The owl shriek'd at thy birth, an evil sign; The night-crow cried, aboding luckless time; Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempests shook down trees; The raven rook'd1 her on the chimney's top, 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 camest to bite the world; And, if the rest be true which I have heard, Glos. I'll hear no more. Die, prophet, in thy speech: For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. [stabs him. K. Hen. Ay, and for much more slaughter after this. O God! forgive my sins, and pardon thee! [dies. Glos. 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 downfall of our house! Down, down to hell, and say—I sent thee thither, I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear. I came into the world with my legs forward: 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 shaped 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 sort1 a pitchy day for thee: For I will buz 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. [Exit. 1 Select. 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. Ed. Once more we sit in England's royal throne, Repurchased with the blood of enemies. What valiant foemen, like to autumn's corn, Two Cliffords, as the father and the son; · With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague, That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion, And made the forest tremble when they roar'd. Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy. |