. And Montague our Top-mat; what of hin? Why is not Oxford here another Anchor ? The Friends of France our Shrowds and Tacklings? And though un kiful, why not Ned and I, Prince. Methinks a Woman of this valiant Spirit Oxf. Women and Children of so high a Courage, To bear his Image, and renew his Glories. Som. Som. And he that will not fight for fuch a Hope, Go home to Bed, and like the Owl by Day, Queen. Thanks, gentle Somerset, sweet Oxford thanks. Enter a Messenger.. Oxf. I thought no less; it is his Policy, and Soldiers. K. Edw. Brave Followers, yonder stands the thorny Wood, Which, by the Heav'ns Assistance, and your Strength, Must, by the Roots, be hewn up yet e'er Night. I need not add more Fuel to your Fire, For well I wor, ye blaze, to burn them out: Give Signal to the Fight, and to it, Lords. Queen. Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, what I should say, My Tears gain-fay; for every word I speak, Ye see I drink the Water of my Eye: Therefore, no more but this; Henry, your Sovereign, Is Prifonert the Foe, his State ufurp'd, His Realm a Slaughter-house, his Subje&s flain, 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. Enter King Edward, Glocefter, Clarence, &c. The Queen, Oxford, and Somerset Prisoners. K. Elw. Now here's a Period of tumultuous Broils. Oxf. For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words. [Exeunt. Queen. Queen. So part we fadly in this troublous World, To meet with Joy in sweet Jerufalem. 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 the Prince of Wales. K. Edw. Bring forth the Gallant, let us hear him fpeak. What? can so young a Thorn begin to prick? Edward, what Satisfaction canst thou make, For bearing Arms, for stirring up my Subje&s, 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 fstand, kneel thou, Whilst I propose the self-fame words to thee, Which, Traitor, thou would'st have me answer to, Queen. Ah! that thy Father had been so refolv'd. Glo. That you might still have worn the Petticoat, And ne'er have stoln the Breech from Lancaster. Prince. Let Afop Fable in a Winter's Night, His Currish Riddles fort not with his place. Glo. By Heaven, Brat, I'll plague ye for that word. Queen. Ay, thou wast born to be a Plague to Men. Glo. For God's fake, 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. Cla. Untutor'd Lad, thou art too malapert. Prince. I know my Duty, you are all undutiful: Lafcivious Edward, and thou perjur'd George, And thou mif-shapen 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, thou likeness of this Railer here. Glo. Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy Agony. [Stabs him. [Rich. Stabs him. [Clar. Stabs him. Queen. Oh, kill me too! Glo. Marry, and shall. [Offers to kill her. Clar. And there's for twitting me with Perjury. K. Edw. Hold, Richard, hold, for we have done too much. Glo. 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, E'er ye come there, be sure to hear some News. Clar. What? what? Glo. Tower, the Tower. [Exit. Queen. Oh, Ned, sweet Ned, speak to thy Mother, Boy. Can'it thou not speak? O Traitors, Murderers! As deathsmen you have rid this sweet young Prince. Clar. By Heaven, I will not do thee so much Eafe. 'Twas Sin before, but row 'tis Charity. What, wilt thou not? where is that Devil's Butcher, Richard, K. Edw. Away, I fay, I charge ye bear her hence. [Exit Queen. K. Edw. K. Edw. Where's Richard gone? To make a bloody Supper in the Tower. K. Edw. He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head. [Exeunt. Enter King Henry, and Glocester, with the Lieutenant on the Tower Walls. Glo. Good day, my Lord; what at your Book so hard? K. Henry. Ay, my good Lord; my Lord, I should say rather, 'Tis fin to flatter, Good was little better: Good Glo'ster, and good Devil, were alike, And both prepofterous; therefore, not Good Lord. Glo. Sirrah, leave us to our selves, we must confer. [Exit Lieutenant. K. Kenry. So flies the wreakless Shepherd from the Wolf, So first the harmless Flock doth yield his Fleece, And next his Throat unto the Butcher's Knife. What Scene of Death hath Roffius now to act? Glo. Sufpicion always haunts the guilty mind, The Thief doth fear each Bush an Officer. K. Henry. The Bird that hath been limed in a Bush, With trembling Wings misdoubteth every Bush; And I, the helpless Male to one sweet Bird, Have now the fatal Object in my Eye, Where my poor young was lim'd, was caught and kill'd. Glo. Why what a peevish Fool was that of Creet, That taught his Son the Office of a Fowi? And yet, for all his Wings, the Fool was drown'd. K. Henry. I, Dedalus; my poor Boy, Icarus; Thy Father, Minos, that deny'd our course; The Sun that fear'd the Wings of my sweet Boy, Thy Brother Edward; and thy self, the Sea, Whose envious Gulf did swallow up his Life : Ah, kill me with thy Weapon, not with Words, By Breast can better brook thy Dagger's point, Than can my Eyes that tragick History. But wherefore dost thou come? Is't for my Life? Glo. Think'st thou I am an Executioner? K. Henry. |