Queen. This is no time for feeble lamentation! Hence, hence, my Lord, tow'rds Berwick speed away. Edward and Richard, flush'd with victory, With fiery eyes, that sparkle for revenge, And bloody steel grasp'd in their wrathful hands, Nay stay not to expostulate- -O fly! K. Henry. Would I could fly to everlasting rest! [Exeunt. Enter CLIFFORD wounded. Clifford. Here burns my candle out, ev'n here it dies. While still it blaz'd, it gave King Henry light. Ah, Lancaster! I fear thy overthrow, More than my body's parting with my soul. They never then had sprung like summer flies. -come Richard, [falls. Come, York, -Warwick, and the rest I stabb'd your father's bosoms, -pierce my heart. [Dies. Flourish-Enter EDWARD, CLARENCE, RICHARD, WARWICK, and Attendants. Edward. Thus far our fortune keeps, a glorious course; And crowns our heads with wreaths of victory. Richard. Revoke that doom of mercy,for 'tis Clifford, Who, not contented to have lopp'd the branch, In hewing Rutland, when his leaves were budding, And slew our father :- -by this hand he fell; Edward. Is this that screech-owl fatal to our house, Whose notes brought death, aud deep calamity? Richard, His measure's full-for now the flowing blood Stifles the villain, whole unstanched thirst York and sweet Rutland could not satisfy. Warwick. Remove him hence-off with the traitor's head, And place it, where your honor'd father's stands.- Say, shall this marriage please our royal lord? Edward. E'en as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be.- For on thy shoulder do I build my seat: [Exeunt. END OF THE SECOND ACT. ACT III. SCENE I. A chase in the North of England. Enter SINKLO and HUMPHREY, with bows and arrows. Sinklo. UNDER this thick-grown brake we'll shroud our selves, For thro' this lawn anon the deer will come: To cull the best and fattest of the deer. Humphrey. I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. Sinklo. That must not be the noise of thy crossbow Will scare the herd, and so my shot is lost. In the same place, where now we mean to stand. Humphrey. Here comes a man-let's stay till he be past. Enter KING HENRY. King Henry. From Scotland have I stol'n e'en of pure love, And thus disguis'd, to visit my own land.―― Thy place is fill'd, thy sceptre wrung from thee, O Heav'n, that one might read the book of fate, Make mountains level, and the continent, Weary of solid firmness, melt itself Into the sea; at other times to view Too wide for Neptune's waist :-how chances mock, With diff'rent liquors' O if this were seen, The happiest youth, that saw his progress through, What dangers and what crosses to ensue ; Would shut the book, and sit him down, and die. Sinklo. Ay, here's a deer, whose skin's a keeper's fee. This is the former king; let's seize upon him, King Henry. I will embrace these sour adversities: Resign'd with patience to the will of Heav'n. Humphrey. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him. Sinklo. Forbear awhile: we'll hear a little more. |