ruffian, Outcast of Naples, England's bloody scourge! What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the The sons of York, thy betters in their birth, Shall be their father's bail; and bane to those That for my surety will refuse the boys! Enter Edward and Richard Plantagenet, with forces at one side; at the other, with forces also, Old Clifford and his son. See where they come: I'll warrant they'll make it good. [their bail. Q. Mar. And here comes Clifford, to deny Clif. [Kneeling.] Health and all happiness to my lord the king! York. I thank thee, Clifford: say, .what news with thee? Nay, do not fright us with an angry look : take But thou mistak'st me much, to think I To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad? K. Hen. Ay, Clifford; a Bedlam and ambitious humour Makes him oppose himself against his king. Clif. He is a traitor; let him to the Tower, And chop away that factious pate of his. Q. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey; His sons, he says, shall give their words for him. [serve. York. Will you not, sons? [here! Clif. Why, what a brood of traitors have we York. Look in a glass, and call thy image so:, I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor.Call hither to the stake my two brave bears, That with the very shaking of their chains They may astonish these fell lurking curs: Bid Salisbury, and Warwick, come to me. Drums. Enter Warwick and Salisbury, with forces. Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears to death, And manacle the bear-ward in their chains, And such a piece of service will you do, And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?— Sal. My lord, I have consider'd with myself Sal. I have. [for such an oath? K. Hen. Canst thou dispense with heaven Sal. It is a great sin to swear unto a sin; But greater sin to keep a sinful oath. Who can be bound by any solemn vow To do a murd 'rous deed, to rob a man, To force a spotless virgin's chastity, To reave the orphan of his patrimony, To wring the widow from her custom'd right; And have no other reason for this wrong, But that he was bound by a solemn oath? Q. Mar. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. K. Hen. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself. I York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends am resoiv'd for death, or dignity. [thou hast; Clif. The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true. War. You were best to go to bed and dream again, To keep thee from the tempest of the field. Clif. I am resolv'd to bear a greater storm, Than any thou canst conjure up to-day; And that I'll write upon thy burgonet, Might I but know thee by thy household badge. War. Now, by my father's badge, old Nevil's crest, The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff, If you oppose yourselves to match lord War-And tread it under-foot with all contempt, wick. [lump, Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested As crooked in thy manners as thy shape! York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly| anon. Clif. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves. K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?— Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair, Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son !— Despite the bear-ward that protects the bear. For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. thou canst tell. Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell. [Exeunt severally. SCENE II.-St. Albans. Alarums: Excursions. Enter Warwick. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls! And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, And dead men's cries do fill the empty air,Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms. Enter York. How now, my noble lord! what, all a-foot? York. The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed; But match to match I have encounter'd him, And made a prey for carrion kites and crows Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well. Enter Old Clifford. War. Of one or both of us the time is come. York. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase, For I myself must hunt this deer to death. War. Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown thou fight'st. As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day, [Exit. Clif. What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou pause? [in love, York. With thy brave bearing should I be But that thou art so fast mine enemy. Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem, But that 'tis shown ignobly, and in treason. York. So let it help me now against thy sword, As I in justice and true right express it! Clif. My soul and body on the action both? York. A dreadful lay!-address thee inClif. La fin couronne les œuvres. [stantly. [They fight, and Clifford falls and dies. York. Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still. Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will! [Exit. Enter Young Clifford. Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout; Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell, Whom angry heavens do make their minister, To cease!-Wast thou ordain'd, dear father, As did Æneas old Anchises bear, Rich. So, lie thou there; For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign, Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill. [Exit. Alarums: Excursions. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and others, retreating. Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away! K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens ? good Margaret, stay. [nor fight, nor fly: Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence, To give the enemy way; and to secure us By what we can, which can no more but fly. [Alarum afar off. If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom Of all our fortunes: but if we haply 'scape, (As well we may, if not through your neglect,) We shall to London get: where you are lov'd; And where this breach, now in our fortunes May readily be stopp'd. [made, Re-enter Young Clifford. Y. Clif. But that my heart's on future mischief set, I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly : SCENE III.-Field near St. Albans. Alarum: Retreat. Flourish then enter York, Richard Plantagenet, Warwick, and Soldiers, with drum and colours. to-day You have defended me from imminent death. Well, lords, we have not got that which we have: York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him; And it hath pleas'd him, that three times That winter lion, who in rage forgets Agèd contusions and all brush of time, And, like a gallant in the brow of youth, Repairs him with occasion? this happy day Is not itself, nor have we won one foot, If Salisbury be lost. Rich. My noble father, Sal. Now, by my sword, well hast thou 'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, York. I know our safety is to follow them; them? War. After them! nay, before them, if we [Exeunt. Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. wards King Edward IV., Edmund, Earl of Rutland, Uncles to the Duke of York. Henry, Earl of Richmond, a Youth. Sir John Somerville. Tutor to Rutland. Lieutenant of the Tower. George, afterwards Duke of Clar- his Sons. A Father that has killed his Son. SCENE, During part of the Third Act, in France; during the rest of the Play, in England. ACT I. | York. While we pursued the horsemen of the north, SCENE I.--London. The Parliament-House.. in. He slily stole away, and left his men ; Drums. Some Soldiers of York's party break Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, Then, enter the Duke of York, Ed- Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, ward, Richard, Norfolk, Montague, War- Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself, wick, and others, with white roses in their Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all a-breast, hats. Charg'd our main battle's front, and, breaking War. I wonder how the king escap'd our hands. in, Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buck- Is either slain, or wounded dangerous; (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false To aspire unto the crown, and reign as king. [Showing his bloody sword. Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wilt-On shire's blood. [To York, showing his. Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did. [Throwing down the Duke of Somerset's head. I will; For hither we have broken in by force. Norf. We'll all assist you, he that flies shall die. [me, my lords ;Yorks. Thanks, gentle Norfolk :-stay by And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. War. And when the king comes, offer him no violence, Unless he seek to thrust you out by force. (They retire. York. The queen, this day, here holds her parliament, house. But little thinks we shall be of her council: York. Then leave me not, my lords; be I mean to take possession of my right. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who [crown. Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English [War. leads York to the throne, who seats himself. dares : Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Exeter, and others, with red roses in their hats. K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, Even in the chair of state! belike he means him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens be reveng'd on me! [mourn in steel. Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him down : My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland. Clif. Patience is for poltroons, such as he : And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? quickly fly. K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thine. York. [was. K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne? York. It must and shall be so: content thyself. [king. War. Be duke of Lancaster; let him be West. He is both king and duke of Lançaster; [maintain. And that the lord of Westmoreland shall War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget [field, That we are those which chas'd you from the And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March'd through the city to the palace gates. North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy [lives sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more Clif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, [crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces. K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I: When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old. [thinks, you lose Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, But that the next heir should succeed and reign. me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and anExe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. [Aside] All will revolt from me, and turn to him. [lay'st, North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou Think not that Henry shall be so depos d. War. Depos'd he shall be in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: tis not thy southern power Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,-Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud, Can set the duke up in despite of me. Clif King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, me-Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence: Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. May that ground gape, and swallow me alive, Edw. Sweet father, do so; set it on your Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father! head. K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! [crown.-York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? War. Do right unto this princely duke of York; Mont. [To York] Good brother, as thou War. Plantagenet shall speak first: hear Or I will fill the house with armèd men, [him, lords; And o'er the chair of state, where now he sits, Write up his title with usurping blood. [He stamps, and the Soldiers show themselves. Lone word :K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but Let me for this my life-time reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine heirs, K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my Wherein my grandsire and my father sat? row, War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. Hen. Henry the fourth by conquest got the crown. York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Hen [Aside.] I know not what to say: my title's weak. [Aloud. Tell me, may not a king adopt an For Richard, in the view of many lords, And made him to resign his crown perforce. strain'd, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown? |