?

Of Essex, Nortolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,War. True, Clifford ; and that's Richard, duke

Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud,of York. K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my

Can set the duke up in despite of me. throne?

Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, York. It must and shall be so.. Content thyself. May that ground gape, and swallow me alive,

Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy detence:
War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king.
West. He is both king and duke ot Lancaster;

Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father! And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain.

K. Hen. () Clifford, how thy words revive my

heart! Wur. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget, York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown: That we are those, which chas'd you from the tield, And slew your fathers, and with colors spread

What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? March'd through the city to the palace gates.

War. Do right unto this princely duke of York: North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; And o'er the chair of state where now he sits,

Or I will till the house with armed men,
And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it.
West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons,

Write up his title with usurping blood.
Thy kinsmen and thy friends, I'll have more lives

[lle stamps, and the Soldiers show themselves. Than drops of blood were in my father's veins.

K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one

word; Clif. Lrge it no more; lest that, instead of words,

for this my life-time, reign as king. I send thee, Warwick, such a inessenger,

Yurk. Contirm ihe crown to me, and io mine As shall revenge his death, before I stir. War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless and thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv’st.

heirs, threats!

K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, York. Will you, we show our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field.

Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. K. Hlen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the

člif. What wrong is this unto the prince your

son? crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York;

War. What good is this to England and himself? Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of March;

West, Base, fearful, and despairing Henry!

Clif. How hast thou injur'd both thyself and us? 1 Hawks had sometimes little bells hung on them, per- West. I cannot stay to hear these articles. haps to dare the birds; that is, to fright them from rising. North. Nor I.

not?

Let me,

:

Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these ! But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honor: news.

And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself, West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed, king,

Until that aci of parliament be repeal'd, In whose cold blood no spark of honor bides! Whereby my son is disinherited.

North. Be thou a prey into the house of York, The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colors. And die in bands for this unmanly deed !

Will follow mine, it once they see them spread: Clif: In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome! And spread they shall be; to thy foul disgrace, Or live in peace, abandou'd and despisid!

And ulter ruin of the house of York.
[Excunt NORTHUMBERLAND, CLIFFORD, and Thus do I leave thee:--Come, son, let's away;
WESTMORELAND.

Our army's ready; come, we'll aiter them. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me not.

speak. Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get yield.

thee gone. K. Hen. Ah, Exeter!

K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay witb War. Why should you sigh, my lord ?

me? K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. son,

Prince. When I return with victory from the Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit.

field, But, be it as it may : -I here entail

I'll see your grace : till then, I'll follow her. The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; Q. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger Conditionally, that here thou take an oath

thus. To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live,

[Ereint QUEEN MARGARET and the PRINCE. To honor me as thy king and sovereign;

K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me, and to And neither by treason, nor hostility,

her son, To seek io put me down, and reign thyself. Hath made her break out into terms of rage! York. This oath I willingly take, and will per- Revenged may she be on that hateful duke; form.

[Coming from the Throne. Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire, War. Long live king Henry !--Plantagenet, em- Will cost my crown, and, like an empty eagle, brace him.

Tired on the flesh of ine, and of my son ! K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy for- The loss of those three lords torments my heart; ward sons!

I'll write unto them, and entreat them fair;York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Come, cousin, you shall be the messenger. Exe. Accurs'd be he, that seeks to make them Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all. foes! [The Lords come forward.

[Exeunt. York. Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle.

SCENE II.-A Room in Sandal Castle, near War. And I'll keep London, with my soldiers.

Wakefield, in Yorkshire.
Norf. And I to Norfolk, with my followers.
Mont. And I unto the sea, from whence I came.

Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE.
[Exeunt YORK, anıl his Sons, WARWICK, Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me
NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, Soldiers, and

leave. Attendants.

Elw. No, I can better play the orator. K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the

Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible. court.

Enter YORK.

York. Why, how now, sons and brother, at a Enter QUEEN MARGARET, and the PRINCE OF

strife! WALES.

What is your quarrel ? how began it first? Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray

Etw. No quarrel but a slight contention. her anger:

York. About what?

Rich. About that which concerns your grace, I'll steal away.

and us; K. Hen. Exeter, so will l.

(Going. Q: Mur. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee: The crown of England, father, which is yours. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay:

York. Mine, boy? not till king Henry be dead. Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes?

Rich. Your right depends not on his lite, or death. Ah, wretched man! 'would I had died a maid,

Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: And never seen thee, never borne thee son,

By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a faiher!

It will outrun you, father, in the end. Hath he deserv'd to lose his birthright thus?

York. I took an oath that he should quietly Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I;

reign. Or felt that pain, which I did for him once;

Edw. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be

broken: Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood;

I'd break a thousand oaths, to reign one year. Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there,

Rich. No; God forbid, your grace should be forRather than made that savage duke thine heir, And disinherited thine only son.

York. I shall be, if I claim by open war: Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me:

Rich. I'll prove the contrary, you'll hear me

speak. If you be king, why should I not succeed? K. Hen. Pardon mne, Margaret ;-pardon me,

York. 'Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. sweet son ;

Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took The earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me.

Before a true and lawful magistrate,
Q. Mar. Enforced thee! art thou king, and wilt Henry had none, but did usurp the place;

That hath authority over him that swears :
be forced !
'I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch!

Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to dcpose, Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me;

Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. And given unto the house of York such head,

Therefore, to arms. And, father, do but think, As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance.

How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown; To entail him and his heirs unto the crown,

Within whose circuit is Elysium, What is it, but to make thy sepulchre,

And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. And creep into it far before thy time?"

Why do we linger thus ? I cannot rest, Warwick is chancellor, and the lord of Calais;

Until the white rose, that I wear, be dyed Stern Falconbridge coinmands the narrow seas;

Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart. The duke is made protector of the realm ;

York. Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds

Brother, thou shalt to London presently,

And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.-
The trembling lamb, environed with wolves.
Had I been there, which am a silly woman,

Thou, Richard, shalt unto the duke of Norfolk,
The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes,

And tell him privily of our intent.Before I would have granted to that act.

Sworn.

You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham,

Is as a fury to torment my soul;
With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise: And ull I root out their accursed line,
In them I trust; for they are soldiers,

And leave not one alive, I live in hell.
Witty3 and courteous, liberal, full of spirit.-- Therefore-

(Lifting his Hand. While you are ihus employ'd, what resteth more, Rut. O, let me pray before I take my death: But that I seek occasion how to rise ;

To thec I pray; Sweet Clifford, pity me! And yet the king not privy to my drift,

Clif: Such pity as iny rapier's point affords. Nor any of the house of Lancaster ?

Rut. I never did thee harm; Why wilt thou slav Enter a Messenger.

me?

Clif. Thy father hath. But, stay; What news? Why com’st thou in such

Rut.

But 'twas ere I was born. post?

Thou hast one son, for his sake pity me; Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and

Lest in revenge thereof,--sith God is just,lords,

He be as miserably slain as I. Intend here to besiege you in your castle :

Ah, let me live in prison all my days; She is hard by with twenty thousand men;

And when I give occasion of ollence, And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.

Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause. York. Ay, with my sword. What, think'st thou,

Clif. No cause? that we fear them!

Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;

(CLIFFORD stabs him. My brother Montague shall post to London:

Rut. Dii faciant, laudis summa sil istu tuæ !4 Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,

(Dies. Whom we have lett protectors of the king,

Clif. Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! With powerful policy strengthen themselves, And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade, And trust not simple Henry, nor his oaths. ! Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood, Mont. Brother, I go; l'll win them, fear it not:

CongeaI'd with this, do make me wipe off both. And thus most humbly do I take my leave. [Exit.

(Exit. Enter Sir John and Sir Hugh MORTIMER.

SCENE IV.-The same. York. Sir John, and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine

Alarum. Enter YORK. uncles ! You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;

York. The army of the queen hath got the field: The army of the queen mean to besiege us.

My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; Sir John. She shall not need, we'll meet her in

And all my followers to the eager toe the field.

Turn back, and fly, like ships betore the wind, York. What, with five thousand men ?

Or lambs pursued by hunger-starved wolves. Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need. My sons--God knows what has bechanced them: A woman's general; What should we fear?

But this I know they have demean'd themselves [.A March afar off

Like men born to renown, by lite or death. Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in

Three times did Richard make a lane to me; order;

And thrice cried,-Courage, futher! fight it out! And issue forth, and bid them battle straight.

And full as oft came Edward to my side, York. Five men to twenty !-though the odds be

With purple talchion, painted to the hilt,

In blood of those that had encounter'd him: great, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory.

And when the hardiest warriors did retire, Many a battle have I won in France,

Richard cried, ---Charged and give no foot of When as the enemy hath been ten to one;

ground! Why should I not now have the like success?

And cried,-- A crown, or else a glorious tomb! [ Alarum. Exeunt. A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre!

With this, we charged again: but, out, alas!
SCENE III.- Plains near Sandal Castle. We bodgedi again; as I have seen a swan
Alarums: Excursions. Enter RUTLAND, and his

With bootless labor swim against the tide,
Tutor.

And spend her strength with overmatching waves.

[ A short Alarum within. Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands! Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue: Ah, tutor! look, where bloody Clifford comes ! And I am faint, and cannot try their fury; Enter CliFFORD, and Soldiers,

And, were I strong, I would not shun their fury:

The sands are number'd that make up my life; Clif. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy lite.

Here must I stay, and here my life must end. As for the brat of this accursed duke,

Enter QUEEN MARGARET, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERWhose father slew my father,-he shall die.

LAND, and Soldiers. Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company. Comc, bloody Clifford,--rough Northumberland, Clif. Soldiers, away with him.

I dare your quenchless fury to more rage Tut. Ah, Clifford! murder not this innocent child, I am your butt, and I abide your shot. Lest thou be hated both of God and man.

North. Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. [Exit, forced off by Soldiers. Clif. Ay, to such mercy, as his ruthless arm, Clif. How now! is he dead already? Or is it tear, With downright payment, show'd unto my father. That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them. Now Phaeton hath tumbled from his car,

Rut. So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch And made an evening at the noontide prick. That trembles under his devouring paws:

York. My ashes, as the Phænix, may bring forth And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey;

A bird that will revenge upon you all: And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder.

And, in that hope, I throw mine eyes to heaven, Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword,

Scorning whate'er you can afllict me with. And not with such a cruel threat'ning look.

Why come you not? what! multitudes, and fear? Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die;

clif.So cowards tight,when they can fly no further; I am too mean a subject for thy wrath,

So doves do peck the talcon's piercing talons; Be thou revenged on men, and let me live.

So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives, Clif: In vain thou speak’st, poor boy; my father's Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers. blood

York. ( Clifford, but bethink thee once again, Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should And in thy thought o'er-run my former time: enter.

And, if thou canst for blushing, view this tace; Rut. Then let my father's blood open it again; And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowHe is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.

ardice, Clif. Had I thy brethren here, their lives, and thine Whose frown hath made thee faint and ny ere this. Were not revenge sufficient for me;

Clif. I will not bandy with thee word för word; No, if I digg'd up thy foretathers' graves,

But buckle with thee blows twice two for one. And hung their rotten cotlins up in chains,

[Draws It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart.

• Heaven grant that this may be your greatest boast! The sight of any of the house of York

Ovid. Epist. ; or sound judgment.

sie. We boggled, failed. • Noontide point on the dial.

woman.

Q. Mar. Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thousand But that thy face is, visor-like, unchanging,
causes,

Made impudent with use of evil deeds,
I would prolong awhile the traitor's life:-

I would assay, proud queen, to make the blush:.
Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, Northumber- To tell thee whence thou cam’st, of whom deriv'd,
land.

Were shame enough to shame thee, wert thou not
North. Hold, Clifford; do not honor him so much,

shameless.
To prick thy tinger, though to wound his heart: Thy father bears the type of king of Naples,
What valor were it, when a cur doth grin,

Of both the Sicils, and Jerusalem;
For one to thrust his hand between his teeth, Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman.
When he might spurn him with his foot away? Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult?
It is war's prize to take all vantages;

It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen.
And ten to one is no impeach ot' valon,

Unless the adage must be verified,
[They lay hands on YORK, who struggles. That beggars, mounted, run their horse to death.
Clif. Ay, ay, so strives the woodcock with the gin. 'Tis beauty that doth oft make women proud;
North. So doth the coney struggle in the net. But, God hic knows, thy share thereof is small:

(YORK is taken prisoner. 'Tis virtue, that doth make them most admir'd;
York. So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd The contrary doth make thee wonder'd at:
booty;

'Tis government, that makes them seem divine;
So true men yield, with robbers so o'er-matched. The want thereof makes thee abominable;
North. What would your grace have done unto Thou art as opposite to every good,
him now?

As the Antipodes are unto us,
Q. Mar. Brave warriors, Clifford and Northum- Or as the south to the septentrion.2
berland,

0, tiger's heart, wrapp'd in a woman's hide!
Come make him stand upon this molehill here, How could'st thou drain the life-blood of the child,
That raught at mountains with outstretched arms, To bid the father wipe his eyes withal,
Yet parted but the shadow with his hand.- And yet be seen to bear a woman's face?
What! was it you that would be England's king? Women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible;
Was't you that revell'd in our parliament,

Thou stern, obdurate, tlinty, rough, remorseless.
And made a preachment of your high descent? Bid'st thou me rage? why, now thou hast thy wish:
Where are your mess of sons to back you now? Would'st have me weep? why, now thou hast thy
The wanton Edward, and the lusty George?

will:
And where's that valiant crook-back prodigy, For raging wind blows up incessant showers,
Dickey, your boy, that with his grumbling voice, And, when the rage allays, the rain begins.
Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinics?

These tears are my sweet Rutland's obsequies;
Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland ? And every drop cries vengeance for his death,
Louk, York; I stain'd this napkin with the blood Gainst thee, fell Clifford, -and thee, false French-
That valiant Cliftord, with his rapier's point,
Made issue from the bosom of the boy:

North. Beshrew me, but his passions? move me so,
And, if ihine eyes can water for his death,

That hardly can I check my eyes from tears.
I give thee this to dry thy checks withal.

York. That face of his the hungry cannibals
Alas, poor York! but that I hate thee deadly, Would not have touch'd, would not have stain'd
I should lament thy miserable state.

with blood :
I pr’ythee, grieve, to make me merry, York; But you are more inhuman, more inexorable,-
Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance. 0, ten times more,-than tigers of Hyrcania.
What, hath ihy tiery heart so parch'd thine entrails, See, ruthless queen, a hapless father's tears:
That not a tear can fall for Ruuand's death? This cloth thou dipp’dst in blood of my sweet boy,
Why art thou patient, man? thou should'st be mad; And I with tears do wash the blood away.
And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus. Keep thou the napkin, and go boast of this:
Thou would'st be teed, I see, to make me sport;

He gives back the Handkerchief.
York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown.- And if thou tell'st the heavy story right,
A crown for York;-and, lords, bow low to him.- | Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears;
Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on.- Yea, even my foes will shed fast-falling tears,

[Putting a paper Crown on his Ilead. And say,-- Alas, it was a piteous deed!
Ay, marry, sír, now looks he like a king!

There, take the crown, and with the crown, my
Ay, this is he that took king Henry's chair;

curse ;
And this is he was his adopted heir.

And, in thy necd, such comfort come to thee,
But how is it that great Plantagenet

As now I reap at thy too cruel hand!--
Is crown'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath? Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the world;.
As I bethink me, you should not be king,

My soul to heaven, my blood upon your heads!
Till our king Henry had shook hands with death. North. Had he been slaughter-man to all my kin,
And will you pale your head in Henry's glory, I should not for my life but weep with hin,
And rob his temples of the diadem,

To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul.
Now in his life, against your holy oath?

Q. Mar. What, weeping ripe, my lord Northum-
0, 'tis a fault too, too unpardonable!

berland?
Off with the crown; and with the crown, his head; Think but upon the wrong he did us all,
And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead. And that will quickly dry thy melting tears.

Clif. That is my office, for my father's sake. Clif. Here's for my oath, here's for my fat her's
Q. Mar. Nay, stay ; let's hear the orisons he

death,
makes.

Q. Mar. And here's to right our gentle-hearted
York. She-wolf of France, but worse than wolves

king.
of France,

York. Open thy gate of mercy, gracious God
Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth! My soulfies through these wounds to seek out the
How ill-beseeming is it in thy sex,
To triumph like an Amazonian trull,

Q. Mar. Off with his head, and set it on Yorkgatas;
Upon their woes, whom fortune captivates? So York may overlook the town of York. (Eiers It.

[Stabbing h im.
[Stabbing hini.

(Dies.

ACT II.

S;

SCENE I.-A Plain near Mortimer's Cross in | From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit
Herefordshire.

Had he been ta'en, we should have heard the ne
Drums. Enter EDWARD and RICHARD, with their

Had he been slain, we should have heard the ne

Or, had he 'scaped, methinks, we should have heard
Forces, marching.

The happy tidings of his good escape.-
Edw. I wonder, how our princely father 'scap How fares my brother? why is he so sad ?
Or whether he be 'scaped away or no,

, The distinguishing mark. Regularity of behariour.
* Reached.

• Impale, encircle.

• Sufferings

Rich. I cannot joy, until I be resolv'd

To weep, is to make less the depth of grief: Where our right valiant father is become.

Tears, then, for babes; blows and revenge for me! I saw him in the battle range about;

Richard, I bear thy name, I'll venge thy death, And watch'd him how he singled Clifford forth. Or die renowned by attempting it, Methoughi, he bore him in the thickest troop, Edw. His name that valiant duke hath left with As doth a lion in a herd of neat:4

thee; Or as a bear, encompass'd round with dogs; His dukedom and his chair with me is left Who having pinch'd a few, and made them cry, Rich. Nay, if thou be that princely cagle's bird, •The rest stand all aloof, and bark at him.

Show thy descent by gazing 'gainst the sun: So fared our father with his enemies;

For chair and dukedom, throne and kingdom say; So tled his enemies my warlike father;

Or that is thine, or else thou wert not his.
Methinkis, 'tis prize enough to be his son.
See how the morning opes her golden gates,
And takes her farewell of the glorious sun!

March. Enter WARWICK and MONTAGUE, with

Forces.
How well resembles it the prime of youth,
Trimm'd like a younker, prancing to his love!

War. How now, fair lords? What fare? what Elw. Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns?

news abroad? Rich. Three glorious suns, each one a perfect

Rich. Great lord of Warwick, if we should sun:

recount Not separated with the racking clouds,

Our baleful news, and, at each word's deliverance, But sever'd in a pale clear shining sky.

Stab poniards in our flesh till all were told, See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss, The words would add more anguish than the As if they vow'd some lea que inviolable :

wounds. Now are they but one lamp, une light, one sun.

O valiant lord, the duke of York is slain. In this the heaven figures solae event.

Edw. 0 Warwick! Warwick! that Plantagenet Edw. 'Tis wondrous strange, the like yet never

Which held thee dearly, as his soul's redemption, heard of.

Is by the stern lord Clitlord done to death. I think, it cites us, brother, to the field;

War. Ten days ago I drown'd these news in That we, the sons of brave Plantagenet,

tears : Each one already blazing by sur meeds,6

And now, to add more measure to your woes, Should, notwithstanding, join our lights together, I come to tell you things since then befall’n. And overshine the earth, as this the world.

After the bloody fray at Wakefield fought, Whate'er it bodes, henceforward will I bear Where your brave father breath'd his latest gasp, Upon my target three fair shining suns.

Tidings, as swiftly as the posts could run, Rich. Nay, bear three daughters; by your leave Were brought me of your loss, and his depart. I speak it,

I then in London, keeper of the king, You love the breeder better than the male.

Muster'd my soldiers, gather'd flocks of friends,

And very well appointed, as I thought,
Enter a Messenger.

March'd towards Saint Alban's to intercept the But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell

queen, Some dicadful story hanging on thy tongue ?

Bearing the king in my behalf along : Mess. An, one that was a woful looker on,

For by my scouts I was advertised, When as the noble duke of York was slain,

That she was coming with a full intent Your princely father, and my loving lord.

To dash our late decree in parliament, Edw. (), speak no inore! for I have heard too | Touching king Henry's oath and your succession. much

Short tale to make-we at Saint Alban's met, Rich. Say how he died, for I will hear it all.

Our batiles join'd, and both sides fiercely fought: Mess. Environed he was with many foes;

But, whether 'twas the coldness of the king, And stood against them as the hope of Troy

Who look'd full gently on his warlike queen, Against the Greeks that would have enter'd Troy. That robb'd my soldiers of their hated spleen; But Hercules hinselt must yield to odds;

Or whether 'twas report of her success; And many strokes, though with a little axe,

Or more than common fear of Clifford's rigor, Hew down and tell the hardest-timber'd oak.

Who thunders to his captives-blood and death, By many hands yeur father was subdued;

I cannot judge: but, to conclude with truth, But only slaughter'd by the iretul arm

Their weapons like to lightning came and went; Of unrelenting Clifford, and the queen:

Our soldiers'-like the night-owl's lazy tight, Who crown'd the gracious duke in high despite;

Or like a lazy thrasher with a tlailLaugh`d in bis face; and, when with grief he wept, Fell gently down, as if they struck their friends. The ruthless queen gave him, to dry his cheeks,

I chcer'u ihem up with justice of our cause, A napkin steeped in the harmless blood

With promise of high pay, and great rewards: Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain : But all in vain; they had no heart to fight, And, after many scorns, many foul taunts,

And we, in them, no hope to win the day, They took his head, and on the gates of York

So that we fled; the king unto the qucen; They set the same; and there it doth remain,

Lord George your brother, Norfolk, and myself, The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd.

In haste, post-hasie, are come to join with you; Edw. Sweet duke of York, our prop to lean

For in the marches here, we heard you were, upon ;

Making another head to fight again. Now thou art gone, we have no staff, no stay!

Edw. Where is the duke of Norfolk, gentle O Clifford, boist'rous Clifford, thou hast slain

Warwick? The flower of Europe for his chivalry;

And when came George from Burgundy to Eng

land? And treacherously past thou vanquish'd him, For, hand to hand, he would have vanquish'd

War. Some six miles off the duke is with the thee!

soldiers : Now my soul's palace is become a prison :

And for your brother,- he was lately sent Ah, would she break from hence that this my

From your kind aunt, duchess of Burgundy, body

With aid of soldiers to this needful war. Might in the ground be closed up in rest :

Rich. 'Twas odds, belike, when valiant Warwick For never henceforth shall I joy again,

fled: Never, ( never, shall I see more joy.

Oft have I heard his praises in pursuit, Rich. I cannot weep: for all my body's moisture

But ne'er, til now, his scandal of retire. Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart:

War. Nor now my scandal, Richard, dost thou Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burden, For thou shalt know this strong right hand of

hear: For self-same wind, that I should speak withal, Is kindling coals, that tire all my breast,

mine And burn me up with flames, that tears would

Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry's head, quench.

And wring the awful sceptre from his list;

Were he as famous and as bold in war,
Neat cattle, cows, oxen, &c.

As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. si. e, The clouds in rapid tumultuary motion. Rich. I know it well, lord Warwick : blame me 6 Merit.