Thou lov'st me not; for, brother, if thou didst, Som. Ah, Warwick, Montague hath breath'd his last; And to the latest gasp, cried out for Warwick, War. Sweet rest to his soul!— Fly, lords, and save yourselves; for Warwick bids You all farewell, to meet again in heaven. [Dies. Oxf. Away, away, to meet the queen's great power! [Exeunt, bearing off Warwick's body. SCENE III.-Another part of the field. Flourish. Enter King EDWARD in triumph; with Clarence, Gloster, and the rest. K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory. I mean, my lords, those powers, that the queen Clar. A little gale will soon disperse that cloud, Thy very beams will dry those vapours up; Glo. The queen is valu'd thirty thousand strong, And Somerset, with Oxford, fled to her; If she have time to breathe, be well assur'd, K. Edw. We are advértis'd by our loving friends, Strike up the drum; cry-Courage! and away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-Plains near Tewksbury. March. Enter Queen MARGARET, Prince EDWARD, Somerset, Oxford, and Soldiers. Q. Mar. Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. What though the mast be now blown over-board, And give more strength to that which hath too much; And Somerset another goodly mast? The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? 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 a 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, In case some one of you would fly from us, That there's no hop'd-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. Prince. Methinks, a woman of this valiant spirit Should, if a coward heard her speak these words, Infuse his breast with magnanimity, And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. Oxf. Women and children of so high a courage! And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame.— O, brave young prince! thy famous grandfather Doth live again in thee; Long may'st thou live, Som. 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. Q. Mar. Thanks, gentle Somerset ;-sweet Oxford, thanks. Prince. And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing else. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand, Ready to fight; therefore be resolute. Oxf. I thought no less it is his policy, To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided. Som. But he's deceiv'd, we are in readiness. Q. Mar. This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness. Oxf. Here pitch our battle, hence we will not budge. March. Enter, at a distance, King EDWARD, Clarence, Gloster, and Forces. K. Edw. Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, 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: Q. Mar. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say, My tears gainsay: for every word I speak, Therefore, no more but this :-Henry, your sovereign, His realm a slaughterhouse, his subjects slain, And yonder is the wolf, that makes this spoil. [Exeunt both Armies. SCENE V.-Another part of the same. Alarums: Excursions: and afterwards a Retreat. Then enter King EDWARD, Clarence, Gloster, and Forces; with Queen MARGARET, Oxford, and Somerset, prisoners. K. Edw. Now, here a period of tumultuous broils. Away with Oxford to Hammes' castle straight: For Somerset, off with his guilty head. Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. Oxf. For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words. Som. Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune. [Exeunt Oxford and Somerset, guarded. Q. Mar. So part we sadly in this troublous world, To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem. K. Edw. Is proclamation made,—that, who finds Edward, Shall have a high reward, and he his life? Glo. It is: and, lo, where youthful Edward comes, Enter Soldiers, with Prince EDWARD. K. Edw. Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak: What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? Prince. Speak like a subject, proud ambitious Suppose, that I am now my father's mouth; 4 |