SCENE II.-St. Albans. Alarums: Excursions. Enter Warwick. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls !

And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, And dead men's cries do fill the empty air,Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms. Enter York.

How now, my noble lord! what, all a-foot? York. The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed;

But match to match I have encounter'd him, And made a prey for carrion kites and crows Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well. Enter Old Clifford.

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? [in love, York. With thy brave bearing should I he But that thou art so fast mine enemy.

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 inClif. La fin couronne les œuvres. [stantly. [They fight, and Clifford falls and dies. York. Thus war hath given thee peace, for

thou art still.

Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will! [Exit.

Enter Young Clifford.

Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout;

Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,

Whom angry heavens do make their minister,
Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
Hot coals of vengeance !-Let no soldier fly :
He that is truly dedicate to war,
Hath no self-love; nor he, that loves himself,
Hath not essentially, but by circumstance,
The name of valour.--- [Seeing his father.
O, let the vile world end,
And the premised flames of the last day
Knit heaven and earth together!
Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,
Particularities and petty sounds

To cease!-Wast thou ordain'd, dear father,
To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve
The silver livery of advised age,
[thus
And, in thy reverence, and thy chair-days,
To die in ruffian battle ?-Even at this sight,
My heart is turn'd to stone and while 'tis
mine,
[spares;
It shall be stony. York not our old men
No more will I their babes : tears virginal
Shall be to me even as the dew to fire;
And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims,
Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.
Henceforth I will not have to do with pity:
Meet I an infant of the house of York,
Into as many gobbets will I cut it,
As wild Medea young Absyrtus did:
In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house
[Taking up the body.

As did Æneas old Anchises bear,
So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders;
But then, Æneas hare a living load,
Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine.[Exit.
Enter Richard Plantagenet and Somerset,
fighting; Somerset is killed.

Rich. So, lie thou there;-
For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign,
The Castle in St. Albans, 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. Alarums: Excursions. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and others, retreating. Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away!

K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens? good

Margaret, stay. [nor fight, nor fly: Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence, To give the enemy way; and to secure us By what we can, which can no more but fly. [Alarum afar off. If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom Of all our fortunes: but if we haply 'scape, (As well we may, if not through your neglect,) We shall to London get: where you are lov'd; And where this breach, now in our fortunes May readily be stopp'd. [made,

Re-enter Young Clifford. Y. Clif. But that my heart's on future mischief set,

I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly :
But fly you must; uncurable discomfit
Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.
Away, for your relief! and we will live
To see their day, and them our fortune give:
Away, my lord, away!
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Field near St. Albans. Alarum: Retreat. Flourish then enter York, Richard Plantagenet, Warwick, and Soldiers, with drum and colours.

Is either slain, or wounded dangerous;
I cleft his beaver with a downright blow:
That this is true, father, behold his blood.

peer)

To aspire unto the crown, and reign as king. Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father; And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge

head.

Gaunt !

him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens be reveng'd on me! [mourn in steel.

Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck

him down :

York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my But, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of [head. Rick. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's War. And so do I, victorious prince of Before I see thee seated in that throne [York. Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, I vow by heaven these eyes shall never close. This is the palace of the fearful king, And this the regal seat: possess it, York; For this is thine, and not king Henry's heirs'. York. Assist me, then, sweet Warwick, and I will;

For hither we have broken in by force.

Norf. We'll all assist you, he that flies shall die. [me, my lords ;Yorks. Thanks, gentle Norfolk :-stay by And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. War. And when the king comes, offer him no violence,

Unless he seek to thrust you out by force. [They retire.

York. The queen, this day, here holds her parliament,

But little thinks we shall be of her council:
By words or blows here let us win our right.
Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this
house.
[call'd,
War. The bloody parliament shall this be
Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king,
And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice
Hath made us by-words to our enemies.

York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute;

I mean to take possession of my right.

War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best,

The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells. I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who

dares :

crown.

Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English [War. leads York to the throne, who seats himself. Flourish. Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Exeter, and others, with red roses in their hats.

K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits,

Even in the chair of state! belike he means

Clif. Patience is for poltroons, such as he He durst not sit there, had your father liv'd. My gracious lord, here in the parliament Let us assail the family of York. [it so. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin be K. Hen. Ah, know you not the city favours them,

quickly fly.

And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? Exe. But when the duke is slain, they'll [Henry's heart, K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from To make a shambles of the parliament house! Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats, Shall be the war that Henry means to use.

[They advance to the Duke. Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne,

I am thine.

And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet;
I am thy sovereign.
York.
Exe. For shame, come down: he made thee
duke of York.
[was.
York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom
Exe. Thy father was a traitor to the crown.
War. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown
In following this usurping Henry. [king?
Clif. Whom should he follow but his natural
War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard,
duke of York.

K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne?

York. It must and shall be so: content thyself.

[king. War. Be duke of Lancaster; let him be West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster; [maintain. And that the lord of Westmoreland shall War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You

forget

[field, That we are those which chas'd you from the And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March'd through the city to the palace gates.

North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my

grief;

York. Will you we show our title to the If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown?

Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of I am the son of Henry the fifth, [March: Who made the dauphin and the French to stoop,

And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces. War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all.

K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I: When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old. [thinks, you lose. Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, meFather, tear the crown from the usurper's head. Edw. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head.

Mont. [To York.] Good brother, as thou lov'st and honour'st arms, Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the York. Sons, peace! [king will fly. K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to speak. [him, lords; War. Plantagenet shall speak first: hear And be you silent and attentive too, For he that interrupts him shall not live.

K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my kingly throne,

Wherein my grandsire and my father sat?
No; first shall war unpeople this my realm;
Ay, and their colours,-often borne in France,
And now in England, to our heart's great sor-
[lords?
Shall be my winding-sheet. Why faint you,
My title's good, and better far than his.
War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt
be king.

row,

crown,

But that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon [swer not?

me.

York. Why whisper you, my lords, and anExe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king.

K. Hen. [Aside.] All will revolt from me, and turn to him. [lay'st, North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou Think not that Henry shall be so depos'd. War. Depos'd he shall be in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy southern power

Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud,

Can set the duke up in despite of me.

Clif King Henry, be thy title right or wrong,
Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence:
May that ground gape, and swallow me alive,
Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father!
K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive
my heart!
[crown.--
York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy
What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords?
War. Do right unto this princely duke of
York;

Or I will fill the house with armèd men,
And o'er the chair of state, where now he sits,
Write up his title with usurping blood.

[He stamps, and the Soldiers show themselves. Lone word :K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but Let me for this my life-time reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine heirs,

And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease.

Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son! [himself!

War. What good is this to England, and West. Base, fearful, and despairing Henry! Clif. How hast thou injur'd both thyself and

us!

Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will K. Hen. Ah, Exeter ! [not yield. War. Why should you sigh, my lord? K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son,

Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. But, be it as it may; here entail [ever ;The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for Conditionally, that here thou take an oath To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, To honour me as thy king and sovereign, And neither by treason, nor hostility, To seek to put me down, and reign thyself. York. This oath I willingly take, and will perform. [Coming from the throne. War. Long live king Henry! Plantagenet, [forward sons! K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. [foes! Exe. Accurs'd be he that seeks to make them [Sennet. The Lords come forward. York. Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle.

embrace him.

War. And I'll keep London with my soldiers.
Norf. And I to Norfolk with my followers.
Mont. And I unto the sea, from whence I
came. [Exeunt York, and his Sons,
Warwick, Norfolk, Montague,
Soldiers, and Attendants.
K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to
the court.

Enter Queen Margaret and the Prince of
Wales.

Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger:

[Going. [Going.

Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me; I will follow thee.

[stay,

K, Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such ex

tremes?

Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid,
And never seen thee, never borne thee son,
Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father!
Hath he deserv'd to lose his birthright thus ?
Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I,
Or felt that pain which I did for him once,
Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood,-
Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood
there,

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, enforc'd [wilt be forc'd?

me.

Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch !

Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me;

And given unto the house of York such head,
As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance.
To entail him and his heirs unto the crown,
What is it, but to make thy sepulchre,
And creep into it far before thy time?
Warwick is chancellor, and the lord of Calais;
Stern Faulconbridge commands the narrow

seas:

The duke is made protector of the realm;
And yet shalt thou be safe? such safety finds
The trembling lamb, environed with wolves.
Had I been there, which am a silly woman,
The soldiers should have toss'd me on their
pikes,

Before I would have granted to that act.
But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour :
And seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself,
Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed,
Until that act of parliament be repeal'd,
Whereby my son is disinherited. [colours,
The northern lords that have forsworn thy
Will follow mine, if once they see them spread;
And spread they shall be, to thy foul disgrace,
And utter ruin of the house of York.
Thus do I leave thee.-Come, son, let's away;
Our army is ready; come, we'll after them.
K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear
me speak.
[get thee gone.
Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already :
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!
Reveng'd may she be on that hateful duke,
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,
Will cost my crown, and, like an empty eagle,
Tire on the flesh of me, and of my son !
The loss of those three lords torments my
heart:

I'll write unto them, and entreat them fair :-
Come, cousin, you shall be the messenger.
Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all.
[Exeunt.
II.-A Room in Sandal Castle, near

SCENE

Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Enter Edward, Richard, 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 York.

York. Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife?

What is your quarrel? how began it first?