"Prince. And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing else.

Enter MESSENGER.

'Mes. 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 deceived; 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. Ed. 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; for every word I speak,

'Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes:

Therefore no more but this :-Henry, your sovereign,

Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp❜d,

⚫ His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, 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.

[Exeunt both armies.

SCENE V.

Another part of the same.

Alarums; Excursions; and afterwards a retreat. Then

enter KING EDWARD,

CLARENCE,

forces, with QUEEN MARGARET,

SOMERSET prisoners.

GLOSTER, and

OXFORD, and

'K. Ed. Now, here a period of tumultuous broils.

Away with Oxford to Hammes' castle 1 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,

1 A castle in Picardy.

"To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem.

"K. Ed. Is proclamation made,—that, who finds Edward,

"Shall have a high reward, and he his life?

"Glos. It is; and, lo, where youthful Edward

comes.

Enter Soldiers, with PRINCE edward.

"K. Ed. Bring forth the gallant; let us hear him speak.

"What! can so young a thorn begin to prick?

་

Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make,

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 re-
solved !

Glos. That you might still have worn the petti

coat,

And ne'er have stolen the breech from Lancaster. Prince. Let Esop1 fable in a winter's night; His currish riddles sort not with this place.

1 Esop and Richard were alike notorious for deformity.