Enter Queen MARGARET and the Prince of Wales. Ese. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: I'll steal away. Exeter, so will I. K.Hen. Rather than made that savage duke thine heir, Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret;-pardon me, sweet son ; The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. 2. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and wilt be forc❜d? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours, Thus do I leave thee :-Come, son, let's away; K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak. Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get thee gone. K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Q. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. Prince. When I return with victory from the field, I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. Q. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [Exeunt Queen Margaret, and the Prince. K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me, and to her son, Hath made her break out into terms of rage! SCENE II. [Exeunt. A room in Sandal castle, near Wakefield in Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible. Enter YORK. York. Why, how now, sons and brother, at a strife? What is your quarrel? how began it first? Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention. York. About what? Rich. About that, which concerns your grace, and us; The crown of England, father, which is yours. York. Mine, boy? not till king Henry be dead. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or death. Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end. York. I took an oath, that he should quietly reign. Edw. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be broken: I'd break a thousand oaths, to reign one year. Rick. No; God forbid, your grace should be forsworn. York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. That hath authority over him that swears: And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, Enter a Messenger. But, stay; What news? Why com'st thon in such post? Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and lords, Intend here to besiege you in your castle : York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me ;- Mont. Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not: And thus most humbly I do take my leave. [Exit. Enter Sir JOHN and Sir HUGH MORTIMER. York. Sir John, and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles ! You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; Sir John. She shall not need, we'll meet her in the field. York. What, with five thousand men ? Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need. A woman's general; What should we fear? A march afar off. Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in order; And issue forth, and bid them battle straight. York. Five men to twenty!-though the odds be great, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. Many a battle have I won in France, When as the enemy hath been ten to one; Why should I not now have the like success? [Alarum. Exeunt. SCENE III. Plains near Sandal Castle. Alarums: Excursions. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor. Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands! Ah, tutor! look, where bloody Clifford comes! Enter CLIFFORD, and Soldiers. Clif. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life. Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company. Tut. Ah, Clifford ! murder not this innocent child, [Exit, forced off by Soldiers. Clif. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's Hath stopp'd the passage, where thy words should enter. Rat. Then let my father's blood open it again; He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. Clif. Had I thy brethren here, their lives, and thine, Were not revenge sufficient for me; No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves, [Lifting his hand. Rut. O, let me pray before I take my death:To thee I pray; Sweet Clifford, pity me! Clif. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. Rut. I never did thee harm; Why wilt thou slay me? Clif. Thy father bath. Rut. But 'twas ere I was born: Ah, let me live in prison all my days; Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause. Clif. No cause? Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. [Clifford stabs him. Rut. Dii faciant, laudis summa sit ista tua! [Dies. 115 |