The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon. |

Enter York

Clif. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn How now, my noble lord ? what, all a-foot ? yourselves. York. The deadly handed Clifford slew my steed;

K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot
to bow ?

Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,
Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son !-
What, wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruf-
fian,

And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?
O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty 7
If it be banish'd from the frosty head,
Where shall it find a harbour in the earth 7-
Wilt thon go dig a grave to find out war,
And shame thine honourable age with blood?
Why art thou old, and want'st experience?
Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?
For shame! in duty bend thy knee to me,
That bows unto the grave with mickle age.
Sal. My lord, I have consider'd with myself
The title of this most renowned duke;
And in my conscience do repute his grace
The rightful heir to England's royal seat.

K. Hen. Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto
me ?

Sal. I have.

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 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 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 it is shown ignobly, and in treason.
York. So let it help me now against thy sword,

K. Hen. Canst thou dispense with heaven for As I in justice and true right express it!

such an oath ?

Sal. It is great sin, to swear unto a sin;
But greater sin, to keep a sinful oath.
Who can be bound by any solemn vow
To do a murderous deed, to rob a man,
To force a spotless virgin's chastity,
To reave the orphan of his patrimony,

To wring the widow from her custom'd right;
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 resolv'd for death, or dignity.
Clif. The first, I wariant 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.
Clif. I am resolv'd to bear a greater storm,
Than any thou canst conjure up to-day;
And that I'll write upon thy burgonet,
Might I but know thee by thy household badge.
War. Now, by my father's badge, old Nevil's

crest,

The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff,
This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet,
(As on the mountain top the cedar slows,
That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm,)
Even to affright thee with the view thereof."
Clif. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear,
And tread it under foot with all contempt,
Despight the bearward that protects the bear.
Y. Clif. And so to arms, victorious father,
To quell the rebels, and their 'complices.
Rich. Fie! charity, for shame! speak not in
spite,

canst tell.

For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night.
Y. Clif. Foul stigmatick, that's more than thou
Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in hell.
[Exeunt severally.
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.

Clif. My soul and body on the action both!York. A dreadful lay !-address thee instantly. [They fight, and Clifford falls. 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 routs
Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,
Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds
Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
Whom angry heavens do make their minister,
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.-O, let the vile world end,
[Seeing his dead father.
And the premised flames of the last day
Knit earth and heaven 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;

And, in thy reverence, and thy chair-days, thus
To die in ruffian battle ?-Even at this sight,,
My heart is turn'd to stone; and, while 'tis mine,
It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;
Shall be to me even as the dew to fire;
No more will I their babes; tears virginal
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:
Into as many gobbets will I cut it,
Meet I an infant of the house of York,
As wild Medea young Absyrtus did:
In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house;
As did Æneas old Anchises bear,
[Taking up the Body.
So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders:
But then Eneas bare a living load,
Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine. [Exit.
Enter Richard Plantagenet and Somerset, fight-
ing, 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.
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.

Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll not fight, nor fly:

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 made,

May readily be stopp'd.

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. Fields near Saint Albans. Alarums: Retreat. Flourish; then enter York, Richard Plantagenet, Warwick, and Soldiers, with Drum and Colours.

York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him; That winter lion, who, in rage, forgets

God knows, how long it is I have to live;
And it hath pleas'd him that three times to-day
You have defended me from imminent death.
Well, lords, we have not got that which we have
'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled,
Being opposites of such repairing nature.

York. I know, our safety is to follow them;
For, as I hear, the king is fled to London,
To call a present court of parliament.
Let us pursue him, ere the writs go forth :-
What says Lord Warwick ? shall we after them.
War. After them! nay, before them if we can.
Saint Albans' battle, won by famous York,
Now by my faith, lords, 'twas a glorious day:
Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come.-
Sound, drums and trumpets :-and to London all:
And more such days as these to us befall!

THIRD PART OF

KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

[Exeunt.

SCENE,-during part of the third Act, in France; during all the rest of the play, in England.

ACT I.

SCENE I. London. The Parliament House. Drums. Some Soldiers of York's party break in. Then, enter the Duke of York, Edward, Richard, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and others, with white Roses, in their Hats.

War. I wonder, how the king escap'd our hands,

York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the north,

He slily stole away, and left his men:
Whereat the great lord of Northumberland,
Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat,
Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself,
Lord Clifford, and Lord Stafford, all abreast,
Charg'd our main battle's front, and breaking in,
Were by the swords of common soldiers slain.
Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Bucking-

ham,

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

[Showing his bloody Sword, Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's blood, [To York, showing his. Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did.

[Throwing down the Duke of Somerset's Head. York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my

sons.

What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset ? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt!

Rich. Thus do I hope to shake King Henry's head.

War. And so do I.-Victorious prince of York, Before I see thee seated in that throne 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.

York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk.-Stay by me, my lords;

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 par liament,

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.

War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd,

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 bim up who dares:-
Resolve thee Richard, claim the English crown.

[Warwick lead's 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 (Back'd by the power of Warwick, that false 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

On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng'd on me! Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn: in steel.

West. What, shall we suffer this ? let's pluck him down;

My heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland.

Clif. Patience is for poltroons, and 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.
North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so.
K. Hen. Ah, know you not, the city favours
them,

And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? Exe. But when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly.

K. Hen. Far be the thought of this from Henry's heart,

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, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet: am thy sovereign. York. Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. Ere. For shame, come down; he made thee duke of York.

York. "Twas my inheritance, as the earldom

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

York. It must, and shall be so. Content thyself. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster: And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain.

War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget,

That we are those, which chas'd you from the field,

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;

And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives,

Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. Clif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of

words,

I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger,
As shall revenge his death before I stir.

War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats!

York. Will you, we show our title to the crown?

crown?

If not, our swords shall plead it in the field.
K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the
Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York;
Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of
March:

I am the son of Henry the Fifth,

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.

Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir?,
York. What then?

K. Hen. And if he may, then am I lawful king:
For Richard, in the view of many lords,
Resign'd the crown to Henry the Fourth;
Whose heir my father was, and I am his.
York. He rose against him, being his sovereign,
And made him to resign his crown perforce.
War. Suppose, my lords, he did it uncon-
strain'd,

Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown?

Exe. No; for he could not so resign his 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 me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not ?

Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him.

North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st,

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 !

York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown:What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? War. Do right unto this princely duke of York; Or I will fill the house with armed 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. K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one word;

Let me for this my lifetime, reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine heirs,

Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these

news.

West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king,

In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides. North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, And die in bands of this unmanly deed!

Clif. In dreadful war may'st thou be overcome !

Or live in peace, abandon'd and despis'd! [Exeunt North. Clif. and West. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them

not.

Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not yield.

K. Hen. Ah, Exeter!

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 :-I here entail

The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever;
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 thysell
York. This oath I willingly take, and will per-
form.
Coming from the Throne.
War. Long live King Henry !-Plantagenet,

embrace him.

stay.

Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes? 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 7 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 would'st 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 7
K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret ;-pardon me,
sweet son;-

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

Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your

son ?

War. What good is this to England and himself?

West. Base, fearful, and despairing Henry ! Clif. How hast thou injur'd both thyself and us ?

West. I cannot stay to hear these articles.
North. Nor L

earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me, Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and will be forc'd ?

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.

The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours,

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's ready; Come, we'll after them.
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!
Reveng'd may she be on that hateful duke;
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,
Will coast 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

SCENE II.

A Room in Sandal Castle, near 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?
Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention.
York. About what ?

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'd 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:

Henry had none, but did usurp the place;
Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose,
Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.
Therefore to arms. And, father, do but think,
How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown;
Within whose circuit is Elysium,
And all the poets feign of bliss and joy.
Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest,
Until the white rose, that I wear, be dyed
Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart.
York. Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.-
Brother, thou shalt to London presently,
And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.
Thou, Richard, shalt unto the duke of Norfolk,
And tell him privately of our intent.-
You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham,
With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise:
In them I trust; for they are soldiers,
Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.-
While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more,
But that I seek occasion how to rise;
And yet the king not privy to my drift,
Nor any of the house of Lancaster 7
Enter a Messenger.

But, stay; What news? Why com'st thou in such post?

Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and lords,

Intend here to besiege you in your castle;
She is hard by with twenty thousand men;
And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.
York Ay, with my sword. What! think'st
thou, that we fear them ?-

Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me:-
My brother Montague shall post to London !
Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,
Whom we have left protectors of the king,
With powerful policy strengthen themselves,
And trust not simple Henry, nor his oaths.
Mont. Brother, I go: I'll win them, fear it not:
And thus most humbly I do take my leave.

[Exil

Enter Sir John 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.

Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in order;

And issue forth, and bid them battle straight. York. Five men to twenty-though the odds be great,

I doubt not, uncle, of our victory.
Many a battle have I won in France,
When as the enemy hath been ten to one;
Why should I not now have the like success?
[Alarum Exeunt.

SCENE III. Plains near Sandal Castle. Alarums: Excursions. Enter Rutland, and his Tutor.

Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?

Ah, tutor! look where bloody Clifford comes !
Enter Clifford, and Soldiers.
Clif Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves
thy life.

As for the brat of this accursed duke,
Whose father slew my father, he shall die.
Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company.
Clf. Soldiers, away with him.

Tut. Ah, Clifford ! murder not this innocent child,

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