Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's War. And so do 1.-Victorious prince of Before I see thee seated in that throne For hither we have broken in by force. Norf. We'll all assist you; he that flies shall die. But little thinks we shall be of her council : War. The bloody parliament shall this be Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king; York. Then leave me not, my lords: be re- I mean to take possession of my right. The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. words, send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, As shall revenge his death, before I stir. War. Poor Clifford ! how I scorn his worth less threats! York. Will you we show our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; I am the son of Henry the Fifth, And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces. it all. K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not f When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old. Rich. You are old enough now, and yet me. thinks, you lose : Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head Edw. Sweet father, do so; set it on you head. Mont. Good brother, [To YORK.] as thou lov'st aud honour'st arms, Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly. York. Sons, peace! K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Heury leave to speak. War. Plantagenet shall speak first :-hear bim, lords; • Since. And be you silent and attentive too, K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire and my father sat ? Shall be my winding sheet.-Why faint you, lords? My title's good, and better far than his. War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. Hen. Henry the fourth by conquest got the crown. York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Hen. I know not what to say; my title's weak. Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? York. What then? K. Hen. And if he may, then am I lawful king: For Richard, in the view of many lords, And made him to resign his crown perforce. War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown? • Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, Bu that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exe ter ? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, Think not that Henry shall be so depos'd. War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd; 'tis not thy south ern power, Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent, Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown :What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? War. Do right unto this princely duke of York; Or. I will fill the house with armed men, He stamps and the Soldiers show them- K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one word ; Let me, for this my life-time, reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine heirs, And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son ? War. What good is this to England and himself? I. c. Detrimental to the general rights of hereditary royalty. K. Hen. Ah! Exeter : War. Why should you sigh, my lord! K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son, Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. Conditionally, that here thou take an oath K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are recon. cil'd. Exe, Accurs'd be he that seeks to mkse them foes! [Senet. The Lords come forward. York. Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle. War. And I'll keep London, with my sol diers. Norf. And I to Norfolk, with my followers. Mont. And I unto the sea, from whence I Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: If you be king, why should not I succeed? K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret ;-pardon me, sweet son; The earl of Warwick and the duke enforc'd me. Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and wilt be forc'd ? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah! timorous Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me; seas; narrow The duke is made protector of the realm; Before I would have granted to that act. nour: And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself, Will follow mine, if once they see them spread: grace, And utter ruin of the house of York. Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. [Exeunt Queen MARGARET and the PRINCE. to her son, Hath made her break out into terms of rage! I'll write unto them, and entreat them fair!- SCENE 11.-A Room in Sandal Castle, Enter EDWARD, PICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Edw. No, I can better play the orator. York. About what? Rich. About that which concerus your grace and us; The crown of England, father, which is your's. York. Mine, boy? not till king Henry be dead. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or death. Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end. York. I took an oath, that he should quietly reign. Edw. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be broken: I'd break a thousand oaths to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid, your grace should be forsworn. York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Brother, thou shalt to London presently, You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, In them I trust; for they are soldiers, But that I seek occasion how to rise; Enter a MESSENGER. But, stay; What news? Why com'st thou in such post? Mess. The queen, with all the northern earis Intend here to besiege you in your castle : York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st not: [Exit. Enter Sir JOHN and Sir HUGH MORTIMER. You are come to Sandal in a happy hour • Of sound judgment. York. What! with five thousand men ? A woman's general; What should we fear? And issue forth, and bid them battle straight. I doubt not, uncle, of our victory, SCENE III.-Plains near Sandal Castle. his TUTOR. Hut. Ah! whither shall I fly to 'scape their | Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. [CLIFFORD stabs him Rut. Dii faciant, laudis summa sit ista tua!• [Dies. SCENE IV.-The same. York. The army of the queen hath got the My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; them: But this I know, they have demean'd themselves Like men born to renown, by life, or death. saves Three times did Richard make a lane to me; And thrice cried,-Courage, father! fight it As for the brat of this accursed duke, Clif. Soldiers, away with him. Lest thou be hated both of God and man. it fear, them. Rut. So looks the pent-up lion o'er the Clif. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my fa ther's blood Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter. Rut. Then let my father's blood open it He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. Were not revenge sufficient for me; It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. [Lifting his hand. slay me? Clif. Thy father hath. Rut. But 'twas ere I was born. Thou hast one son, for his sake pity me; God is just, He be as miserably slain as I. Ah! let me live in prison all my days; • Since. out! And full as oft came Edward to my side, And cried,-A crown, or else a glorious tomb . waves. The sands are number'd, that make up my Here must I stay, and here my life must end. CLIFFORD, NOR- I dare your quenchless fury to more rage; I am your butt, and I abide your shot. net. Clif. Ay, to such mercy as his ruthless arm, With downright payment, show'd unto my fa ther. Now Phaeton bath tumbled from his car, A bird that will revenge upon you all : Scorning whate'er you can afflict me with. Clif. So cowards fight, when they can fly no So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons; |