QUEEN. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. KING. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself. YORK. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast, I am resolved for death or dignity. CLIF. The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true. WAR. You were best to go to bed and dream again, To keep thee from the tempest of the field. CLIF. I am resolved to bear a greater storm Than any thou canst conjure up to-day; And that I'll write upon thy burgonet, Might I but know thee by thy household badge. WAR. Now, by my father's badge, old Nevil's crest, The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff, This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet, As on a mountain top the cedar shows That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm, Even to affright thee with the view thereof. CLIF. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear And tread it under foot with all contempt, Despite the bear-ward that protects the bear. Y. CLIF. And so to arms, victorious father, To quell the rebels and their complices. RICH. Fie! charity, for shame! speak not in spite, For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. Y. CLIF. Foul stigmatic, that's more than thou canst tell. RICH. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell. [Exeunt severally. SCENE II. Saint Alban's. Alarums to the battle. Enter WARWICK. WAR. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls: How now, my noble lord! what, all afoot? WAR. Of one or both of us the time is come. YORK. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase, For I myself must hunt this deer to death. WAR. Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown thou fight'st. As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day, It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd. [Exit. CLIF. What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou pause? YORK. With thy brave bearing should I be in love, But that thou art so fast mine enemy. M CLIF. Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem, But that 'tis shown ignobly and in treason. YORK. So let it help me now against thy sword As I in justice and true right express it. CLIF. My soul and body on the action both! YORK. A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly. [They fight, and CLIFFORD falls. CLIF. La fin couronne les œuvres. [Dies. YORK. Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still. Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will! [Exit. Y. CLIF. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout; Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds Where it should guard. war, thou son of hell, Whom angry heavens do make their minister, Hath no self-love, nor he that loves himself And the premised flames of the last day Now let the general trumpet blow his blast, To cease! Wast thou ordain'd, dear father, To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve And, in thy reverence and thy chair-days, thus My heart is turn'd to stone: and while 'tis mine, Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders; : [Exit, bearing off his father. Enter RICHARD and SOMERSET to fight. SOMERSET is killed. RICH. So, lie thou there; For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign, The Castle in Saint Alban's, Somerset Hath made the wizard famous in his death. Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathful still: Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill. [Exit. Fight: excursions. Enter KING, QUEEN, and others. QUEEN. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away! KING. Can we outrun the heavens? good Mar garet, stay. QUEEN. What are you made of? you'll nor fight nor fly : Now is it manhood, wisdom and defence, To give the enemy way, and to secure us [Alarum afar off. If you are loved And where this breach now in our fortunes made May readily be stopp'd. Re-enter young CLIFFORD. Y. CLIF. But that my heart's on future mischief set, I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly : To see their day and them our fortune give: |