* And have no other reason for this wrong, * But that he was bound by a solemn oath? *Q. Mar. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. 'K. Hen. 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. And that I'll write upon thy burgonet,' 1 Might I but know thee by thy household badge. War. Now, by my father's badge, old Nevil's crest, The rampant bear chained to the ragged staff, (As on a mountain top the cedar shows, 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. 1 A burgonet is a helmet; a Burgundian's steel cap or casque. 2 One on whom nature has set a mark of deformity, a stigma. It was, originally and properly, "a person who had been branded with a hot iron for some crime." SCENE II. Saint 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 afoot? • York. The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed; • But match to match I have encountered him, And made a prey for carrion kites and crows Even of the bonny beast he loved so well. Enter 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 unassailed. [Exit WARWICK. 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. 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. 2 • 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. 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 valor.-O, let the vile world end, [Seeing his dead father. 1 A dreadful wager. 2 The author, in making Clifford fall by the hand of York, has departed from the truth of history, a practice not uncommon with him when he does his utmost to make his characters considerable. This circumstance, however, serves to prepare the reader or spectator for the vengeance afterwards taken by Clifford's son on York and Rutland. At the beginning of the third part of this drama, the Poet has forgot this circumstance, and there represents Clifford's death as it really happened :— "Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all abreast, Charged our main battle's front, and breaking in, These lines were adopted by Shakspeare from The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York, upon which the Third Part of King Henry VI. is founded. * And the premised' flames of the last day * Knit earth and heaven together! *Now let the general trumpet blow his blast, * To cease! 2-Wast thou ordained, dear father, *And, in thy reverence, and thy chair-days, thus * * Into as many gobbets will I cut it, 'Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house. [Taking up the body. 'As did Æneas old Anchises bear, [Exit. Enter RICHARD PLANTAGENET and SOMERSET, fighting, and SOMERSET is killed. Rich. So, lie thou there; • For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign, The castle in Saint Albans, Somerset Hath made the wizard famous in his death.3— 1 Premised is sent before their time. 2 To cease is to stop; a verb active. 3 The death of Somerset here accomplishes that equivocal prediction of Jourdain, the witch, in the first act. * 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. 6 Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away! *K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens? good Margaret, stay. *Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll not fight, nor fly. *Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence, [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 loved; * And where this breach, now in our fortunes made, * May readily be stopped. 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.1 Away, for your relief! and we will live * *To see their day, and them our fortune give. [Exeunt. 1 Parts may stand for parties; it may be also an error for party. |