SCENE:-During Part of the Third Act, in France; during all the rest of the Play, in England. SCENE 1. LONDON. THE PARLIAMENT-HOUSE. АСТ І. Drums. Some Soldiers of York's party break in. [north, Then, enter the Duke of York, Edward, Richard, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and others, with white roses in their hats. [hands. War. I WONDER how the king escap'd our York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the He slily stole away, and left his men : Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, Cheer'd up the drooping army: and himself, Lord Clifford, and Lord Stafford, all abreast, Charg'd our main battle's front, and, breaking in, Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of BuckingIs either slain, or wounded dangerous: [ham, I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; That this is true, father, behold his blood. [showing his bloody sword. Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's blood, [to York, showing his. Whom I encounter'd as the battle join'd. [I did. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what throwing down the Duke of Somerset's head. Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's War. And so do I.-Victorious prince of York, Before I see thee seated in that throne Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, I vow by heaven, these eyes shall never close. This is the palace of the fearful king, And this the regal seat: possess it, York: For this is thine, and not king Henry's heirs. York. Assist me then, sweet Warwick, and I For hither we have broken in by force. Norf. We'll all assist you; he, that flies shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk.-Stay by me, my lords ; [will; And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. War. And, when the king comes, offer him no Unless he seek to thrust you out by force. [violence, [they retire. York. The queen, this day, here holds her parliament, York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolI mean to take possession of my right. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, [best, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares :Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown. [Warwick leads York to the throne, who seats himself. Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Exeter, and others, with red roses in their hats. [sits, K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel Even in the chair of state! belike, he means (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false peer), To aspire unto the crown, and reign as king.— Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng'd on me! Cliff. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel. [him down: West. What shall we suffer this? let's pluck My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westinoreland. Cliff. Patience is for poltroons, and such as he; He durst not sit there, had your father liv'd. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin: be it so. K. Hen. Ah, know you not, the city favours them. And they have troops of soldiers at their back? Exe. But when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly. [Henry's heart, K. Hen. Far be the thoughts of this from To make a shambles of the parliament house! Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats, Shall be the war that Henry means to use.[they advance to the Duke. Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thy sovereign. York. Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. [of York. Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee duke York.'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. York. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown, In following this usurping Henry. [king? Cliff. Whom should he follow, but his natural War. True, Clifford ; and that's Richard, duke of York. [my throne? K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in York. It must and shall be so. Content thyself. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster : And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget, That we are those, which chas'd you from the field, 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 sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. Cliff. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, [words, As shall revenge his death, before I stir. War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats! York. Will you, we show our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Hen. I know not what to say; my title's Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? [weak. York. What then? K. Hen. An if he may, then am I lawful king: For Richard, in the view of many lords, Resign'd the crown to Henry the fourth; Whose heir my father was, and I am his. York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, And made him to resign his crown perforce. War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, | To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown. Exe. No: for he could not so resign the crown, Ere. My conscience tells me, he is lawful king. North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,- Cliff. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown:- War. Do right unto this princely duke of Or I will fill the house with armed men, [York; 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. K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one word; Let me, for this my life-time, reign as king. And thou shalt reign in quiet, while thou liv'st. Cliff. What wrong is this unto the prince your To honour me as thy king and sovereign; K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy for- War. And I'll keep London, with my soldiers. K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. Enter Queen Margaret and the Prince of Wales. [going. K. Hen. Exeter, so will I. [stay. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will Rather than made that savage duke thine heir, Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd wilt be forc'd? [wretch! Whereby my son is disinherited. [colours, The northern lords, that have foresworn thy Will follow mine, if once they see them spread: And spread they shall be to thy foul disgrace, And utter ruin of the house of York. Thus do I leave thee :-Come, son, let's away. Our army's ready; come, we'll after them. K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak. [get thee gone. Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. Prince. When I return with victory from the field, I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. Q. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [exeunt Queen Margaret and the Prince. K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me, and to her son, Hath made her break out into terms of rage! BCENE II. A ROOM IN SANDAL CASTLE, NEAR Edw. No, I can better play the orator. York. Why, how now, sons, and brother, at a What is your quarrel? how began it first? [strife? Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention. York. About what? 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. [broken Edw. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be I'd break a thousand oaths, to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid, your grace should be forsworn. York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speek. 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 usurn the place; Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, But stay; what news? Why com'st thou in such post? Mess. The queen, with all the northern carls and lords, Intend here to besiege you in your castle: York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st Mont. Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not: And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [erit Enter Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer. York. Sir John, and sir Hugh Mortimer, mine Enter Clifford and Soldiers. Cliff. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy As for the brat of this accursed duke, [life. Whose father slew my father, he shall die. Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company. Cliff. Soldiers, away with him. [child, Tut. Ah, Clifford! murder not this innocent Lest thou be hated both of God and man. [exit, forced off by Soldiers. Cliff. How now! is he dead already? Or, is it fear, father's blood That makes him close his eyes?-I'll open them. [thine, [lifting his hand. Rut. O, let me pray before I take my death :To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me! Cliff. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. Rut. I never did thee harm; why wilt thou Cliff. Thy father hath. [slay me? Rut. But 'twas ere I was born. Ah, let me live in prison all my days; Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. Cliff. Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! And this thy son's blood, cleaving to my blade, Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood, Congeal'd with this, do make me wipe off both. [exit. SCENE IV. THE SAME. Alarum. Enter York. York. The army of the queen hath got the My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; [field: And all my followers to the eager foe Tarn back, and fly, like ships before the wind, Or lambs pursu'd by hunger-starved wolves. My sons God knows, what hath bechanced them. But this I know,-they have demean'd themselves And cried,-A crown, or else a glorious tomb! Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue; Cliff. So cowards fight, when they can fly no York. O, Clifford, but bethink thee once again, And in thy thought o'er-run my former time: And, if thou canst for blushing, view this face; And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice, Whose frown bath made thee faint and flyere this. Cliff. I will not bandy with thee word for word; But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one. [draws. Q. Mar. Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thou sand causes, I would prolong awhile the traitor's life: Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, Northumberland. [much, North. Hold, Clifford; do not honour him so To prick thy finger, though to wound his heart: What valour were it, when a cur doth grin, For one to thrust his hand between his teeth, When he might spurn him with his foot away? It is war's prize to take all vantages; And ten to one is no impeach of valour. Sthey lay hands on York, who struggles. ་ |