O, farewel, Warwick! War. Sweet rest to his soul ! Fly, lords, and save yourselves; for Warwick bids [Dies. Oxf. Away, away, to meet the queen's great power! [Exeunt, bearing off WARWICK's body. SCENE III. Another Part of the Field. Flourish. Enter King EDWARD, in I mean, my lords,—those powers, that the queen Clar. A little gale will soon disperse that cloud, Glo. The queen is valu'd thirty thousand strong, If she have time to breathe, be well assur'd, Her faction will be full as strong as ours. K.Edw. We are advértis'd by our loving friends, Will thither straight, for willingness rids way; Strike up the drum ; cry-courage! and away. [Exe. Plains near Tewksbury. SCENE IV. March. Enter Queen MARGARET, Prince EDWARD, SOMERSET, OXFORD, and Soldiers. Q.Mar. Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. What though the mast be now blown over-board, And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood? Yet lives our pilot still: Is't meet, that he And give more strength to that which hath too much; The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge? But keep our course, though the rough wind say,-no, That there's no hop'd-for mercy with the brothers, 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. Oxf. Women and children of so high a courage! 24 VOL. V. And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame.- Som. And he, that will not fight for such a hope, 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.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 : Q.Mar.Lords,knights, and gentlemen, what I should say, Therefore, no more but this :-Henry, your sovereign, His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, 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' castle straight; For Somerset, off with his guilty head.- 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. K.Edw. Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak: 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 Æsop fable in a winter's night ;5 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. Prin. 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: Lascivious Edward,-and thou perjur'd George,And thou mishapen 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.6 [Stabs him. Glo. Sprawl'st thou ? take that, to end thy agony. [GLO. stabs him Cla. And there's for twitting me with perjury. [CLA. stabs him. [5] The Prince calls Richard, for his crookedness, Æsop; and the poet, following nature, makes Richard highly incensed at the reproach. JOHNS. [6] Thot that resemblest thy railing mother. JOHNS. Q.Mar. Oh, kill me too! 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. Cla. What? what? Glo. The Tower, the Tower! [Exit. Q.Mar. O Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! Canst thou not speak !-O traitors! murderers !— 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? What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse : Look in his youth to have him so cut off, As, deathsmen! you have rid this sweet young prince !? Cla. Didst thou not hear me swear, I would not do it? Q.Mar. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself; 'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity. What wilt thou not? where is that devil's butcher, [7] The condition of this warlike queen would move compassion, could it be forgotten that she gave York, to wipe his eyes in his captivity, a handkerchief stained with his young child's blood. JOHNS. But surely it does move our compassion, though that be not forgotten. When we see any of our fellow-creatures involved in deep distress, from a just and tender cause, we attend only to their present sufferings, and not to their former crimes. M. MASON. |