*To kings, that fear their subjects' treachery? Much is your sorrow; mine, ten times so much Son. Ill blows the wind, that profits nobody.- *My heart, sweet boy, shall be thy sepulchre; " 'Who's this?-O God! it is my father's face, "Whom in this conflict I unwares have kill'd. 'O heavy times, begetting such events! May be possessed with some store of crowns: * And I, that haply take them from him now, *May yet ere night yield both my life and them *To some man else, as this dead man doth me.-I'll bear thee hence; and let them fight that will, For I have murder'd where I should not kill. [Exit, with the body. 'K. Hen. Sad-hearted men, much overgone with care, Here sits a king more woful than you are. Alarums: Excursions. Enter Queen Margaret, Prince of Wales, and Exeter. " From London by the king was I press'd forth; My father, being the earl of Warwick's man, Came on the part of York, press'd by his master; And I, who at his hands receiv'd my life, Have by my hands of life bereaved him."Pardon me, God, I knew not what I did! And pardon, father, for I knew not thee !* My tears shall wipe away these bloody marks; * And no more words, till they have flow'd their fill. K. Hen. O piteous spectacle! O bloody times! Whilst lions war, and battle for their dens, 'Poor harmless lambs abide their enmity.— *Weep, wretched man, I'll aid thee tear for tear; * And let our hearts, and eyes, like civil war, * Be blind with tears, and break o'ercharg'd with grief. Enter a Father who has killed his son, with the body in his arms. Fath. Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me, 'Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold; For I have bought it with a hundred blows.'But let me see:-is this our foeman's face? • Ah, no, no, no, it is mine only son!- This deadly quarrel daily doth beget!- 'K. Hen. How will the country, for these woful chances, Misthink? the king, and not be satisfied? 'Son. Was ever son, so rued a father's death? O, that my death would stay these ruthful deeds! *O pity, pity, gentle heaven, pity!The red rose and the white are on his face, The fatal colours of our striving houses: * The one, his purple blood right well resembles; *The other, his pale cheeks, methinks, present: Wither one rose, and let the other flourish! If you contend, a thousand lives must wither. Son. How will my mother, for a father's death, Take on with me, and ne'er be satisfied? Fath. How will my wife, for slaughter of my son, 'Shed seas of tears, and ne'er be satisfied? (1) This word here means dreadful events. (2) Think unfavourably of. VOL. II. 'Prince. Fly, father, fly! for all your friends 'And Warwick rages like a chafed bull: Nay, stay not to expostulate, make speed; K. Hen. Nay, take me with thee, good sweet 'Not that I fear to stay, but love to go " Clif. Here burns my candle out, ay, here it dies, (3) Careful of obsequies, or funeral rites. Bootless are plaints, and cureless are my wounds 'No way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight: The foe is merciless, and will not pity; For, at their hands, I have deserv'd no pity. 'The air hath got into my deadly wounds, And much effuse of blood doth make me faint :Come, York, and Richard, Warwick, and the rest; 'I stabb'd your father's bosom, split my breast. [He faints. Alarum and Retreat. Enter Edward, George, Richard, Montague, Warwick, and soldiers. Edw. Now breathe we, lords; good fortune bids us pause, And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks. * Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen;That led calm Henry, though he were a king, 'As doth a sail, fill'd with a fretting gust, 'Command an argosy to stem the waves. 'But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them! War. No, 'tis impossible he should escape: For, though before his face I speak the words, Your brother Richard mark'd him for the grave: And, wheresoe'er he is, he's surely dead. [Clifford groans, and dies. Edw. Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? . Rich. A deadly groan, like life and death's departing. Edw. See who it is: and, now the battle's ended, If friend, or foe, let him be gently us'd. 'Rich. Revoke that doom of mercy, for 'tis Clifford ; Who not contented that he lopp'd the branch 'In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth, But set his murdering knife unto the root From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring, 'I mean our princely father, duke of York. War. From off the gates of York fetch down the head, Your father's head, which Clifford placed there: Instead whereof, let this supply the room; Measure for measure must be answered. 'Rich. What, not an oath? nay, then the world goes hard, 'When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath:- This hand should chop it off; and with the isStifle the villain, whose unstaunched thirst suing blood York and young Rutland could not satisfy. War. Ay, but he's dead: Off with the traitor's head, War. They mock thee, Clifford! 'swear as thou wast wont. And rear it in the place your father's stands.- The scatter'd foe, that hopes to rise again; " And then to Britany I'll cross the sea, To effect this marriage, so it please my lord. Edw. Even as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be: *For on thy shoulder do I build my seat; And never will I undertake the thing, *Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting.Richard, I will create thee duke of Gloster :And George, of Clarence ;-Warwick, as ourself, Shall do, and undo, as him pleaseth best. Rich. Let me be duke of Clarence; George, of Gloster; For Gloster's dukedom is too ominous. War. Tut, that's a foolish observation; Richard, be duke of Gloster: Now to London, To see these honours in possession. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I-A chase in the north of England. Enter two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands. Rich. Clifford, ask mercy, and obtain no grace.3* For through this laund5 anon the deer will come; And in this covert will we make our stand, Culling the principal of all the deer. *2 Keep. I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. * 1 Keep. That cannot be; the noise of thy crossbow *Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. In this self-place where now we mean to stand. 2 Keep. Here comes a man, let's stay till he be past. Enter Henry, disguised, with a prayer-book. K. Hen. From Scotland am I stol'n, even of pure love, To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine; 6 '1 Keep. Under this thick-grown brake1 we’li shroud ourselves; (4) Thicket. (5) A plain extended between woods. *Thy place is fill'd, thy sceptre wrung from thee,|| Thy balm wash'd off, wherewith thou wast anointed: No bending knee will call thee Cæsar now, "No humble suitors press to speak for right, * No, not a man comes for redress of thee; For how can I help them, and not myself? 1 Keep. Ay, here's a deer whose skin's a keeper's fee: "This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him. *K. Hen. Let me embrace these sour adversities; *For wise men say, it is the wisest course. *2 Keep. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him. *1 Keep. Forbear a while; we'll hear a little* Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear. *Look, as I blow this feather from my face, more. K. Hen. My queen, and son, are gone to France* And as the air blows it to me again, for aid; *Obeying with my wind when I do blow, But do not break your oaths; for, of that sin *My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty. Go where you will, the king shall be commanded; *And be you kings; command, and I'll obey. *1 Keep. We are true subjects to the king, king Edward. And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. ་ By this account, then, Margaret may win him; * Her sighs will make a battery in his breast; *K. Hen. Where did you dwell, when I was king of England? *2 Keep. Here in this country, where we now *Not deck'd with diamonds, and Indian stones, * Nor to be seen: my crown is call'd, content; • • A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy. 2 Keep. Well, if you be a king crown'd with content, Your crown content, and you, must be contented now. remain. *K. Hen. I was anointed king at nine months old; My father and my grandfather, were kings; * And you were sworn true subjects unto me: *And, tell me then, have you not broke your oaths? * 1 Keep. No; For we were subjects, but while you were king. K. Edw. Widow, we will consider of your suit; And come some other time, to know our mind. L. Grey. Right gracious lord, I cannot brook May it please your highness to resolve me now; An if what pleases him, shall pleasure you. Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch. [Glo. and Clar. retire to the other side. *K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your children? *L. Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. *K. Edw. And would you not do much, to do them good? * L. Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some harm. *K. Edw. Then get your husband's lands, to do them good. *L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty. K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got. * L. Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness' service. *K. Edw. what service wilt thou do me, if I *L. Grey. What you command, that rests in me *K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my mind. * L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. *L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands. L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower; For by that loss I will not purchase them. K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily. L. Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and me. K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king. L. Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject. K. Edw. Why then, thy husband's lands I freely L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand mean. *L. Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege. K. Edw. Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get? 'L. Grey. My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers; That love, which virtue begs, and virtue grants. K. Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love. *L. Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did. (1) This phrase implies readiness of assent. But, mighty lord, this merry inclination K. Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say ay, to my request: L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an 'Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her 'K. Edw. [Aside.] Her looks do argue her re- I am a subject fit to jest withal, *L. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot|But far unfit to be a sovereign. do it. *K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask. *L. Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace commands. the marble. *Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears * Her words do show her wit incomparable; K. Edw. Sweet widow, by my state I swear to I speak no more than what my soul intends; L. Grey. And that is more than I will yield unto. I know, I am too mean to be your queen; K. Edw. You cavil, widow; I did mean, my queen. L.Grey. Twill grieve your grace, my sons should call you-father. K. Edw. No more, than when thy daughters Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; Clar. To whom, my lord? • Glo. By so much is the wonder in extremes. (2) The seriousness. K. Edw. Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you Why, I can smile, and murder while I smile; both, Her suit is granted for her husband's lands. Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, And cry, content, to that which grieves my heart; 'K. Lew. Fair queen of England, worthy Mar- Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state, And birth, that thou should'st stand, while Lewis doth sit. * Q. Mar. No, mighty king of France; now *Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve, *Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes *And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares. *K. Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself, *And sit thee by our side: yield not thy neck [Seats her by him. *To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind *Still ride in triumph over all mischance. *Be plain, queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; *It shall be eas'd, if France can yield relief. * Q. Mar. Those gracious words revive my *And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak. And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies, To take their rooms, ere I can place myself: A cold premeditation for my purpose! *Why, then I do but dream on sovereignty; *Like one that stands upon a promontory, *And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, *Wishing his foot were equal with his eye; *And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, *Saying-he'll lade it dry to have his way: *So do I wish the crown, being so far off; *And so I chide the means that keep me from it; * And so I say-I'll cut the causes off, * Flattering me with impossibilities. * My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, * Unless my hand and strength could equal them. *Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard; *What other pleasure can the world afford? 'I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap, And deck my body in gay ornaments, Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns! To shape my legs of an unequal size; (1) Encircled. the storm, *While we bethink a means to break it off. *Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe. *K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour thee. * Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow: |