*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 * 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.
'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.

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,
To bear his image, and renew his glories!

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: * Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords.

Q. Mar. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say,

My tears gainsay;2 for every word I speak,
Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes.
Therefore, no more but this:-Henry, your sove-
reign,

Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd,
'His realm a slaughterhouse, his subjects slain,
'His statutes cancell'd, and his treasure spent ;

2 My tears gainsay;] To gainsay is to unsay, to deny, to contradict.

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.

[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' castle3 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? 'Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make,

to Hammes' castle-] A castle in Picardy, where Oxford was confined for many years.

VOL. VI.

M M

For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects,
*And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to?
Prince. Speak like a subject, proud ambitious
York!

Suppose, that I am now my father's mouth;
Resign thy chair, and, where I stand, kneel thou,
Whilst I propose the self-same words to thee,
Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.
Q. Mar. Ah, that thy father had been so resolv'd!
Glo. That you might still have worn the petticoat,
And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster.
Prince. Let Esop* fable in a winter's night;
His currish riddles sort not with this place.

Glo. By heaven, brat, I'll plague you for that word.
Q. Mar. Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men.
Glo. For God's sake, take away this captive scold.
Prince. Nay, take away this scolding crook-back
rather.

'K. Edw. Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue.

Clar. Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert.

Prince. I know my duty, you are all undutiful: Lascivious Edward,-and thou perjur'd George,And thou misshapen Dick,-I tell ye all,

I am your better, traitors as ye are;—

* And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine. K. Edw. Take that, the likeness of this railer

here.5

[Stabs him. * Glo. Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy

agony.

[GLO. stabs him. * Clar. And there's for twitting me with perjury.

[CLAR. stabs him.

* Let Esop, &c.] The Prince calls Richard, for his crookedness, Esop; and the poet, following nature, makes Richard highly incensed at the reproach.

5

the likeness of this railer here, &c.] That thou resemblest thy railing mother.

Q. Mar. O, kill me too!

Glo. Marry, and shall.

[Offers to kill her.

'K. Edw. Hold, Richard, hold, for we have done

too much.

Glo. Why should she live, to fill the world with words ?

'K. Edw. What! doth she swoon? use means for her recovery.

Glo. 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.
Clar. What, what?

'Glo. The Tower! the Tower!

[Exit. 'Q. Mar. O, Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mo

ther, boy!

Canst thou not speak!-O traitors! murderers!— They, that stabb'd Cæsar, 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, an 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, deathsmen! you have rid this sweet young prince!

6

K. Edw. Away with her; go, bear her hence per

force.

Q. Mar. Nay, never bear me hence, despatch me

here;

with words?] i. e. dispute, contention.