Come, York and Richard, Warwick, and the rest; I stabb'd your fathers' bosoms, split my breast. [Ile faints. Alarum and retreat. Enter EDWARD, GEORGE, RICHARD, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Soldiers. Edw. Now breathe we, lords; good fortune bids us pause, And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks. Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen; But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them? War. No, 'tis impossible he should escape : For, though before his face I speak the words, Your brother Richard mark'd him for the grave: And, wheresoe'er he is, he's surely dead. CLIFFORD groans, and dies. Edw. Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? Rich. A deadly groan, like life and death's departing. Edw. See who it is: and now the battle's ended, If friend, or foe, let him be gently used. Rich. Revoke that doom of mercy, for 'tis Who, not contented that he lopp'd the branch I mean, our princely father, duke of York. War. From off the gates of York fetch down the head, Your father's head, which Clifford placed there : Instead whereof let this supply the room; Measure for measure must be answered. Edw. Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house, That nothing sung but death to us and ours: Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound, And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak. Dark cloudy death o'ershades his beams of life, 'Tis but his policy to counterfeit, Because he would avoid such bitter taunts Rich. Clifford, ask mercy, and obtain no grace. Rich. Thou didst love York, and I am son to York. Edw. Thou pitied'st Rutland, I will pity thee. Geo. Where's captain Margaret, to fence you now? War. They mock thee, Clifford ! swear as thou wast wont. Rich. What, not an oath? nay, then the world goes hard When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath : This hand should chop it off; and with the issuing blood Stifle the villain, whose unstanched thirst York and young Rutland could not satisfy. And rear it in the place your father stands. So shalt thou sinew both these lands together; And then to Brittany I'll cross the sea, To effect this marriage, so it please my lord. it be; For on thy shoulder do I build my seat : Rich. Let me be duke of Clarence; George, of Gloster; For Gloster's dukedom is too ominous. War. Tut! that's a foolish observation; Richard, be duke of Gloster. Now to London, To see these honours in possession. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.-A Chase in the North of England. Enter two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands. U 1 Keeper. NDER this thick-grown brake we'll shroud ourselves; For through this land anon the deer And in this covert will we make our stand, 2 Keep. I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. 1 Keep. That cannot be; the noise of thy Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. In this self-place where now we mean to stand. Enter KING HENRY, disguised, with a prayer-book. K. Hen. From Scotland am I stolen, even of pure love, To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. VOL. VIII. 4 No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine; anointed : wast No bending knee will call thee Cæsar now, No humble suitors press to speak for right, No, not a man comes for redress of thee; For how can I help them, and not myself? 1 Keep. Ay, here's a deer whose skin's a keeper's fee: This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him. K. Hen. Let me embrace these sour adversities, For wise men say it is the wisest course. 2 Keep. Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him. 1 Keep. Forbear a while; we'll hear a little more. K. Hen. My queen and son are gone to France for aid; And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost; And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. To hear, and see, her plaints, her brinish tears. |