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3 KING HENRY VI
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
KING HENRY the Sixth.
KING LEWIS XI King of France. (KING LEWIS XI:) DUKE OF SOMERSET (SOMERSET:)
PLANTAGENET Duke of York. (YORK:)
|
EDMUND Earl of Rutland, (RUTLAND:) |
| his sons.
GEORGE (GEORGE:) afterwards Duke of |
Clarence (CLARENCE:) |
|
RICHARD (RICHARD:) afterwards Duke of |
Gloucester, (GLOUCESTER:) |
DUKE OF NORFOLK (NORFOLK:)
MARQUESS OF MONTAGUE (MONTAGUE:) EARL OF WARWICK (WARWICK:) EARL OF PEMBROKE (PEMBROKE:)
LORD STAFFORD (STAFFORD:)
SIR JOHN MORTIMER (JOHN MORTIMER:) |
| uncles to the Duke of York.
SIR HUGH MORTIMER (HUGH MORTIMER:) |
Tutor to Rutland. (Tutor:)
Mayor of York. (Mayor:)
Lieutenant of the Tower. (Lieutenant:)
A Nobleman. (Nobleman:)
Two Keepers.
(First Keeper:)
(Second Keeper:)
A Huntsman. (Huntsman:)
A Son that has killed his father. (Son:)
A Father that has killed his son. (Father:)
LADY GREY afterwards Queen to Edward IV. (QUEEN ELIZABETH:)
Soldiers, Attendants, Messengers, Watchmen, &c. (Soldier:)
(Post:)
(Messenger:)
(First Messenger:)
(Second Messenger:)
(First Watchman:)
(Second Watchman:)
(Third Watchman:)
[Alarum. Enter YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Soldiers]
MONTAGUE And, brother, here's the Earl of Wiltshire's blood,
Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd.
RICHARD Speak thou for me and tell them what I did.
[Throwing down SOMERSET's head]
[They go up]
[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, CLIFFORD,
NORTHUMBERLAND, WESTMORELAND, EXETER, and the rest]
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.
CLIFFORD The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn in steel.
My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it.
KING HENRY VI Be patient, gentle Earl of Westmoreland.
CLIFFORD Patience is for poltroons, such as he:
He durst not sit there, had your father lived.
My gracious lord, here in the parliament
Let us assail the family of York.
NORTHUMBERLAND Well hast thou spoken, cousin: be it so.
And they have troops of soldiers at their beck?
To make a shambles of the parliament-house! Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words and threats Shall be the war that Henry means to use.
Thou factious Duke of York, descend my throne, and kneel for grace and mercy at my feet;
I am thy sovereign.
CLIFFORD Whom should he follow but his natural king?
And that the Lord of Westmoreland shall maintain.
And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it.
Thy kinsman and thy friends, I'll have more lives Than drops of blood were in my father's veins.
CLIFFORD Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words,
I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger
As shall revenge his death before I stir.
WARWICK Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats!
Thy father was, as thou art, Duke of York; Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March: I am the son of Henry the Fifth,
Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop And seized upon their towns and provinces.
When I was crown'd I was but nine months old.
MONTAGUE Good brother, as thou lovest and honourest arms,
Let's fight it out and not stand cavilling thus.
RICHARD Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly.
Wherein my grandsire and my father sat?
No: first shall war unpeople this my realm; Ay, and their colours, often borne in France, And now in England to our heart's great sorrow, Shall be my winding-sheet. Why faint you, lords? My title's good, and better far than his.
Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir?
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.
Think not that Henry shall be so deposed.
Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,
Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud, Can set the duke up in despite of me.
CLIFFORD King Henry, be thy title right or wrong,
Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence:
May that ground gape and swallow me alive,
Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father!
KING HENRY VI O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart!
[He stamps with his foot and the soldiers show themselves]
Let me for this my life-time reign as king.
Enjoy the kingdom after my decease.
CLIFFORD What wrong is this unto the prince your son!
WESTMORELAND Base, fearful and despairing Henry! CLIFFORD How hast thou injured both thyself and us!
CLIFFORD Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news.
In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides.
And die in bands for this unmanly deed!
CLIFFORD In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome,
Or live in peace abandon'd and despised!
[Exeunt NORTHUMBERLAND, CLIFFORD, and WESTMORELAND]
KING HENRY VI Ah, Exeter! WARWICK Why should you sigh, my lord?
Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit.
But be it as it may: I here entail
The crown to thee and to thine heirs for ever; Conditionally, that here thou take an oath To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, To honour me as thy king and sovereign,
And neither by treason nor hostility
To seek to put me down and reign thyself.
[Sennet. Here they come down]
MONTAGUE And I unto the sea from whence I came.
[Exeunt YORK, EDWARD, EDMUND, GEORGE, RICHARD, WARWICK, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, their Soldiers, and Attendants]
[Enter QUEEN MARGARET and PRINCE EDWARD]
KING HENRY VI Exeter, so will I.
Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid
And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Seeing thou hast proved so unnatural a father Hath he deserved to lose his birthright thus? Hadst thou but loved him half so well as I, Or felt that pain which I did for him once, Or nourish'd him as I did with my blood,
Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than have that savage duke thine heir And disinherited thine only son.
If you be king, why should not I succeed?
The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me.
I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! Thou hast undone thyself, thy son and me;
And given unto the house of York such head As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance. To entail him and his heirs unto the crown, What is it, but to make thy sepulchre
And creep into it far before thy time?
Warwick is chancellor and the lord of Calais; Stern Falconbridge commands the narrow seas; The duke is made protector of the realm;
And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds The trembling lamb environed with wolves.
Had I been there, which am a silly woman,
The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes Before I would have granted to that act.
But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour: And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed,
Until that act of parliament be repeal'd
Whereby my son is disinherited.
The northern lords that have forsworn thy colours 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 is ready; come, we'll after them.
I'll see your grace: till then I'll follow her.
[Exeunt QUEEN MARGARET and PRINCE EDWARD]
Hath made her break out into terms of rage! Revenged may she be on that hateful duke,
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,
Will cost my crown, and like an empty eagle Tire on the flesh of me and of my son!
The loss of those three lords torments my heart: I'll write unto them and entreat them fair. Come, cousin you shall be the messenger.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE II Sandal Castle.
[Enter RICHARD, EDWARD, and MONTAGUE]
MONTAGUE But I have reasons strong and forcible.
[Enter YORK]
[Enter a Messenger]
But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post?
Messenger The queen with all the northern earls and lords
Intend here to besiege you in your castle:
She is hard by with twenty thousand men;
And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.
MONTAGUE Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not:
And thus most humbly I do take my leave.
[Exit]
[Enter JOHN MORTIMER and HUGH MORTIMER]
Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;
The army of the queen mean to besiege us.
[A march afar off]
[Alarum. Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE III Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield.
[Alarums. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor]
[Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers]
CLIFFORD Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life.
As for the brat of this accursed duke,
Whose father slew my father, he shall die.
Tutor And I, my lord, will bear him company.
CLIFFORD Soldiers, away with him!
[Exit, dragged off by Soldiers]
CLIFFORD How now! is he dead already? or is it fear
That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them.
CLIFFORD In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood
Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter.
CLIFFORD Had thy brethren here, their lives and thine
Were not revenge sufficient for me;
No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves
And hung their rotten coffins up in chains,
It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart.
The sight of any of the house of York
Is as a fury to torment my soul;
And till I root out their accursed line
And leave not one alive, I live in hell.
Therefore--
[Lifting his hand]
CLIFFORD Such pity as my rapier's point affords.
RUTLAND I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me?
CLIFFORD Thy father hath.
RUTLAND But 'twas ere I was born.
Thou hast one son; for his sake pity me,
Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just,
He be as miserably slain as I.
Ah, let me live in prison all my days;
And when I give occasion of offence,
Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause.
CLIFFORD No cause!
Thy father slew my father; therefore, die.
[Stabs him]
[Dies]
CLIFFORD 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]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE IV Another part of the field.
[Alarum. Enter YORK]
[A short alarum within]
Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue;
And I am faint and cannot fly their fury:
And were I strong, I would not shun their fury: The sands are number'd that make up my life; Here must I stay, and here my life must end.
[Enter QUEEN MARGARET, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND, PRINCE EDWARD, and Soldiers]
Come, bloody Clifford, rough Northumberland, I dare your quenchless fury to more rage:
I am your butt, and I abide your shot.
CLIFFORD Ay, to such mercy as his ruthless arm,
With downright payment, show'd unto my father.
Now Phaethon hath tumbled from his car,
And made an evening at the noontide prick.
CLIFFORD So cowards fight when they can fly no further;
So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons;
So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives,
Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers.
CLIFFORD I will not bandy with thee word for word,
But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one.
QUEEN MARGARET Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thousand causes
I would prolong awhile the traitor's life. Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, Northumberland.
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.
[They lay hands on YORK, who struggles]
CLIFFORD Ay, ay, so strives the woodcock with the gin.
Come, make him stand upon this molehill here, That raught at mountains with outstretched arms, Yet parted but the shadow with his hand.
What! was it you that would be England's king? Was't you that revell'd in our parliament, And made a preachment of your high descent? Where are your mess of sons to back you now? The wanton Edward, and the lusty George?
And where's that valiant crook-back prodigy, Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies?
Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland? Look, York: I stain'd this napkin with the blood That valiant Clifford, with his rapier's point, Made issue from the bosom of the boy;
And if thine eyes can water for his death, I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal. Alas poor York! but that I hate thee deadly, I should lament thy miserable state.
I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York. What, hath thy fiery heart so parch'd thine entrails That not a tear can fall for Rutland's death? Why art thou patient, man? thou shouldst be mad; And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus. Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance. Thou wouldst be fee'd, I see, to make me sport: York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown. A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him: Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on.
[Putting a paper crown on his head]
Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king!
Ay, this is he that took King Henry's chair, And this is he was his adopted heir.
But how is it that great Plantagenet
Is crown'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath? As I bethink me, you should not be king
Till our King Henry had shook hands with death. And will you pale your head in Henry's glory, And rob his temples of the diadem,
Now in his life, against your holy oath?
O, 'tis a fault too too unpardonable!
Off with the crown, and with the crown his head; And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead.
CLIFFORD That is my office, for my father's sake.
That hardly can I cheque my eyes from tears.
I should not for my life but weep with him. To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul.
Think but upon the wrong he did us all,
And that will quickly dry thy melting tears.
CLIFFORD Here's for my oath, here's for my father's death.
[Stabbing him]
[Stabbing him]
[Dies]
So York may overlook the town of York.
[Flourish. Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
[A march. Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and their power]
[Enter a Messenger]
But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell Some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue?
Messenger Ah, one that was a woful looker-on
When as the noble Duke of York was slain,
Your princely father and my loving lord!
EDWARD O, speak no more, for I have heard too much.
Messenger Environed he was with many foes,
And stood against them, as the hope of Troy
Against the Greeks that would have enter'd Troy.
But Hercules himself must yield to odds;
And many strokes, though with a little axe,
Hew down and fell the hardest-timber'd oak. By many hands your father was subdued;
But only slaughter'd by the ireful arm
Of unrelenting Clifford and the queen,
Who crown'd the gracious duke in high despite, Laugh'd in his face; and when with grief he wept, The ruthless queen gave him to dry his cheeks A napkin steeped in the harmless blood
Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain: And after many scorns, many foul taunts,
They took his head, and on the gates of York They set the same; and there it doth remain, The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd.
Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heart: Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burthen; For selfsame wind that I should speak withal Is kindling coals that fires all my breast, And burns me up with flames that tears would quench. To weep is to make less the depth of grief: Tears then for babes; blows and revenge for me Richard, I bear thy name; I'll venge thy death, Or die renowned by attempting it.
[March. Enter WARWICK, MONTAGUE, and their army]
[Enter a Messenger]
Messenger The Duke of Norfolk sends you word by me,
The queen is coming with a puissant host;
And craves your company for speedy counsel.
WARWICK Why then it sorts, brave warriors, let's away.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE II Before York.
[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE EDWARD, CLIFFORD, and NORTHUMBERLAND, with drum and trumpets]
Yonder's the head of that arch-enemy
That sought to be encompass'd with your crown: Doth not the object cheer your heart, my lord?
To see this sight, it irks my very soul.
Withhold revenge, dear God! 'tis not my fault, Nor wittingly have I infringed my vow.
CLIFFORD My gracious liege, this too much lenity
And harmful pity must be laid aside.
To whom do lions cast their gentle looks?
Not to the beast that would usurp their den.
Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick?
Not his that spoils her young before her face. Who 'scapes the lurking serpent's mortal sting? Not he that sets his foot upon her back.
The smallest worm will turn being trodden on, And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood. Ambitious York doth level at thy crown,
Thou smiling while he knit his angry brows: He, but a duke, would have his son a king, And raise his issue, like a loving sire;
Thou, being a king, blest with a goodly son, Didst yield consent to disinherit him,
Which argued thee a most unloving father.
Unreasonable creatures feed their young;
And though man's face be fearful to their eyes, Yet, in protection of their tender ones,
Who hath not seen them, even with those wings Which sometime they have used with fearful flight, Make war with him that climb'd unto their nest, Offer their own lives in their young's defence? For shame, my liege, make them your precedent! Were it not pity that this goodly boy
Should lose his birthright by his father's fault, And long hereafter say unto his child,
'What my great-grandfather and his grandsire got My careless father fondly gave away'?
Ah, what a shame were this! Look on the boy; And let his manly face, which promiseth
Successful fortune, steel thy melting heart To hold thine own and leave thine own with him.
Inferring arguments of mighty force.
But, Clifford, tell me, didst thou never hear That things ill-got had ever bad success?
And happy always was it for that son
Whose father for his hoarding went to hell? I'll leave my son my virtuous deeds behind; And would my father had left me no more!
For all the rest is held at such a rate
As brings a thousand-fold more care to keep Than in possession and jot of pleasure.
Ah, cousin York! would thy best friends did know How it doth grieve me that thy head is here!
And this soft courage makes your followers faint. You promised knighthood to our forward son: Unsheathe your sword, and dub him presently. Edward, kneel down.
And learn this lesson, draw thy sword in right.
CLIFFORD Why, that is spoken like a toward prince.
[Enter a Messenger]
Messenger Royal commanders, be in readiness:
For with a band of thirty thousand men
Comes Warwick, backing of the Duke of York;
And in the towns, as they do march along,
Proclaims him king, and many fly to him:
Darraign your battle, for they are at hand.
CLIFFORD I would your highness would depart the field:
The queen hath best success when you are absent.
QUEEN MARGARET Ay, good my lord, and leave us to our fortune.
And hearten those that fight in your defence: Unsheathe your sword, good father; cry 'Saint George!'
[March. Enter EDWARD, GEORGE, RICHARD, WARWICK, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, and Soldiers]
Becomes it thee to be thus bold in terms
Before thy sovereign and thy lawful king?
CLIFFORD And reason too:
Who should succeed the father but the son?
RICHARD Are you there, butcher? O, I cannot speak!
CLIFFORD Ay, crook-back, here I stand to answer thee,
Or any he the proudest of thy sort.
RICHARD 'Twas you that kill'd young Rutland, was it not?
CLIFFORD Ay, and old York, and yet not satisfied.
When you and I met at Saint Alban's last,
Your legs did better service than your hands.
CLIFFORD You said so much before, and yet you fled.
CLIFFORD I slew thy father, call'st thou him a child?
I am a king, and privileged to speak.
CLIFFORD My liege, the wound that bred this meeting here
Cannot be cured by words; therefore be still.
There is no wrong, but every thing is right.
But like a foul mis-shapen stigmatic,
Mark'd by the destinies to be avoided,
As venom toads, or lizards' dreadful stings.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE III A field of battle between Towton and Saxton, in
Yorkshire.
[Alarum. Excursions. Enter WARWICK]
[Enter EDWARD, running]
[Enter GEORGE]
[Enter RICHARD]
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE IV Another part of the field.
[Excursions. Enter RICHARD and CLIFFORD]
CLIFFORD Now, Richard, I am with thee here alone:
This is the hand that stabb'd thy father York;
And this the hand that slew thy brother Rutland;
And here's the heart that triumphs in their death
And cheers these hands that slew thy sire and brother
To execute the like upon thyself;
And so, have at thee!
[They fight. WARWICK comes; CLIFFORD flies]
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
[Alarum. Enter KING HENRY VI alone]
When dying clouds contend with growing light, What time the shepherd, blowing of his nails, Can neither call it perfect day nor night. Now sways it this way, like a mighty sea
Forced by the tide to combat with the wind; Now sways it that way, like the selfsame sea Forced to retire by fury of the wind:
Sometime the flood prevails, and then the wind; Now one the better, then another best;
Both tugging to be victors, breast to breast, Yet neither conqueror nor conquered:
So is the equal of this fell war.
Here on this molehill will I sit me down.
To whom God will, there be the victory!
For Margaret my queen, and Clifford too,
Have chid me from the battle; swearing both They prosper best of all when I am thence. Would I were dead! if God's good will were so; For what is in this world but grief and woe? O God! methinks it were a happy life,
To be no better than a homely swain;
To sit upon a hill, as I do now,
To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, Thereby to see the minutes how they run,
How many make the hour full complete;
How many hours bring about the day;
How many days will finish up the year;
How many years a mortal man may live.
When this is known, then to divide the times:
So many hours must I tend my flock;
So many hours must I take my rest;
So many hours must I contemplate;
So many hours must I sport myself;
So many days my ewes have been with young;
So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean:
So many years ere I shall shear the fleece: So minutes, hours, days, months, and years, Pass'd over to the end they were created,
Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave. Ah, what a life were this! how sweet! how lovely! Gives not the hawthorn-bush a sweeter shade To shepherds looking on their silly sheep, Than doth a rich embroider'd canopy
To kings that fear their subjects' treachery? O, yes, it doth; a thousand-fold it doth.
And to conclude, the shepherd's homely curds, His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle. His wonted sleep under a fresh tree's shade, All which secure and sweetly he enjoys,
Is far beyond a prince's delicates,
His viands sparkling in a golden cup,
His body couched in a curious bed,
When care, mistrust, and treason waits on him.
[Alarum. Enter a Son that has killed his father, dragging in the dead body]
Whiles 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'ercharged with grief.
[Enter a Father that has killed his son, bringing in the body]
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, presenteth: Wither one rose, and let the other flourish; If you contend, a thousand lives must wither.
Misthink the king and not be satisfied!
Much is your sorrow; mine ten times so much.
[Exit with the body]
[Exit with the body]
Here sits a king more woful than you are.
[Alarums: excursions. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE EDWARD, and EXETER]
And Warwick rages like a chafed bull:
Away! for death doth hold us in pursuit.
Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds Having the fearful flying hare in sight,
With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath,
And bloody steel grasp'd in their ireful hands, Are at our backs; and therefore hence amain.
Not that I fear to stay, but love to go
Whither the queen intends. Forward; away!
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE VI Another part of the field.
[A loud alarum. Enter CLIFFORD, wounded]
CLIFFORD Here burns my candle out; ay, here it dies,
Which, whiles it lasted, gave King Henry light.
O Lancaster, I fear thy overthrow
More than my body's parting with my soul!
My love and fear glued many friends to thee;
And, now I fall, thy tough commixture melts. Impairing Henry, strengthening misproud York, The common people swarm like summer flies; And whither fly the gnats but to the sun?
And who shines now but Henry's enemies?
O Phoebus, hadst thou never given consent
That Phaethon should cheque thy fiery steeds, Thy burning car never had scorch'd the earth! And, Henry, hadst thou sway'd as kings should do, Or as thy father and his father did,
Giving no ground unto the house of York,
They never then had sprung like summer flies; I and ten thousand in this luckless realm
Had left no mourning widows for our death; And thou this day hadst kept thy chair in peace. For what doth cherish weeds but gentle air? And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity? 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 deserved 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 fathers' bosoms, split my breast.
[He faints]
[Alarum and retreat. Enter EDWARD, GEORGE, RICHARD, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Soldiers]
[CLIFFORD groans, and dies]
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
[Enter two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands]
For through this laund anon the deer will come; And in this covert will we make our stand, Culling the principal of all the deer.
Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. Here stand we both, and aim we at the best: And, for the time shall not seem tedious,
I'll tell thee what befell me on a day
In this self-place where now we mean to stand.
[Enter KING HENRY VI, disguised, with a prayerbook]
To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine;
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 Caesar 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?
This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him.
For wise men say it is the wisest course.
And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick Is thither gone, to crave the French king's sister To wife for Edward: if this news be true,
Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost; For Warwick is a subtle orator,
And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. By this account then Margaret may win him; For she's a woman to be pitied much:
Her sighs will make a battery in his breast; Her tears will pierce into a marble heart; The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn; And Nero will be tainted with remorse,
To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears. Ay, but she's come to beg, Warwick to give; She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry, He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward. She weeps, and says her Henry is deposed;
He smiles, and says his Edward is install'd; That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more; Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong, Inferreth arguments of mighty strength,
And in conclusion wins the king from her,
With promise of his sister, and what else, To strengthen and support King Edward's place. O Margaret, thus 'twill be; and thou, poor soul, Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn!
A man at least, for less I should not be;
And men may talk of kings, and why not I?
Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, Nor to be seen: my crown is called content: A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.
Your crown content and you must be contented To go along with us; for as we think,
You are the king King Edward hath deposed; And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance Will apprehend you as his enemy.
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?
For we were subjects but while you were king.
Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear! Look, as I blow this feather from my face, And as the air blows it to me again,
Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust;
Such is the lightness of you common men.
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.
If he were seated as King Edward is.
To go with us unto the officers.
And what God will, that let your king perform; And what he will, I humbly yield unto.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE II London. The palace.
[Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and LADY GREY]
This lady's husband, Sir Richard Grey, was slain, His lands then seized on by the conqueror: Her suit is now to repossess those lands;
Which we in justice cannot well deny,
Because in quarrel of the house of York
The worthy gentleman did lose his life.
GLOUCESTER Your highness shall do well to grant her suit;
It were dishonour to deny it her.
KING EDWARD IV It were no less; but yet I'll make a pause.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] Yea, is it so?
I see the lady hath a thing to grant,
Before the king will grant her humble suit.
CLARENCE [Aside to GLOUCESTER] He knows the game: how true
he keeps the wind!
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] Silence!
And come some other time to know our mind.
LADY GREY Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay:
May it please your highness to resolve me now;
And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] Ay, widow? then I'll warrant
you all your lands,
An if what pleases him shall pleasure you.
Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow.
CLARENCE [Aside to GLOUCESTER] I fear her not, unless she
chance to fall.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] God forbid that! for he'll
take vantages.
KING EDWARD IV How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.
CLARENCE [Aside to GLOUCESTER] I think he means to beg a
child of her.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] Nay, whip me then: he'll rather
give her two.
LADY GREY Three, my most gracious lord.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] You shall have four, if you'll
be ruled by him.
KING EDWARD IV 'Twere pity they should lose their father's lands.
LADY GREY Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.
KING EDWARD IV Lords, give us leave: I'll try this widow's wit.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] Ay, good leave have you; for
you will have leave,
Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.
[GLOUCESTER and CLARENCE retire]
LADY GREY Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.
KING EDWARD IV And would you not do much to do them good?
LADY GREY To do them good, I would sustain some harm.
KING EDWARD IV Then get your husband's lands, to do them good.
LADY GREY Therefore I came unto your majesty.
KING EDWARD IV I'll tell you how these lands are to be got.
LADY GREY So shall you bind me to your highness' service.
KING EDWARD IV What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?
LADY GREY What you command, that rests in me to do.
KING EDWARD IV But you will take exceptions to my boon.
LADY GREY No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.
KING EDWARD IV Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.
LADY GREY Why, then I will do what your grace commands.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] He plies her hard; and much rain
wears the marble.
CLARENCE [Aside to GLOUCESTER] As red as fire! nay, then
her wax must melt.
LADY GREY Why stops my lord, shall I not hear my task?
KING EDWARD IV An easy task; 'tis but to love a king.
LADY GREY That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject.
KING EDWARD IV Why, then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee.
LADY GREY I take my leave with many thousand thanks.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] The match is made; she seals it
with a curtsy.
KING EDWARD IV But stay thee, 'tis the fruits of love I mean.
LADY GREY The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.
What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get?
LADY GREY My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers;
That love which virtue begs and virtue grants.
KING EDWARD IV No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.
LADY GREY Why, then you mean not as I thought you did.
KING EDWARD IV But now you partly may perceive my mind.
LADY GREY My mind will never grant what I perceive
Your highness aims at, if I aim aright.
KING EDWARD IV To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.
LADY GREY To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.
KING EDWARD IV Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands.
LADY GREY Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower;
For by that loss I will not purchase them.
KING EDWARD IV Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily.
LADY GREY Herein your highness wrongs both them and me.
But, mighty lord, this merry inclination
Accords not with the sadness of my suit:
Please you dismiss me either with 'ay' or 'no.'
KING EDWARD IV Ay, if thou wilt say 'ay' to my request;
No if thou dost say 'no' to my demand.
LADY GREY Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] The widow likes him not, she
knits her brows.
CLARENCE [Aside to GLOUCESTER] He is the bluntest wooer in
Christendom.
KING EDWARD IV [Aside] Her looks do argue her replete with modesty;
Her words do show her wit incomparable;
All her perfections challenge sovereignty: One way or other, she is for a king;
And she shall be my love, or else my queen.-- Say that King Edward take thee for his queen?
LADY GREY 'Tis better said than done, my gracious lord:
I am a subject fit to jest withal,
But far unfit to be a sovereign.
KING EDWARD IV Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee
I speak no more than what my soul intends; And that is, to enjoy thee for my love.
LADY GREY And that is more than I will yield unto:
I know I am too mean to be your queen,
And yet too good to be your concubine.
KING EDWARD IV You cavil, widow: I did mean, my queen.
LADY GREY 'Twill grieve your grace my sons should call you father.
Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; And, by God's mother, I, being but a bachelor, Have other some: why, 'tis a happy thing
To be the father unto many sons.
Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.
GLOUCESTER [Aside to CLARENCE] The ghostly father now hath done
his shrift.
CLARENCE [Aside to GLOUCESTER] When he was made a shriver,
'twas for shift.
KING EDWARD IV Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had.
GLOUCESTER The widow likes it not, for she looks very sad. KING EDWARD IV You'll think it strange if I should marry her. CLARENCE To whom, my lord? KING EDWARD IV Why, Clarence, to myself. GLOUCESTER That would be ten days' wonder at the least. CLARENCE That's a day longer than a wonder lasts. GLOUCESTER By so much is the wonder in extremes.
Her suit is granted for her husband's lands.
[Enter a Nobleman]
Nobleman My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken,
And brought your prisoner to your palace gate.
KING EDWARD IV See that he be convey'd unto the Tower:
And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, To question of his apprehension.
Widow, go you along. Lords, use her honourably.
[Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER]
GLOUCESTER Ay, Edward will use women honourably.
Would he were wasted, marrow, bones and all,
That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring,
To cross me from the golden time I look for!
And yet, between my soul's desire and me--
The lustful Edward's title buried--
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 keeps 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,
And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. O miserable thought! and more unlikely
Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns!
Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb: And, for I should not deal in her soft laws, She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe, To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub; To make an envious mountain on my back,
Where sits deformity to mock my body;
To shape my legs of an unequal size;
To disproportion me in every part,
Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp That carries no impression like the dam.
And am I then a man to be beloved?
O monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought! Then, since this earth affords no joy to me, But to command, to cheque, to o'erbear such As are of better person than myself,
I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown, And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell, Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head Be round impaled with a glorious crown.
And yet I know not how to get the crown,
For many lives stand between me and home:
And I,--like one lost in a thorny wood,
That rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns, Seeking a way and straying from the way;
Not knowing how to find the open air,
But toiling desperately to find it out,--
Torment myself to catch the English crown: And from that torment I will free myself,
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, And cry 'Content' to that which grieves my heart, And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
And frame my face to all occasions.
I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk;
I'll play the orator as well as Nestor,
Deceive more slily than Ulysses could,
And, like a Sinon, take another Troy.
I can add colours to the chameleon,
Change shapes with Proteus for advantages, And set the murderous Machiavel to school. Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down.
[Exit]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE III France. KING LEWIS XI's palace.
[Flourish. Enter KING LEWIS XI, his sister BONA, his Admiral, called BOURBON, PRINCE EDWARD, QUEEN MARGARET, and OXFORD. KING LEWIS XI sits, and riseth up again]
Sit down with us: it ill befits thy state
And birth, that thou shouldst stand while Lewis doth sit.
Must strike her sail and learn awhile to serve Where kings command. I was, I must confess, Great Albion's queen in former golden days: But now mischance hath trod my title down, And with dishonour laid me on the ground;
Where I must take like seat unto my fortune, And to my humble seat conform myself.
And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares.
And sit thee by our side:
[Seats her by him]
Yield not thy neck
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 eased, if France can yield relief.
And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak. Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis, That Henry, sole possessor of my love,
Is of a king become a banish'd man,
And forced to live in Scotland a forlorn;
While proud ambitious Edward Duke of York
Usurps the regal title and the seat
Of England's true-anointed lawful king.
This is the cause that I, poor Margaret,
With this my son, Prince Edward, Henry's heir, Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid;
And if thou fail us, all our hope is done: Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help; Our people and our peers are both misled,
Our treasures seized, our soldiers put to flight, And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight.
While we bethink a means to break it off.
And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow!
[Enter WARWICK]
[He descends. She ariseth]
For this is he that moves both wind and tide.
Before you answer Warwick. His demand
Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love, But from deceit bred by necessity;
For how can tyrants safely govern home,
Unless abroad they purchase great alliance? To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice, That Henry liveth still: but were he dead, Yet here Prince Edward stands, King Henry's son. Look, therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour; For though usurpers sway the rule awhile,
Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs.
Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside, While I use further conference with Warwick.
[They stand aloof]
Is Edward your true king? for I were loath To link with him that were not lawful chosen.
Tell me for truth the measure of his love
Unto our sister Bona.
[To WARWICK]
Yet I confess that often ere this day,
When I have heard your king's desert recounted, Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire.
And now forthwith shall articles be drawn
Touching the jointure that your king must make, Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised. Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness That Bona shall be wife to the English king.
By this alliance to make void my suit:
Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend.
But if your title to the crown be weak,
As may appear by Edward's good success,
Then 'tis but reason that I be released
From giving aid which late I promised.
Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand That your estate requires and mine can yield.
Proud setter up and puller down of kings!
I will not hence, till, with my talk and tears, Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold Thy sly conveyance and thy lord's false love; For both of you are birds of selfsame feather.
[Post blows a horn within]
[Enter a Post]
[To KING LEWIS XI]
These from our king unto your majesty:
[To QUEEN MARGARET]
And, madam, these for you; from whom I know not.
[They all read their letters]
I hope all's for the best.
And now, to soothe your forgery and his,
Sends me a paper to persuade me patience?
Is this the alliance that he seeks with France? Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?
This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty.
And I forgive and quite forget old faults, And joy that thou becomest King Henry's friend.
Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?
Therefore at last I firmly am resolved
You shall have aid.
And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,
That Lewis of France is sending over masquers To revel it with him and his new bride:
Thou seest what's past, go fear thy king withal.
And I am ready to put armour on.
[Exit Post]
Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men,
Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle; And, as occasion serves, this noble queen
And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt, What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?
Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick; And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable, That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.
And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand.
[He gives his hand to WARWICK]
And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high admiral,
Shalt waft them over with our royal fleet. I long till Edward fall by war's mischance, For mocking marriage with a dame of France.
[Exeunt all but WARWICK]
[Exit]
3 KING HENRY VI
[Enter GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, SOMERSET, and MONTAGUE]
GLOUCESTER Now tell me, brother Clarence, what think you
Of this new marriage with the Lady Grey?
Hath not our brother made a worthy choice?
CLARENCE Alas, you know, 'tis far from hence to France;
How could he stay till Warwick made return?
SOMERSET My lords, forbear this talk; here comes the king.
GLOUCESTER And his well-chosen bride.
CLARENCE I mind to tell him plainly what I think.
[Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, attended; QUEEN ELIZABETH, PEMBROKE, STAFFORD, HASTINGS, and others]
That you stand pensive, as half malcontent?
CLARENCE As well as Lewis of France, or the Earl of Warwick,
Which are so weak of courage and in judgment
That they'll take no offence at our abuse.
KING EDWARD IV Suppose they take offence without a cause,
They are but Lewis and Warwick: I am Edward, Your king and Warwick's, and must have my will.
GLOUCESTER And shall have your will, because our king:
Yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well.
KING EDWARD IV Yea, brother Richard, are you offended too?
GLOUCESTER Not I:
No, God forbid that I should wish them sever'd
Whom God hath join'd together; ay, and 'twere pity
To sunder them that yoke so well together.
KING EDWARD IV Setting your scorns and your mislike aside,
Tell me some reason why the Lady Grey
Should not become my wife and England's queen. And you too, Somerset and Montague,
Speak freely what you think.
CLARENCE Then this is mine opinion: that King Lewis
Becomes your enemy, for mocking him
About the marriage of the Lady Bona.
GLOUCESTER And Warwick, doing what you gave in charge,
Is now dishonoured by this new marriage.
KING EDWARD IV What if both Lewis and Warwick be appeased
By such invention as I can devise?
MONTAGUE Yet, to have join'd with France in such alliance
Would more have strengthen'd this our commonwealth
'Gainst foreign storms than any home-bred marriage.
HASTINGS Why, knows not Montague that of itself
England is safe, if true within itself?
MONTAGUE But the safer when 'tis back'd with France.
HASTINGS 'Tis better using France than trusting France:
Let us be back'd with God and with the seas
Which He hath given for fence impregnable,
And with their helps only defend ourselves;
In them and in ourselves our safety lies.
CLARENCE For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves
To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.
KING EDWARD IV Ay, what of that? it was my will and grant;
And for this once my will shall stand for law.
GLOUCESTER And yet methinks your grace hath not done well,
To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales
Unto the brother of your loving bride;
She better would have fitted me or Clarence:
But in your bride you bury brotherhood.
CLARENCE Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir
Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son,
And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.
KING EDWARD IV Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife
That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.
CLARENCE In choosing for yourself, you show'd your judgment,
Which being shallow, you give me leave
To play the broker in mine own behalf;
And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.
KING EDWARD IV Leave me, or tarry, Edward will be king,
And not be tied unto his brother's will.
To raise my state to title of a queen,
Do me but right, and you must all confess
That I was not ignoble of descent;
And meaner than myself have had like fortune. But as this title honours me and mine,
So your dislike, to whom I would be pleasing, Doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.
What danger or what sorrow can befall thee, So long as Edward is thy constant friend,
And their true sovereign, whom they must obey? Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too, Unless they seek for hatred at my hands;
Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe, And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.
GLOUCESTER [Aside] I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.
[Enter a Post]
From France?
Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them. What answer makes King Lewis unto our letters?
But what said Lady Bona to my marriage?
She had the wrong. But what said Henry's queen? For I have heard that she was there in place.
But what said Warwick to these injuries?
Well I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd: They shall have wars and pay for their presumption. But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?
CLARENCE Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger.
Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,
For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;
That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage
I may not prove inferior to yourself.
You that love me and Warwick, follow me.
[Exit CLARENCE, and SOMERSET follows]
GLOUCESTER [Aside] Not I:
My thoughts aim at a further matter; I
Stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown.
KING EDWARD IV Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick!
Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen; And haste is needful in this desperate case. Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
They are already, or quickly will be landed: Myself in person will straight follow you.
[Exeunt PEMBROKE and STAFFORD]
But, ere I go, Hastings and Montague,
Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest, Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance: Tell me if you love Warwick more than me?
If it be so, then both depart to him;
I rather wish you foes than hollow friends: But if you mind to hold your true obedience, Give me assurance with some friendly vow,
That I may never have you in suspect.
MONTAGUE So God help Montague as he proves true! HASTINGS And Hastings as he favours Edward's cause! KING EDWARD IV Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us? GLOUCESTER Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.
Now therefore let us hence; and lose no hour, Till we meet Warwick with his foreign power.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE II A plain in Warwickshire.
[Enter WARWICK and OXFORD, with French soldiers]
[Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET]
But see where Somerset and Clarence come!
Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?
CLARENCE Fear not that, my lord.
[They all cry, 'Henry!']
Why, then, let's on our way in silent sort: For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE III Edward's camp, near Warwick.
[Enter three Watchmen, to guard KING EDWARD IV's tent]
The king by this is set him down to sleep.
Never to lie and take his natural rest
Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd.
If Warwick be so near as men report.
That with the king here resteth in his tent?
That his chief followers lodge in towns about him, While he himself keeps in the cold field?
I like it better than a dangerous honour.
If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,
'Tis to be doubted he would waken him.
But to defend his person from night-foes?
[Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET, and French soldiers, silent all]
[WARWICK and the rest cry all, 'Warwick! Warwick!' and set upon the Guard, who fly, crying, 'Arm! arm!' WARWICK and the rest following them]
[The drum playing and trumpet sounding, reenter WARWICK, SOMERSET, and the rest, bringing KING EDWARD IV out in his gown, sitting in a chair. RICHARD and HASTINGS fly over the stage]
SOMERSET What are they that fly there?
WARWICK Richard and Hastings: let them go; here is The duke.
KING EDWARD IV The duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted,
Thou call'dst me king.
Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down. Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance, Of thee thyself and all thy complices,
Edward will always bear himself as king:
Though fortune's malice overthrow my state, My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.
[Takes off his crown]
But Henry now shall wear the English crown, And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow. My Lord of Somerset, at my request,
See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.
When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows, I'll follow you, and tell what answer
Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.
Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.
[They lead him out forcibly]
It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
[Exit, guarded]
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE IV London. The palace.
[Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS]
What late misfortune is befall'n King Edward?
Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard
Or by his foe surprised at unawares:
And, as I further have to understand,
Is new committed to the Bishop of York,
Fell Warwick's brother and by that our foe.
And I the rather wean me from despair
For love of Edward's offspring in my womb: This is it that makes me bridle passion
And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross; Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear
And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs, Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown.
To set the crown once more on Henry's head: Guess thou the rest; King Edward's friends must down, But, to prevent the tyrant's violence,--
For trust not him that hath once broken faith,-- I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,
To save at least the heir of Edward's right: There shall I rest secure from force and fraud. Come, therefore, let us fly while we may fly: If Warwick take us we are sure to die.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
[Enter GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, and STANLEY]
GLOUCESTER Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley,
Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,
Into this chiefest thicket of the park.
Thus stands the case: you know our king, my brother,
Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands
He hath good usage and great liberty,
And, often but attended with weak guard,
Comes hunting this way to disport himself. I have advertised him by secret means
That if about this hour he make his way
Under the colour of his usual game,
He shall here find his friends with horse and men To set him free from his captivity.
[Enter KING EDWARD IV and a Huntsman with him]
Huntsman This way, my lord; for this way lies the game.
Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest, Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer?
GLOUCESTER Brother, the time and case requireth haste:
Your horse stands ready at the park-corner.
KING EDWARD IV But whither shall we then?
HASTINGS To Lynn, my lord,
And ship from thence to Flanders.
GLOUCESTER Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning.
KING EDWARD IV Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.
GLOUCESTER But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk.
KING EDWARD IV Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along?
Huntsman Better do so than tarry and be hang'd.
GLOUCESTER Come then, away; let's ha' no more ado.
And pray that I may repossess the crown.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE VI London. The Tower.
[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, HENRY OF RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, and Lieutenant of the Tower]
Have shaken Edward from the regal seat,
And turn'd my captive state to liberty,
My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,
At our enlargement what are thy due fees?
Lieutenant Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;
But if an humble prayer may prevail,
I then crave pardon of your majesty.
KING HENRY VI For what, lieutenant? for well using me?
Nay, be thou sure I'll well requite thy kindness, For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure; Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds
Conceive when after many moody thoughts
At last by notes of household harmony
They quite forget their loss of liberty.
But, Warwick, after God, thou set'st me free, And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee; He was the author, thou the instrument.
Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me, And that the people of this blessed land
May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars, Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, I here resign my government to thee,
For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.
CLARENCE No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,
To whom the heavens in thy nativity
Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown,
As likely to be blest in peace and war;
And therefore I yield thee my free consent.
WARWICK And I choose Clarence only for protector.
Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts, That no dissension hinder government:
I make you both protectors of this land,
While I myself will lead a private life
And in devotion spend my latter days,
To sin's rebuke and my Creator's praise.
CLARENCE That he consents, if Warwick yield consent;
For on thy fortune I repose myself.
CLARENCE What else? and that succession be determined.
Let me entreat, for I command no more,
That Margaret your queen and my son Edward Be sent for, to return from France with speed; For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.
CLARENCE It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
SOMERSET My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.
[Lays his hand on his head]
If secret powers
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts, This pretty lad will prove our country's bliss. His looks are full of peaceful majesty,
His head by nature framed to wear a crown, His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself
Likely in time to bless a regal throne.
Make much of him, my lords, for this is he Must help you more than you are hurt by me.
[Enter a Post]
[Exeunt all but SOMERSET, HENRY OF RICHMOND, and OXFORD]
SOMERSET My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's;
For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,
And we shall have more wars before 't be long.
As Henry's late presaging prophecy
Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond,
So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts What may befall him, to his harm and ours: Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, Forthwith we'll send him hence to Brittany, Till storms be past of civil enmity.
SOMERSET It shall be so; he shall to Brittany.
Come, therefore, let's about it speedily.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE VII Before York.
[Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, and Soldiers]
Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,
And says that once more I shall interchange My waned state for Henry's regal crown.
Well have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas And brought desired help from Burgundy:
What then remains, we being thus arrived
From Ravenspurgh haven before the gates of York, But that we enter, as into our dukedom?
GLOUCESTER The gates made fast! Brother, I like not this;
For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within.
KING EDWARD IV Tush, man, abodements must not now affright us:
By fair or foul means we must enter in,
For hither will our friends repair to us.
HASTINGS My liege, I'll knock once more to summon them.
[Enter, on the walls, the Mayor of York, and his Brethren]
Yet Edward at the least is Duke of York.
As being well content with that alone.
GLOUCESTER [Aside] But when the fox hath once got in his nose,
He'll soon find means to make the body follow.
HASTINGS Why, master mayor, why stand you in a doubt?
Open the gates; we are King Henry's friends.
Mayor Ay, say you so? the gates shall then be open'd.
[They descend]
GLOUCESTER A wise stout captain, and soon persuaded!
HASTINGS The good old man would fain that all were well,
So 'twere not 'long of him; but being enter'd,
I doubt not, I, but we shall soon persuade
Both him and all his brothers unto reason.
[Enter the Mayor and two Aldermen, below]
But in the night or in the time of war.
What! fear not, man, but yield me up the keys;
[Takes his keys]
For Edward will defend the town and thee,
And all those friends that deign to follow me.
[March. Enter MONTGOMERY, with drum and soldiers]
GLOUCESTER Brother, this is Sir John Montgomery,
Our trusty friend, unless I be deceived.
KING EDWARD IV Welcome, Sir John! But why come you in arms?
MONTAGUE To help King Edward in his time of storm,
As every loyal subject ought to do.
KING EDWARD IV Thanks, good Montgomery; but we now forget
Our title to the crown and only claim
Our dukedom till God please to send the rest.
MONTAGUE Then fare you well, for I will hence again:
I came to serve a king and not a duke.
Drummer, strike up, and let us march away.
[The drum begins to march]
By what safe means the crown may be recover'd.
MONTAGUE What talk you of debating? in few words,
If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king,
I'll leave you to your fortune and be gone
To keep them back that come to succor you:
Why shall we fight, if you pretend no title?
GLOUCESTER Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?
Till then, 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.
HASTINGS Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule.
GLOUCESTER And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand:
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
KING EDWARD IV Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right,
And Henry but usurps the diadem.
MONTAGUE Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself;
And now will I be Edward's champion.
HASTINGS Sound trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd:
Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation.
[Flourish]
MONTAGUE And whosoe'er gainsays King Edward's right,
By this I challenge him to single fight.
[Throws down his gauntlet]
If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness. Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York; And when the morning sun shall raise his car Above the border of this horizon,
We'll forward towards Warwick and his mates; For well I wot that Henry is no soldier.
Ah, froward Clarence! how evil it beseems thee To flatter Henry and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick. Come on, brave soldiers: doubt not of the day, And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE VIII London. The palace.
[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, WARWICK, MONTAGUE, CLARENCE, EXETER, and OXFORD]
KING HENRY VI Let's levy men, and beat him back again.
CLARENCE A little fire is quickly trodden out;
Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.
KING HENRY VI Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope. CLARENCE In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand. KING HENRY VI Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate! MONTAGUE Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave.
And all at once, once more a happy farewell.
[Exeunt all but KING HENRY VI and EXETER]
Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? Methinks the power that Edward hath in field Should not be able to encounter mine.
I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands, Nor posted off their suits with slow delays; My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds, My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs, My mercy dried their water-flowing tears;
I have not been desirous of their wealth,
Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies. Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd: Then why should they love Edward more than me? No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace:
And when the lion fawns upon the lamb,
The lamb will never cease to follow him.
[Shout within. 'A Lancaster! A Lancaster!']
[Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers]
And once again proclaim us King of England. You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow: Now stops thy spring; my sea sha$l suck them dry, And swell so much the higher by their ebb. Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.
[Exeunt some with KING HENRY VI]
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course Where peremptory Warwick now remains:
The sun shines hot; and, if we use delay,
Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay.
GLOUCESTER Away betimes, before his forces join,
And take the great-grown traitor unawares:
Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
[Enter WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers, and others upon the walls]
Second Messenger By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.
[Enter SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE]
SOMERSET At Southam I did leave him with his forces,
And do expect him here some two hours hence.
[Drum heard]
SOMERSET It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies:
The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.
WARWICK Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends.
SOMERSET They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.
[March: flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers]
GLOUCESTER See how the surly Warwick mans the wall!
Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee, Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy? And he shall pardon thee these outrages.
GLOUCESTER I thought, at least, he would have said the king;
Or did he make the jest against his will?
WARWICK Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?
GLOUCESTER Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give:
I'll do thee service for so good a gift.
WARWICK 'Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.
And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:
What is the body when the head is off?
GLOUCESTER Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast,
But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
The king was slily finger'd from the deck!
You left poor Henry at the Bishop's palace,
And, ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower.
EDWARD 'Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still.
GLOUCESTER Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down:
Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools.
This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off, Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood, 'Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.'
[Enter OXFORD, with drum and colours]
[He and his forces enter the city]
GLOUCESTER The gates are open, let us enter too.
Stand we in good array; for they no doubt
Will issue out again and bid us battle:
If not, the city being but of small defence, We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same.
[Enter MONTAGUE with drum and colours]
MONTAGUE Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!
[He and his forces enter the city]
GLOUCESTER Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason
Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
KING EDWARD IV The harder match'd, the greater victory:
My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.
[Enter SOMERSET, with drum and colours]
SOMERSET Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
[He and his forces enter the city]
GLOUCESTER Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset,
Have sold their lives unto the house of York;
And thou shalt be the third if this sword hold.
[Enter CLARENCE, with drum and colours]
CLARENCE Father of Warwick, know you what this means?
[Taking his red rose out of his hat]
Look here, I throw my infamy at thee
I will not ruinate my father's house,
Who gave his blood to lime the stones together, And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou, Warwick, That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural, To bend the fatal instruments of war
Against his brother and his lawful king?
Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath:
To keep that oath were more impiety
Than Jephthah's, when he sacrificed his daughter. I am so sorry for my trespass made
That, to deserve well at my brother's hands, I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe,
With resolution, wheresoe'er I meet thee-- As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad-- To plague thee for thy foul misleading me. And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee, And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks. Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends:
And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults, For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.
Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate.
GLOUCESTER Welcome, good Clarence; this is brotherlike.
Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?
Lords, to the field; Saint George and victory!
[Exeunt King Edward and his company. March. Warwick and his company follow]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE II A field of battle near Barnet.
[Alarum and excursions. Enter KING EDWARD IV, bringing forth WARWICK wounded]
For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all.
Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee,
That Warwick's bones may keep thine company.
[Exit]
[Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET]
SOMERSET Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are.
We might recover all our loss again;
The queen from France hath brought a puissant power:
Even now we heard the news: ah, could'st thou fly!
SOMERSET Ah, Warwick! Montague hath breathed his last;
And to the latest gasp cried out for Warwick,
And said 'Commend me to my valiant brother.'
And more he would have said, and more he spoke,
Which sounded like a clamour in a vault,
That mought not be distinguished; but at last I well might hear, delivered with a groan, 'O, farewell, Warwick!'
[Dies]
[Here they bear away his body. Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE III Another part of the field.
[Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV in triumph; with GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and the rest]
And we are graced with wreaths of victory. But, in the midst of this bright-shining day, I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud, That will encounter with our glorious sun, Ere he attain his easeful western bed:
I mean, my lords, those powers that the queen Hath raised in Gallia have arrived our coast And, as we hear, march on to fight with us.
CLARENCE A little gale will soon disperse that cloud
And blow it to the source from whence it came:
The very beams will dry those vapours up,
For every cloud engenders not a storm.
GLOUCESTER The queen is valued thirty thousand strong,
And Somerset, with Oxford fled to her:
If she have time to breathe be well assured
Her faction will be full as strong as ours.
KING EDWARD IV We are advertised by our loving friends
That they do hold their course toward Tewksbury: We, having now the best at Barnet field,
Will thither straight, for willingness rids way; And, as we march, our strength will be augmented In every county as we go along.
Strike up the drum; cry 'Courage!' and away.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE IV Plains near Tewksbury.
[March. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE EDWARD, SOMERSET, OXFORD, and soldiers]
But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. What though the mast be now blown overboard, The cable broke, the holding-anchor lost,
And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood? Yet lives our pilot still. Is't meet that he Should leave the helm and like a fearful lad With tearful eyes add water to the sea
And give more strength to that which hath too much, Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock, Which industry and courage might have saved? Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this! Say Warwick was our anchor; what of that?
And Montague our topmost; what of him?
Our slaughter'd friends the tackles; what of these? Why, is not Oxford here another anchor?
And Somerset another goodly mast?
The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I
For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge? We will not from the helm to sit and weep, But keep our course, though the rough wind say no, From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck. As good to chide the waves as speak them fair. And what is Edward but ruthless sea?
What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit?
And Richard but a ragged fatal rock?
All these the enemies to our poor bark.
Say you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while!
Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink: Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off, Or else you famish; that's a threefold death. This speak I, lords, to let you understand, If case some one of you would fly from us, That there's no hoped-for mercy with the brothers More than with ruthless waves, with sands and rocks. Why, courage then! what cannot be avoided
'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear.
Should, if a coward heard her speak these words, Infuse his breast with magnanimity
And make him, naked, foil a man at arms.
I speak not this as doubting any here
For did I but suspect a fearful man
He should have leave to go away betimes,
Lest in our need he might infect another
And make him of like spirit to himself.
If any such be here--as God forbid!--
Let him depart before we need his help.
SOMERSET And he that will not fight for such a hope.
Go home to bed, and like the owl by day,
If he arise, be mock'd and wonder'd at.
QUEEN MARGARET Thanks, gentle Somerset; sweet Oxford, thanks.
[Enter a Messenger]
Messenger Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand.
Ready to fight; therefore be resolute.
OXFORD I thought no less: it is his policyTo haste thus fast, to find us unprovided.
SOMERSET But he's deceived; we are in readiness.
[Flourish and march. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and soldiers]
Which, by the heavens' assistance and your strength, Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. I need not add more fuel to your fire,
For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out
Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords!
My tears gainsay; for every word I speak,
Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes.
Therefore, no more but this: Henry, your sovereign, Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd, His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, His statutes cancell'd and his treasure spent; And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil. You fight in justice: then, in God's name, lords, Be valiant and give signal to the fight.
[Alarum. Retreat. Excursions. Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
[Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and soldiers; with QUEEN MARGARET, OXFORD, and SOMERSET, prisoners]
Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight: For Somerset, off with his guilty head.
Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak.
SOMERSET Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune.
[Exeunt Oxford and Somerset, guarded]
To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem.
Shall have a high reward, and he his life?
GLOUCESTER It is: and lo, where youthful Edward comes!
[Enter soldiers, with PRINCE EDWARD]
What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make
For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects, And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to?
Suppose that I am now my father's mouth;
Resign thy chair, and where I stand kneel thou, Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee, Which traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.
GLOUCESTER That you might still have worn the petticoat,
And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster.
PRINCE EDWARD Let AEsop fable in a winter's night;
His currish riddles sort not with this place.
GLOUCESTER By heaven, brat, I'll plague ye for that word. QUEEN MARGARET Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men. GLOUCESTER For God's sake, take away this captive scold.
CLARENCE Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert.
Lascivious Edward, and thou perjured George, And thou mis-shapen Dick, I tell ye all
I am your better, traitors as ye are:
And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine.
[Stabs him]
GLOUCESTER Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy agony.
[Stabs him]
CLARENCE And there's for twitting me with perjury.
[Stabs him]
GLOUCESTER Marry, and shall.
[Offers to kill her]
GLOUCESTER Why should she live, to fill the world with words?
KING EDWARD IV What, doth she swoon? use means for her recovery.
GLOUCESTER Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother;
I'll hence to London on a serious matter:
Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news.
CLARENCE What? what?
GLOUCESTER The Tower, the Tower.
[Exit]
Canst thou not speak? O traitors! murderers! They that stabb'd Caesar shed no blood at all, Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, If this foul deed were by to equal it:
He was a man; this, in respect, a child:
And men ne'er spend their fury on a child. What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? No, no, my heart will burst, and if I speak: And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. Butchers and villains! bloody cannibals!
How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd! You have no children, butchers! if you had, The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse: But if you ever chance to have a child,
Look in his youth to have him so cut off
As, deathmen, you have rid this sweet young prince!
Here sheathe thy sword, I'll pardon thee my death: What, wilt thou not? then, Clarence, do it thou.
CLARENCE By heaven, I will not do thee so much ease. QUEEN MARGARET Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it. CLARENCE Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it?
'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity.
What, wilt thou not? Where is that devil's butcher, Hard-favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou? Thou art not here: murder is thy alms-deed; Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back.
[Exit, led out forcibly]
CLARENCE To London, all in post; and, as I guess,
To make a bloody supper in the Tower.
KING EDWARD IV He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head.
Now march we hence: discharge the common sort With pay and thanks, and let's away to London And see our gentle queen how well she fares: By this, I hope, she hath a son for me.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE VI London. The Tower.
[Enter KING HENRY VI and GLOUCESTER, with the Lieutenant, on the walls]
GLOUCESTER Good day, my lord. What, at your book so hard?
'Tis sin to flatter; 'good' was little better: 'Good Gloucester' and 'good devil' were alike, And both preposterous; therefore, not 'good lord.'
GLOUCESTER Sirrah, leave us to ourselves: we must confer.
[Exit Lieutenant]
So first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece And next his throat unto the butcher's knife. What scene of death hath Roscius now to act?
GLOUCESTER Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind;
The thief doth fear each bush an officer.
KING HENRY VI The bird that hath been limed in a bush,
With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush; And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird, Have now the fatal object in my eye
Where my poor young was limed, was caught and kill'd.
GLOUCESTER Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete,
That taught his son the office of a fowl!
An yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd.
KING HENRY VI I, Daedalus; my poor boy, Icarus;Thy father, Minos, that denied our course; The sun that sear'd the wings of my sweet boy Thy brother Edward, and thyself the sea
Whose envious gulf did swallow up his life. Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words! My breast can better brook thy dagger's point Than can my ears that tragic history.
But wherefore dost thou come? is't for my life?
GLOUCESTER Think'st thou I am an executioner?
If murdering innocents be executing,
Why, then thou art an executioner.
GLOUCESTER Thy son I kill'd for his presumption.
Thou hadst not lived to kill a son of mine. And thus I prophesy, that many a thousand, Which now mistrust no parcel of my fear,
And many an old man's sigh and many a widow's, And many an orphan's water-standing eye--
Men for their sons, wives for their husbands, And orphans for their parents timeless death-- Shall rue the hour that ever thou wast born. The owl shriek'd at thy birth,--an evil sign; The night-crow cried, aboding luckless time; Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempest shook down trees; The raven rook'd her on the chimney's top, And chattering pies in dismal discords sung. Thy mother felt more than a mother's pain, And, yet brought forth less than a mother's hope, To wit, an indigested and deformed lump,
Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree.
Teeth hadst thou in thy head when thou wast born, To signify thou camest to bite the world:
And, if the rest be true which I have heard, Thou camest--
GLOUCESTER I'll hear no more: die, prophet in thy speech:
[Stabs him]
For this amongst the rest, was I ordain'd.
God forgive my sins, and pardon thee!
[Dies]
GLOUCESTER What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster
Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted.
See how my sword weeps for the poor king's death!
O, may such purple tears be alway shed
From those that wish the downfall of our house!
If any spark of life be yet remaining,
Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither:
[Stabs him again]
I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear. Indeed, 'tis true that Henry told me of;
For I have often heard my mother say
I came into the world with my legs forward: Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste, And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right? The midwife wonder'd and the women cried
'O, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!' And so I was; which plainly signified
That I should snarl and bite and play the dog. Then, since the heavens have shaped my body so, Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it. I have no brother, I am like no brother;
And this word 'love,' which graybeards call divine, Be resident in men like one another
And not in me: I am myself alone.
Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light: But I will sort a pitchy day for thee;
For I will buz abroad such prophecies
That Edward shall be fearful of his life,
And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death. King Henry and the prince his son are gone: Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the rest, Counting myself but bad till I be best.
I'll throw thy body in another room
And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom.
[Exit, with the body]
3 KING HENRY VI
SCENE VII London. The palace.
[Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, QUEEN ELIZABETH, CLARENCE, GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, a Nurse with the young Prince, and Attendants]
Re-purchased with the blood of enemies.
What valiant foemen, like to autumn's corn, Have we mow'd down, in tops of all their pride! Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd For hardy and undoubted champions;
Two Cliffords, as the father and the son,
And two Northumberlands; two braver men
Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound; With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague, That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion And made the forest tremble when they roar'd. Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat And made our footstool of security.
Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy. Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles and myself Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night, Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat,
That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace; And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain.
GLOUCESTER [Aside] I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid;
For yet I am not look'd on in the world.
This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave;
And heave it shall some weight, or break my back:
Work thou the way,--and thou shalt execute.
KING EDWARD IV Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely queen;
And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both.
CLARENCE The duty that I owe unto your majesty
I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks.
GLOUCESTER And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st,
Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit.
[Aside] To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master,
And cried 'all hail!' when as he meant all harm.
KING EDWARD IV Now am I seated as my soul delights,
Having my country's peace and brothers' loves.
CLARENCE What will your grace have done with Margaret?
Reignier, her father, to the king of France
Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem,
And hither have they sent it for her ransom.
KING EDWARD IV Away with her, and waft her hence to France.
And now what rests but that we spend the time With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows, Such as befits the pleasure of the court?
Sound drums and trumpets! farewell sour annoy! For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.
[Exeunt]