Rather than have made that savage duke thine heir And disinherited thine only son. PRINCE. Father, you cannot disinherit me : If you be king, why should not I succeed? K. HEN. Pardon me, Margaret; pardon me, sweet son: The Earl of Warwick and the duke enforced me. Q. MAR. Enforced thee! art thou king, and wilt be forced? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! Whereby my son is disinherited. The northern lords that have forsworn thy colours B Will follow mine, if once they see them spread; 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! [Exeunt. SCENE II. Sandal Castle. Enter RICHARD, EDWARD, and MONTAGUE. RICH. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. EDW. No, I can better play the orator. MONT. But I have reasons strong and forcible. Enter the DUKE OF 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. 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 would break a thousand oaths to reign one year. RICH. 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. RICH. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more, Enter a Messenger. But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post? GABR. 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 that we fear them? 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 Mortimer, and Sir Hugh MORTIMER. YORK. Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; The army of the queen mean to besiege us. 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. |