March. Enter Queen MARGARET, Prince EDWARD, SOMERSET, OXFORD, and Soldiers. 'Q. Mar. Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, *But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. "What though the mast be now blown over-board, "The cable broke, the holding anchor lost, 'And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood; Yet lives our pilot still: Is't meet, that he 'Should leave the helm, and like a fearful lad, *With tearful eyes add water to the sea, *And give more strength to that which hath too much: *Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock, *Which industry and courage might have sav'd? *Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this? 'Say, Warwick was our anchor; What of that? 'And Montague our top-mast; What of him? "Our slaughter'd friends the tackles; What of these? "Why, is not Oxford here another anchor? 'And Somerset another goodly mast? "The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? 'And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge? 'We will not from the helm, to sit and weep; *But keep our course, though the rough wind say — no, *From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck. *As good to chide the waves, as speak them fair. *And what is Edward, but a ruthless sea? *What Clarence, but a quicksand of deceit? *And Richard, but a ragged fatal rock? *All these the enemies to our poor bark. *Say, you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while: *Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink: *Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off, *Or else you famish, that's a threefold death. This speak I, lords, to let you understand, *In case some one of you would fly from us, That there's no hop'd-for mercy with the brothers, *More than with ruthless waves, with sands and rocks. *Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided, "Twere childish weakness to lament, or fear. *Prince. Methinks, a woman of this valiant spirit *Should, if a coward heard her speak these words, *Infuse his breast with magnanimity, *And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. 'Oxf. Women and children of so high a courage! And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame. 'O, brave young prince! thy famous grandfather Doth live again in thee; long may'st thou live, To bear his image, and renew his glories! 'Som. And he, that will not fight for such a hope, 'Go home to bed, and, like the owl by day, 'If he arise, be mock'd and wonder'd at. *Q. Mar. Thanks, gentle Somerset; sweet Oxford, thanks. *Prince. And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing else. Enter a Messenger. 'Mess. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand, 'Ready to fight; therefore be resolute. 'Oxf. I thought no less: it is his policy, "To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided. Som. But he's deceiv'd, we are in readiness. Q. Mar. This cheers my heart, to see your forward ness. Oxf. Here pitch our battle; hence we will not budge. March. Enter, at a distance, King EDWARD, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and Forces. 'K. Edw. Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, "Which, by the heavens' assistance, and your strength, 'Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. I need not add more fuel to your fire, *For, well I wot, ye blaze to burn them out: "Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords. Q. Mar. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say, 'My tears gainsay; 10) for every word I speak, Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes. "Therefore, no more but this: Henry, your sovereign, 'Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd, 'His realm a slaughterhouse, his subjects slain, 'His statutes cancell'd, and his treasure spent ; 'And yonder is the wolf, that makes this spoil. "You fight in justice; then, in God's name, lords, 'Be valiant, and give signal to the fight. SCENE V. [Exeunt both Armies. Another Part of the same. Alarums: Excursions: and afterwards a Retreat. Then enter King EDWARD, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and Forces: with Queen MARGARET, OXFORD, and SOMERSET, Prisoners. 'K. Edw. Now, here a period of tumultuous broils. Away with Oxford to Hammes' castle 1) straight: For Somerset, off with his guilty head. Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. Oxf. For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words. 'Som. Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune. [Exeunt OXFORD and SOMERSET, guarded. To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem. *Q. Mar. So part we sadly in this troublous world, *K. Edw. Is proclamation made, Edward, that, who finds *Shall have a high reward, and he his life? *Glo. It is: and, lo, where youthful Edward comes. Enter Soldiers, with Prince EDWARD. *K. Edw. Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak: What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? 'Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make, 'For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects, *And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to? Prince. Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York! Suppose that I am now my father's mouth; Resign thy chair, and where I stand, kneel thou, Whilst I propose the self-same words to thee, 'K. Edw. Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue. Clar. Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert. Prince. I know my duty, you are all undutiful : Lascivious Edward, and thou perjur'd George,And thou misshapen Dick, — I tell ye all, I am your better, traitors as ye are; "And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine. K. Edw. Take that, the likeness of this railer here. 13) [Stabs him. 'Glo. Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy agony. [GLO, stabs him. *Clar. And there's for twitting me with perjury. [CLA. stabs him. [Offers to kill her. Q. Mar. O, kill me too! Glo. Marry, and shall. 'K. Edw. Hold, Richard, hold, for we have done too much. Glo. Why should she live, to fill the world with words? 14) 'K. Edw. What! does she swoon? use means for her recovery. Glo. Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother; 'I'll hence to London on a serious matter: 'Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news. Clar. What? what? 'Glo. The Tower! the Tower! [Exit. 'Q. Mar. O, Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! "Canst thou not speak? O traitors! murderers! They, that stabb'd Cæsar, shed no blood at all, Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, *If this foul deed were by, to equal it. 'He was a man: this, in respect, a child; And men ne'er spend their fury on a child. 'What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? *No, no; my heart will burst, an if I speak: *And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. 'Butchers and villains, bloody cannibals! *How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd! "You have no children, butchers! if you had, "The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse : 'But, if you ever chance to have a child, Look in his youth to have him so cut off, 'As, deathsmen! you have rid this sweet young prince! K. Edw. Away with her; go, bear her hence perforce. Q. Mar. Nay, never bear me hence, despatch me here; Here sheath thy sword, I'll pardon thee my death: What! wilt thou not? then, Clarence, do it thou. Clar. By heaven, I will not do thee so much ease. Q. Mar. Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it. Clar. Didst thou not hear me swear, I would not do it? Q. Mar. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself; "Twas sin before, 15) but now 'tis charity. "What! wilt thou not? where is that devil's butcher, Hard-favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou? Thou art not here: Murder is thy alms-deed; Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back. 'K. Edw. Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence. Q. Mar. So come to you, and yours, as to this prince! [Exit, led out forcibly. K. Edw. Where's Richard gone? Clar. To London, all in post: and, as I guess, To make a bloody supper in the Tower. K. Edw. He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head. Now march we hence: discharge the common sort With pay and thanks, and let's away to London, And see our gentle queen how well she fares; 'By this, I hope, she hath a son for me. [Exeunt. 'Tis sin to flatter, good was little better: Good Gloster, and good devil, were alike, And both preposterous; therefore, not good lord. *Glo. Sirrah, leave us to ourselves: we must confer. [Exit Lieutenant. *K. Hen. So flies the reckless shepherd from the wolf: So first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece, And next his throat unto the butcher's knife. — What scene of death hath Roscius now to act? Glo. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer. 'K. Hen. The bird, that hath been limed in a bush, "With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush: And I the hapless male 16) to one sweet bird, Have now the fatal object in my eye, Where my poor young was lim'd, was caught, and kill'd. 'Glo. Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete, "That taught his son the office of a fowl? 'And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd. 'K. Hen. I, Dædalus; my poor boy, Icarus; Thy father, Minos, that denied our course: "The sun that sear'd the wings of my sweet boy, Thy brother Edward; and thyself the sea, 'Whose envious gulf did swallow up his life. *Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words! 'My breast can better brook thy dagger's point, Than can my ears that tragic history. *But wherefore dost thou come? is't for my life? 'Glo. Think'st thou, I am an executioner? K. Hen. A persecutor, I am sure thou art; 'If murdering innocents be executing, Why, then thou art an executioner. Glo. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption. K. Hen. Hadst thou been kill'd, when first thou didst presume, Thou hadst not liv'd to kill a son of mine. And thus I prophesy, - that many a thousand, "Which now mistrust no parcel of iny fear; 17) ‘And many an old man's sigh, and many a widow's, 'And many an orphan's water-standing eye, 'Men for their sons, wives for their husbands' fate, 'And orphans for their parents' timeless death, 'Shall rue the hour that ever thou wast born. The owl shriek'd at thy birth, an evil sign; "The night-crow cried, aboding luckless time; Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempests shook down trees; The raven rook'd her 18) on the chimney's top, And chattering pies in dismal discords sung. speech: Die, prophet, in thy For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. 'And this word - love, which greybeards call divine, Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies. That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion, queen; And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, 'Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence thou 'Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit: Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light; And cried all hail! when as he meant But I will sort a pitchy day for thee: '") SCENE VII. [Exit. The same. A Room in the Palace. all harm. Aside. K. Edw. Now am I seated as my soul delights, Reignier, her father, to the king of France And now what rests, but that we spend the time farewell, sour annoy! [Exeunt. Now is the winter of our discontent I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty, Sir JAMES BLOUNT. Sir WALTER HERBERT. Sir ROBERT BRAKENBURY, Lieutenant of the Tower. CHRISTOPHER URSWICK, a Priest. Another Priest. Lord Mayor of London. Sheriff of Wiltshire. ELIZABETH, Queen of King Edward IV. Duchess of YORK, Mother to King Edward IV., Lady ANNE, Widow of Edward Prince of Wales, Son to King Henry VI.; afterwards married to the Duke of Gloster. A young Daughter of Clarence. Lords, and other Attendants; two Gentlemen, a Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Murderers, Messengers, Ghosts, Soldiers, &c. England. Why I, in this weak piping time of peace, And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover, ❝) He should, for that, commit your godfathers: Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by wo men: "Tis not the king, that sends you to the Tower; My lady Grey, his wife, Clarence, 'tis she, That tempers him to this extremity. Was it not she, and that good man of worship, That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower; Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; His Majesty hath straitly given in charge, That no man shall have private conference, Of what degree soever, with his brother. Glo. Even so? an please your worship, Brakenbury, You may partake of any thing we say: We speak no treason, man; We say, the king Is wise, and virtuous; and his noble queen Well struck in years; fair, and not jealous: We say, that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot, A cherry lip, I will deliver you, or else lie for you: 12) Mean time, have patience. Clar. I must perforce; farewell. [Exeunt CLARENCE, BRAKENBURY, and Guard. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return, Simple, plain Clarence! I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, If heaven will take the present at our hands. But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings? Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! Hast. No news so bad abroad, as this at home; Glo. Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed. He is. Hast. He cannot live, I hope; and must not die, When they are gone, then must I count my gains. [Exit. SCENE II. The same. Another Street. Enter the Corpse of King HENRY the Sixth, borne in an open Coffin, Gentlemen bearing Halberds, to guard it; and Lady ANNE as Mourner. Anne. Set down, set down your honourable load, If honour may be shrouded in a hearse, Whilst I a while obsequiously lament 15) The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster. Poor key-cold 16) figure of a holy king! Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster! Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood! Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost, To hear the lamentations of poor Anne, Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughter'd son, |