Or else you famish; that's a threefold death. 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. He should have leave to go away betimes, OXF. Women and children of so high a courage, SOM. And he that will not fight for such a hope, Go home to bed, and like the owl by day, 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 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. Flourish and march. Enter King Edward, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and Soldiers. K. EDW. 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 My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, see, Therefore, no more but this: Henry, your sovereign, Be valiant and give signal to the fight. Flourish. SCENE V. Another part of the field. Enter KING EDWARD, Exeunt. GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and Soldiers; with QUEEN MARGARET, OXFORD, and SOMERSET, prisoners. K. EDW. Now here a period of tumultuous broils. Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight: For Somerset, off with his guilty head. Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. OXF. Formy 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, To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem. K. Edw. Is proclamation made, that who finds Edward Shall have a high reward, and he his life? GLOU. It is: and lo, where youthful Edward comes! Enter Soldiers, with PRINCE EDWARD. K. Edw. Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak. What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? PRINCE. Speak like a subject, proud ambitious Suppose that I am now my father's mouth; Resign thy chair, and where I stand kneel thou, Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee, Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to. Q. MAR. Ah, that thy father had been so resolved! GLOU. 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; His currish riddles sort not with this place. GLOU. By heaven, brat, I'll plague ye for that word. Q. MAR. Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men. GLOU. For God's sake, take away this captive scold. PRINCE. Nay, take away this scolding crookback rather. K. EDW. Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm tongue. your CLAR. Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert. PRINCE. I know my duty; you are all undutiful : Lascivious Edward, and thou perjured George, And thou mis-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. [Stabs him. GLOU. Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy agony. [Stabs him. CLAR. And there's for twitting me with perjury. [Stabs him. Q. MAR. O, kill me too! GLOU. Marry, and shall. [Offers to kill her. K. EDW. Hold, Richard, hold; for we have done too much. GLOU. Why should she live, to fill the world with words? K. EDW. What, doth she swoon? use means for her recovery. GLOU. 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. GLOU. The Tower, the Tower. [Exit. Q. MAR. O Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! Canst thou not speak? O traitors! murderers! They that stabb'd Cæsar shed no blood at all, Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, He was a man; this, in respect, a child: And men ne'er spend their fury on a child. Look in his youth to have him so cut off As, deathsmen, you have rid this sweet young prince |