Q. Mar. Enforced thee! Art thou king, and wilt be forced? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! The northern lords, that have iorsworn thy colours, Thus do I leave thee:-Come, son, let's away; K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get thee gone. K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Q. Mur. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. Prince. When I return with victory from the field, [Exeunt Queen Margaret, and the Prince. K. Hen. Poor queen! How love to me, and to her sou, Hath made her break out into terms of rage! Peck The loss of those three lords torments my heart: [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Room in Sandal Castle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. Edw. No, I can better play the orator. Enter YORK. York. Why, how now, sons and brother, at a strife? What is your quarrel? How began it first? Rich. About that which concerns your grace, and us; The crown of England, father, which is yours. York. Mine, boy? Not till king Henry be dead. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or death. Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now': By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end. York. I took an oath, that he should quietly reign. Edw. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be broken: I'd break a thousand oaths, to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid, your grace should be for sworn. York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: Henry had none, but did usurp the place; Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Therefore, to arms. And, father, do but think, How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown; Within whose circuit is Elysium, York. Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.— Brother, thou shalt to London presently, And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.Thou, Richard, shalt unto the duke of Norfolk, And tell him privily of our intent.You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise: In them I trust; for they are soldiers, Witty and courteous, liberal, full of spirit.While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more, But that I seek occasion how to rise; And yet the king not privy to my drift, Nor any of the house of Lancaster? Enter a MESSENGER. But, stay; what news? Why comest thou in such post? Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and lords, Intend here to besiege you in your castle: York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou, that we fear them? Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me ;- Mont. Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not: And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [Exit. Enter Sir JOHN and Sir HUGH MORTIMER. York. Sir John, and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles! You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; Sir John. She shall not need, we'll meet her in the field. York. What, with five thousand men ? + Of sound judgment. Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need, A woman's general; What should we fear? [A March afar off. Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in order; And issue forth, and bid them battle straight, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory: [Alarum.-Exeunt. SCENE III Plains near Sandal Castle. Alarums: Excursions.-Enter RUTLAND and his TUTOR. Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly, to 'scape their hands! Ah, tutor! Look, where bloody Clifford comes! Enter CLIFFORD, and Soldiers. Clif. Chaplain, away! Thy priesthood saves thy life. As for the brat of this accursed duke, Whose father slew my father, he shall die. Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company. Tut. Ah, Clifford ! Murder not this innocent child, Lest thou be hated both of God and man. [Exit, forced off by Soldiers. Clif. How now! Is he dead already? Or, is it fear, That makes him close his eyes!-I'll open them. Clif. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter. Rut. Then let my father's blood open it again; He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. Clif. Had I thy brethern here, their lives and thine, Were not revenge sufficient for me: [Lifting his Hand, Rut. O, let me pray before I take my death :To thee I pray; Sweet Clifford, pity me! Clif. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. me? Clif. Thy father hath. Rut. But 'twas ere I was born. Thou hast one son, for his sake pity me; Ah, let me live in prison all my days; Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. Clif. Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! [Exit. SCENE IV.-The same. Alarum.-Enter YORK. York. The army of the queen hath got the field: My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; And all my followers to the eager foe Turn back, and fly, like ships before the wind, Or lambs pursued by hunger-starved wolves. My sons-God knows, what hath bechanced them: But this I know,-they have demean'd themselves Since. + Heaven grant this may be your greatest boast. Ovid. Epist. |