If you'll not here proclaim yourself our king,
I'll leave you to your fortune; and be gone,
To keep them back that come to succour you:
Why should we fight, if you pretend no title ?
Glo. Why, brother, wherefore stand you on nice points?
K. Edw. When we grow stronger, then we'll make our claim:
Till then. 'tis wisdom to conceal our meaning.
Hast. Away with scrupulous wit! now arms must rule.
Glo. And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns. Brother, we will proclaim you out of hand; The bruit thereof will bring you many friends.
K. Edw. Then be it as you will; for 'tis my right, And Henry but usurps the diadem.
Mont. Ay, now my sovereign speaketh like himself; And now will I be Edward's champion.
Hast. Sound, trumpet; Edward shall be here proclaim'd.
K. Hen. Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope.
Cla. In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand.
K. Hen. Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!
Mont. Comfort, my lord :-and so I take my leaves
Oxf. And thus [Kissing Henry's hand.] I seal my
truth, and bid adieu.
K. Hen. Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague, And all at once, once more a happy farewell. War. Farewell, sweet lords; let's meet at Coventry. [Exeunt Warwick, Clarence, Oxford, and Montague.
K. Hen. Here at the palace will I rest a while.Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship? Methinks, the power, that Edward hath in field, Should not be able to encounter mine.
Exe. The doubt is, that he will seduce the rest.
K. Hen. That's not my fear, my meed hath got me
fame:
I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays;
My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds,
My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs,
My mercy dried their water-flowing tears;
I have not been desirous of their wealth,
-Come, fellow-soldier, make thou proclamation. [Gives him a paper. Flourish. Sold. [Reads.] Edward the Fourth, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, &c. Mont. And whosoe'er gainsays king Edward's right, Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies, By this I challenge him to single fight. Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd; [Throws down his gauntlet. || Then why should they love Edward more than me? No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace:
All. Long live Edward the Fourth!
K. Edw. Thanks, brave Montgomery ;-and thanks || And, when the lion fawns upon the lamb,
If fortune serve me, I'll requite this kindness.
Now, for this night, let's harbour here in York:
And, when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon,
We'll forward towards Warwick, and his mates;
For, well I wot, that Henry is no soldier.
-Ah, froward Clarence!-how evil it beseems thee
To flatter Henry, and forsake thy brother!
Yet, as we may, we'll meet both thee and Warwick.
-Come on, brave soldiers, doubt not of the day;
And, that once gotten, doubt not of large pay. [Exe.
SCENE VIII-London. A Room in the Palace.
Enter King Henry, Warwick, Clarence, Montague,
Exeter, and Oxford.
War. What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia,
With hasty Germans, and blunt Hollanders,
Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas,
And with his troops doth march amain to London;
And many giddy people flock to him.
Oxf. Let's levy men, and beat him back again.
Cla. A little fire is quickly trodden out;
Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.
War. In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends,
Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war;
Those will I muster up-and thou, son Clarence,
Shalt stir, in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent,
The knights and gentlemen to come with thee:~
Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham,
Northampton, and in Leicestershire, shalt find
Men well inclin❜d to hear what thou command'st :-
And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well belov'd,
In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends.-
My sovereign, with the loving citizens,—
Like to his island, girt in with the ocean,
Or modest Dian, circled with her nymphs,-
Shall rest in London, till we come to him.-
Fair lords, take leave, and stand not to reply.-
Farewell, my sovereign.
The lamb will never cease to follow him.
[Shout within. A Lancaster! A Lancaster! Exe. Hark, hark, my lord! What shouts are these? Enter King Edward, Gloster, and Soldiers.
K. Edw. Seize on the shame-fac'd Henry, bear him hence,
And once again proclaim us king of England.
-You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow;
Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry,
And swell so much the higher by their ebb.————`
Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.
[Exeunt some with King Henry.
And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our course,
Where peremptory Warwick now remains:
The sun shines hot, and, if we use delay,
Cold biting winter mars our hop'd-for hay.
Glo. Away betimes, before his forces join, And take the great-grown traitor unawares : Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry. [Exeunt.
SCENE 1.-Coventry. Enter, upon the Walls, War wick, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers, and others.
WHERE is the post, that came from valiant Oxford?
How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?
1 Mes. By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward. War. How far off is our brother Montague? -Where is the post that came from Montague? 2 Mes. By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop. Enter Sir John Somerville.
War. Say, Somerville, what says my loving son? And, by the guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
Some. At Southam I did leave him with his forces, And do expect him here some two hours hence.
[Drum heard. War. Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum. Some. It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies; The drum your honour hears, marcheth from Warwick.
War. Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends.
Some. They are at hand, and you shall quickly know. Drums. Enter King Edward, Gloster, and Forces, || marching.
K. Edw. Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle.
Glo. See, how the surly Warwick mans the wall. War. Oh, unbid spite! is sportful Edward come? Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduc'd, That we could hear no news of his repair?
K. Edw. Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city-gates, Speak gentle words, and humbly bend thy knee?— Call Edward-king, and at his hands beg mercy, And he shall pardon thee these outrages.
War Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee down? Call Warwick-patron, and be penitent, And thou shalt still remain the duke of York,
Glo. I thought, at least, he would have said-the king;
Or did he make the jest against his will?
War. Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift? Glo. Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give; I'll do thee service for so good a gift.
War. "Twas I, that gave the kingdom to thy brother. K. Edw. Why, then, 'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift.
War. Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight: And, weakling, Warwiek takes his gift again; And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.
K. Edw. But Warwick's king is Edward's pris
And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this,-
What is the body when the head is off?
Glo. Alas, that Warwick had no more fore-cast,
But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
The king was slily finger'd from the deck !
You left poor Henry at the bishop's palace,
And, ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower.
K. Edw. 'Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still. Glo. Come, Warwick, take the time, kneel down, kneel down.
Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools.
War. I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,
And with the other fling it at thy face,
Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee.
K. Edw. Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend;
This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,
Shali, whiles the head is warm, and new cut off,
Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,-
Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.
Enter Oxford, with drum and colours.
War. O cheerful colours! see, where Oxford comes! Oxf. Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!
[Oxford and his Forces enter the city. Glo. The gates are open, let us enter too. K. Edw. So other foes may set upon our backs. Stand we in good array; for they, no doubt, Will issue out again, and bid us battle:
If not, the city being but of small defence,
We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same.
War. O, welcome, Oxford! for we want thy help.
Enter Montague, with drum and colours.
Mont. Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!
[He and his Forces enter the city. Glo. Thou and thy brother both shall buy this
Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
K. Edw. The harder match'd, the greater victory;
My mind presageth happy gain aud conquest.
Enter Somerset, with drum and colours.
Som. Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
[He and his Forces enter the city.
Glo. Two of thy name, both dukes of Somerset,
Have sold their lives unto the house of York;
And thou shalt be the third, if this sword hold.
Enter Clarence, with drum and colours. War. And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,
Of force enough to bid his brother battle:
With whom an upright zeal to right prevails,
More than the nature of a brother's love:-
Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick calls.
Clar. Father of Warwick, know you what this
means? [Taking the red rose out of his cap.
Look here, I throw my infamy at thee:
I will not ruinate my father's house,
Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou, Warwick,
That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,
To bend the fatal instruments of war
Against his brother, and his lawful king?
Perhaps, thou wilt object my holy oath :
To keep that oath, were more impiety
Than Jephthah's, when he sacrific'd his daughter.
I am so sorry for my trespass made,
That, to deserve well at my brother's hands,
I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe;
With resolution, wheresoe'er I meet thee,
(As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad,)
To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.
And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,
And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks-
Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends;-
And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.
K. Edw. Now, welcome more, and ten times more
belov'd,
Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate.
Glo. Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like
War. O passing traitor, perjur'd, and unjust!
K. Edw. What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town,
and fight?
Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?
War. Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence:
I will away towards Barnet presently,
And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar'st.
K. Ed. Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads
![[blocks in formation]](https://books.google.pt/books/content?id=dSQkAAAAMAAJ&hl=pt-PT&output=html_text&pg=PA524&img=1&zoom=3&q=once&cds=1&sig=ACfU3U0JSg8d1VJS6kS2DD7UiSvdpW0atg&edge=0&edge=stretch&ci=557,1423,422,211)
For Warwick was a bug, that fear'd us all.-
Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee,
'That Warwick's bones may keep thine company.
War. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend, or foe,
And tell me, who is victor, York, or Warwick?
Why ask I that? my mangled body shows,
My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows,
That I must yield my body to the earth,
And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe.
Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge,
Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle,
Under whose shade the ramping lion slept :
Whose top-branch over-peer'd Jove's spreading tree,
And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind.
These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black
veil,
Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun,
To search the secret treasons of the world:
The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood,
Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres;
For who liv'd king, but I could dig his grave?
And who durst smile, when Warwick bent his brow?
Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood!
My parks, my walks, my manors that I had,
Even now forsake me; and, of all my lands,
Is nothing left me, but my body's length!
Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?
And, live we how we can, yet die we must.
Enter Oxford and Somerset.
Som. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are,
We might recover all our loss again!
The queen from France hath brought a puissant power;
Even now we heard the news: Ah, couldst thou fly!
War. Why, then I would not fly.-Ab, Montague,
If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand,
And with thy lips keep in my soul awhile!
Thou lov'st me not; for, brother, if thou didst,
Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood,
That glews my lips, and will not let me speak.
Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead.
Som. Ah, Warwick, Montague hath breath'd his
last;
And to the latest gasp, cried out for Warwick,
And said-Commend me to my valiant brother.
And more he would have said; and more he spoke,
Which sounded like a cannon in a vault,
That might not be distinguish'd; but, at last,
I well might hear deliver'd with a groan,—
O, farewell, Warwick!
War.
Sweet rest to his soul!-
Fly, lords, and save yourselves; for Warwick bids
You all farewell, to meet again in heaven. [Dies.
Oaf. 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 triumph; with Clarence,
Gloster, and the rest.
Cla. A little gale will soon disperse that cloud,
And blow it to the source from whence it came:
Thy very beams will dry those vapours up;
For every cloud engenders not a storm.
Glo. The queen is valued thirty thousand strong,
And Somerset, with Oxford, fled to her;
If she have time to breathe, be well assur'd,
Her faction will be full as strong as ours.
K. Edw. We are advertis'd by our loving friends,
That they do hold their course toward Tewksbury :
We having now the best at Barnet field,
Will thither straight, for willingness rids way;
And, as we march, our strength will be augmented
In every county as we go along.-
Strike up the drum; cry-courage! and away.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.-Plains near Tewksbury. March. En-
ter Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, Somerset, Ox-
ford, 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,
The cable broke, the holding anchor lost,
And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood?
Yet lives our pilot still: Is't meet, that he
Should leave the helm, and like a fearful lad,
With tear-full eyes add water to the sea,
And give more strength to that which hath too much;
Whiles, in his moan, the ship splits on the rock,
Which industry and courage might have sav'd?
Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this!
Say, Warwick was our anchor; what of that?
And Montague our top-mast; what of him?
Our slaughter'd friends the tackles: what of these?
Why, is not Oxford here another anchor?
And Somerset another goodly mast?
The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings?
And, though unskilful, why not Ned and I
For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge?
We will not from the helm, to sit and weep;
But keep our course, though the rough wind say,-no,
From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck.
As good to chide the waves, as speak them fair.
And what is Edward, but a ruthless sea?
What Clarence, but a quick-sand of deceit ?
And Richard, but a ragged fatal rock?
All these the enemies to our poor bark.
Say, you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while:
Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink:
Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off,
Or else you famish, that's a threefold death.
This speak I, lords, to let you understand,
In case some one of you would fly from us,
That there's no hop'd-for mercy w th the brothers,
More than with ruthless waves, with sands, and rocks,
Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided,
'Twere childish weakness to lament, or fear.
Prince. Methinks, a woman of this valiant spirit
K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward Should, if a coward heard her speak these words,
And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory.
But, in the midst of this bright-shining day,-
I spy a black, suspicious, threat'ning cloud,
That will encounter with our glorious sun,
Ere he attain his easeful western bed:
I mean, my lords,—those powers, that the queen
Hath rais'd in Gallia, have arriv'd our coast,
And, as we hear, march on to fight with us.
Lafuse his breast with magnanimity,
And make him, naked, foil a man at arms.
I speak not this, as doubting any here;
For, did I but suspect a fearful man,
He should have leave to g› away betimes;
Lest, in our need, he might infect another,
And make him of like spirit to himself.
If any such be here, as God forbid !
Let him depart before we need his help,
Oxf. Here pitch our battle, hence we will not budge. March. Enter at a distance, King Edward, Clarence, Gloster, and Forces.
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:
Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords.
Q. Mar. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I
My tears gainsay; for every word I speak,
Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes.
Therefore, no more but this :- Henry, your sovereign,
Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd,
His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain,
His statutes cancell'd, and his treasure spent ;
And yonder is the wolf, that makes this spoil.
You fight in justice: then, in God's name, lords,
Be valiant, and give signal to the fight.
[Exeunt both Armies. 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, Pris
K. Edw. Now, here a period of tumultuous broils. Away with Oxford to Hammes' castle straight; For Somerset, off with his guilty head.Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. Oxf. For my 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?
Glo. 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?
Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make,
For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects,
And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to?
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;
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. Prince. 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 misshapen 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.
![[blocks in formation]](https://books.google.pt/books/content?id=dSQkAAAAMAAJ&hl=pt-PT&output=html_text&pg=PA526&img=1&zoom=3&q=once&cds=1&sig=ACfU3U3l966swHgT0fhB7vVUZspp_SwiKw&edge=0&edge=stretch&ci=565,612,399,286)
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!
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,
If this foul deed were by, to equal it.
He was a man; this, in respect, a child;
And men ne'er spend their fury on a child;
What's worse than murderer, that I may name it?
No, no; my heart will burst, an if I speak :-
And I will speak, that so my heart may burst.
Butchers and villains, bloody cannibals!
How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd!
You have no children, butchers! if you had,
The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse?
But, if you ever chance to have a child,
Look in his youth to have him so cut off,
As, deathsmen! you have rid this sweet young prince!
K. Edw. Away with her; go, bear her hence per
force.
Q. Mar. Nay, never bear me hence, despatch me
"Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity.
What! wilt thou not? where is that devil's butcher,
Hard favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou?
Thou art not here: Murder is thy alm's-deed;
Petitioners for blood thou ne'er putt'st back.
K. Edw. Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence.
Q. Mar. So come to you, and yours, as to this
prince!
[Exit, led out forcibly.
K. Edw. Where's Richard gone?
Cla. To London, all in post; and, as I guess,
To make a bloody supper in the Tower.
K. Edw. He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head.
Now march we hence: discharge the common sort
With pay and thanks, and let's away to London.
And see our gentle queen how well she fares;
By this, I hope, she hath a son for me.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VI.-London. A Room in the Tower. King
Henry is discovered sitting with a Book in his hand,
the Lieutenant attending. Enter Gloster.
Glo. Good day, my lord! What, at your book so
hard?
Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempests shook down trees;
The raven rook'd her on the chimney's top,
And chattering pies in dismal discords sung.
Thy mother felt more than a mother's pain,
And yet brought forth less than a mother's hope;
To wit,-an indigest deformed lump,
Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree.
Teeth hadst thou in thy head, when thou wast born,
To signify, thou cam'st to bite the world;
And, if the rest be true which I have heard,
Thou cam'st-
Glo. I'll hear no more;-Die, prophet, in thy speech;
[Stabs him.
For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd.
K. Hen. Ay, and for much more slaughter after this.
O God! forgive my sins, and pardon thee! [Dies.
Glo. What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster
Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted.
See, how my sword weeps for the poor king's death!
O, may such purple tears be always shed
From those that wish the downfal of our house!-
If any spark of life be yet remaining,
K. Hen. Ay, my good lord: my lord, I should say Down, down to hell; and say--I sent thee thither,
'Tis sin to flatter, good was little better:
Good Gloster, and good devil, were alike,
And both preposterous; therefore, not good lord.
Glo. Sirrah, leave us to ourselves: we must confer.
[Exit Lieutenant.
K. Hen. So flies the reckless shepherd from the wolf:
So first the barmless sheep doth yield his fleece,
Arad next his throat unto the butcher's knife.-
What scene of death hath Roscius now to act?
Glo. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind:
The thief doth fear each bush an officer.
K. Hen. The bird, that hath been limed in a bush,
With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush:
And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird,
Have now the fatal object in my eye,
Where my poor young was lim'd, was caught, and
kill'd.
Glo. Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete,
'That taught his son the office of a fowl?
And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd.
K. Hen. I Dædalus; my poor boy, Icarus;
Thy father, Minos, that denied our course;
The sun, that sear'd the wings of my sweet boy,
Thy brother Edward; and thyself, the sea,
Whose envious gulf did swallow up his life.
Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words!
My breast can better brook thy dagger's point,
Than can my ears that tragic history.-
But wherefore dost thou come? is't for my life?
Glo. Think'st thou, I am an executioner?
K. Hen. A persecutor, I am sure, thou art ;
If murdering innocents be executing,
Why, then thou art an executioner.
Glo. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption.
![[ocr errors]](https://books.google.pt/books/content?id=dSQkAAAAMAAJ&hl=pt-PT&output=html_text&pg=PA527&img=1&zoom=3&q=once&cds=1&sig=ACfU3U2MpJgHxRx4ge8X8KtJw_SuC2iErA&edge=0&edge=stretch&ci=462,706,11,23)
[Stabs him again.
I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear.—
Indeed, 'tis true, that Henry told me of;
For I have often heard my mother say,
I came into the world with my legs forward:
Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste,
And seek their ruin, that usurp'd our right?
The midwife wonder'd; and the women cried,
O, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!
And so I was; which plainly signified,-
That I should snarl, and bite, and play the dog.
Then, since the heavens have shap'd my body so,
Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it.
I have no brother, I am like no brother:
And this word-love, which greybeards call divine,
Be resident in men like one another,
And not in me; I am myself alone.-
Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light;
But I will sort a pitchy day for thee:
For I will buzz abroad such prophecies,
That Edward shall be fearful of his life;
And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death.
King Henry, and the prince his son, are gone ;
Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the rest;
Counting myself but bad, till I be best.-
I'll throw thy body in another room,
And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom.
SCENE VII.-The same. A Room in the Palace.
King Edward is discovered sitting on his Throne;
Queen Elizabeth with the infant Prince, Clarence,
Gloster, Hastings, and others, near him.
K. Edw. Once more we sit in England's royal throne,
Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies.
What valiant foe-men, like to autumn's corn,
K. Hen Hadst thou been kill'd, when first thou didst || Have we mow'd down, in tops of all their pride?
Thou hadst not liv'd to kill a son of mine.
And thus I prophesy,-that many a thousand,
Which now mistrust no parcel of my fear;
And many an old man's sigh, and many a widow's,
And many an orphan's water-standing eye,—
Men for their sons', wives for their husbands' fate,
And orphans for their parents' timeless death,—
Shall rue the hour that ever thou wast born.
The owl shriek'd at thy birth, an evil sign;
The night-crow oried, aboding luckless time;
Three dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd
For hardy and undoubted champions:
Two Cliffords, as the father and the son,
And two Northumberlands; two braver men
Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound:
With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Mon-
tague,
That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion,
And made the forest tremble when they roar'd.
Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat,
And made our footstool of security.--
|