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 ine, 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 he 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. Rich. About that which concerns your grace, and us; 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 That hath authority over him that swears: And all the poets feign of bliss and joy. With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise: - 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? 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; York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou, that we fear them? Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;- [Exit, 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. Clif. Soldiers, away with him! Tut. Ah, Clifford! murder not this innocent child, Lest thou be hated both of God and man! [Exit, forced off by Soldiers. Clif. How now! is he dead already? "Or, is it fear, That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them, Rut. So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch That trembles under his devouring paws: And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey; And so he comes to rend his limbs asunder. Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword, And not with such a cruel threatening look. Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die; I am too mean a subject for thy wrath, Be thou reveng'd on men, and let me live. Clif. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter. Rut. Then let my father's blood open it again; He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. Clif. Had I thy brethren here, their lives, and thine, Were not revenge sufficient for me, No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves. It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. And till I root out their accursed line, [Lifting his hand. Rut, 0, let me pray before I take my death:To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me! Clif. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. Rut. I never did thee harm: Why wilt thou slay me? Clif. Thy father hath. Rut. But 'twas ere I was born. Thou hast one son, for his sake pity me; sith God is just, He be as miserably slain as I. Ah, let me live in prison all my days; And when I give occasion of offence, Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause. Clif. No cause? Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. [CLIFFORD stabs him. Rut. Di faciant, laudis summa sit ista tuae! [Dies. Clif. Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade, SCENE IV. The same. Alarum. Enter YORK. [Exit. York. The army of the queen hath got the field: My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; And all my followers to the eager foe Turn back, and fly, like ships before the wind, My sons-God knows, what hath bechanced them: In blood of those that had encounter'd him: With this we charg'd again: but, out, alas! Enter QUEEN MARGARET, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND, and Soldiers. Come, bloody Clifford, rough Northumberland, — North. Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. York, My ashes, as the Phoenix, may bring forth A bird that will revenge upon you all: And, in that hope, I throw mine eyes to heaven, Why come you not? what! multitudes, and fear? York. O, Clifford, but bethink thee once again, |