Part 22

_King._ This battle fares like to the morning’s war, [cbe001] When dying clouds contend with growing light, What time the shepherd, blowing of his nails, Can neither call it perfect day nor night. Now sways it this way, like a mighty sea [cbe005] Forced by the tide to combat with the wind; Now sways it that way, like the selfsame sea Forced to retire by fury of the wind: Sometime the flood prevails, and then the wind; [cbe009] Now one the better, then another best; ·cbe010· Both tugging to be victors, breast to breast, Yet neither conqueror nor conquered: So is the equal poise of this fell war. Here on this molehill will I sit me down. To whom God will, there be the victory! [cbe015] For Margaret my queen, and Clifford too, Have chid me from the battle; swearing both They prosper best of all when I am thence. Would I were dead! if God’s good will were so; For what is in this world but grief and woe? ·cbe020· O God! methinks it were a happy life, To be no better than a homely swain; To sit upon a hill, as I do now, To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, Thereby to see the minutes how they run, ·cbe025· How many make the hour full complete; [cbe026] How many hours bring about the day; [cbe027] How many days will finish up the year; How many years a mortal man may live. When this is known, then to divide the times: [cbe030] So many hours must I tend my flock; So many hours must I take my rest; So many hours must I contemplate; So many hours must I sport myself; So many days my ewes have been with young; ·cbe035· So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean; [cbe036] So many years ere I shall shear the fleece: [cbe037] So minutes, hours, days, months, and years, [cbe038] Pass’d over to the end they were created, Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave. ·cbe040· Ah, what a life were this! how sweet! how lovely! Gives not the hawthorn-bush a sweeter shade To shepherds looking on their silly sheep, Than doth a rich embroider’d canopy [cbe044] To kings that fear their subjects’ treachery? ·cbe045· O, yes, it doth; a thousand-fold it doth. And to conclude, the shepherd’s homely curds, His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle, His wonted sleep under a fresh tree’s shade, All which secure and sweetly he enjoys, ·cbe050· Is far beyond a prince’s delicates, His viands sparkling in a golden cup, His body couched in a curious bed, When care, mistrust, and treason waits on him. [cbe054]

_Alarum. Enter a_ Son _that has killed his father, dragging in the dead body_.

_Son._ Ill blows the wind that profits nobody. [cbe055] This man, whom hand to hand I slew in fight, May be possessed with some store of crowns; And I, that haply take them from him now, May yet ere night yield both my life and them To some man else, as this dead man doth me. [cbe060] Who’s this? O God! it is my father’s face, Whom in this conflict I unwares have kill’d. [cbe062] O heavy times, begetting such events! From London by the king was I press’d forth; My father, being the Earl of Warwick’s man, ·cbe065· Came on the part of York, press’d by his master; And I, who at his hands received my life, Have by my hands of life bereaved him. Pardon me, God, I knew not what I did! And pardon, father, for I knew not thee! ·cbe070· My tears shall wipe away these bloody marks; And no more words till they have flow’d their fill.

_K. Hen._ O piteous spectacle! O bloody times! Whiles lions war and battle for their dens, [cbe074] Poor harmless lambs abide their enmity. ·cbe075· Weep, wretched man, I’ll aid thee tear for tear; And let our hearts and eyes, like civil war, Be blind with tears, and break o’ercharged with grief. [cbe078]

_Enter a_ Father _that has killed his son, bringing in the body_.

_Fath._ Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me, [cbe079] Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold; ·cbe080· For I have bought it with an hundred blows. But let me see: is this our foeman’s face? Ah, no, no, no, it is mine only son! [cbe083] Ah, boy, if any life be left in thee, Throw up thine eye! see, see what showers arise, ·cbe085· Blown with the windy tempest of my heart, Upon thy wounds, that kill mine eye and heart! [cbe087] O, pity, God, this miserable age! What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly, [cbe089] Erroneous, mutinous and unnatural, [cbe090] This deadly quarrel daily doth beget! O boy, thy father gave thee life too soon, [cbe092] And hath bereft thee of thy life too late!

_K. Hen._ Woe above woe! grief more than common grief! O that my death would stay these ruthful deeds! [cbe095] O, pity, pity, gentle heaven, pity! The red rose and the white are on his face, The fatal colours of our striving houses: The one his purple blood right well resembles; [cbe099] The other his pale cheeks, methinks, presenteth: [cbe100] Wither one rose, and let the other flourish; If you contend, a thousand lives must wither.

_Son._ How will my mother for a father’s death Take on with me and ne’er be satisfied!

_Fath._ How will my wife for slaughter of my son ·cbe105· Shed seas of tears and ne’er be satisfied!

_K. Hen._ How will the country for these woful chances Misthink the king and not be satisfied!

_Son._ Was ever son so rued a father’s death?

_Fath._ Was ever father so bemoan’d his son? [cbe110]

_K. Hen._ Was ever king so grieved for subjects’ woe? Much is your sorrow; mine ten times so much.

_Son._ I’ll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill. [cbe113] [_Exit with the body._

_Fath._ These arms of mine shall be thy winding-sheet; My heart, sweet boy, shall be thy sepulchre, ·cbe115· For from my heart thine image ne’er shall go; My sighing breast shall be thy funeral bell; And so obsequious will thy father be, Even for the loss of thee, having no more, [cbe119] As Priam was for all his valiant sons. ·cbe120· I’ll bear thee hence; and let them fight that will, For I have murdered where I should not kill. [cbe122] [_Exit with the body._

_K. Hen._ Sad-hearted men, much overgone with care, Here sits a king more woful than you are.

_Alarums: excursions. Enter_ QUEEN MARGARET, _the_ PRINCE, _and_ EXETER.

_Prince._ Fly, father, fly! for all your friends are fled, [cbe125] And Warwick rages like a chafed bull: Away! for death doth hold us in pursuit.

_Q. Mar._ Mount you, my lord; towards Berwick post amain: Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds Having the fearful flying hare in sight, ·cbe130· With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath, And bloody steel grasp’d in their ireful hands, Are at our backs; and therefore hence amain.

_Exe._ Away! for vengeance comes along with them: Nay, stay not to expostulate, make speed; ·cbe135· Or else come after: I’ll away before.

_K. Hen._ Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Exeter: Not that I fear to stay, but love to go Whither the queen intends. Forward; away! [_Exeunt._ [cbe139]

## SCENE VI. _Another part of the field_.

_A loud alarum. Enter_ CLIFFORD, _wounded_.

_Clif._ Here burns my candle out; ay, here it dies, [cbf001] Which, whiles it lasted, gave King Henry light. [cbf002] O Lancaster, I fear thy overthrow [cbf003] More than my body’s parting with my soul! My love and fear glued many friends to thee; [cbf005] And, now I fall, thy tough commixture melts. [cbf006] Impairing Henry, strengthening misproud York, The common people swarm like summer flies; [cbf008] And whither fly the gnats but to the sun? [cbf009] And who shines now but Henry’s enemies? [cbf010] O Phœbus, hadst thou never given consent That Phaëthon should check thy fiery steeds, [cbf012] Thy burning car never had scorch’d the earth! [cbf013] And, Henry, hadst thou sway’d as kings should do, Or as thy father and his father did, [cbf015] Giving no ground unto the house of York, They never then had sprung like summer flies; [cbf017] I and ten thousand in this luckless realm Had left no mourning widows for our death; [cbf019] And thou this day hadst kept thy chair in peace. ·cbf020· For what doth cherish weeds but gentle air? [cbf021] And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity? Bootless are plaints, and cureless are my wounds; No way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight: [cbf024] The foe is merciless, and will not pity; ·cbf025· For at their hands I have deserved no pity. [cbf026] The air hath got into my deadly wounds, And much effuse of blood doth make me faint. Come, York and Richard, Warwick and the rest; I stabb’d your fathers’ bosoms, split my breast. [cbf030] [_He faints._

_Alarum and retreat. Enter_, EDWARD, GEORGE, RICHARD, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, _and_ SOLDIERS,

_Edw._ Now breathe we, lords: good fortune bids us pause, And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks. Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen, That led calm Henry, though he were a king, As doth a sail, fill’d with a fretting gust, ·cbf035· Command an argosy to stem the waves. But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them?

_War._ No, ’tis impossible he should escape; For, though before his face I speak the words, [cbf039] Your brother Richard mark’d him for the grave: ·cbf040· And wheresoe’er he is, he’s surely dead. [cbf041] [_Clifford groans, and dies._

_Edw._ Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? [cbf042]

_Rich._ A deadly groan, like life and death’s departing. [cbf043]

_Edw._ See who it is: and, now the battle’s ended, If friend or foe, let him be gently used. ·cbf045·

_Rich._ Revoke that doom of mercy, for ’tis Clifford; Who not contented that he lopp’d the branch In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth, But set his murdering knife unto the root [cbf049] From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring, ·cbf050· I mean our princely father, Duke of York.

_War._ From off the gates of York fetch down the head, Your father’s head, which Clifford placed there; Instead whereof let this supply the room: [cbf054] Measure for measure must be answered. ·cbf055·

_Edw._ Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house, That nothing sung but death to us and ours: Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound, And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak. [cbf059]

_War._ I think his understanding is bereft. [cbf060] Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee? Dark cloudy death o’ershades his beams of life, And he nor sees nor hears us what we say.

_Rich._ O, would he did! and so perhaps he doth: ’Tis but his policy to counterfeit, ·cbf065· Because he would avoid such bitter taunts Which in the time of death he gave our father. [cbf067]

_Geo._ If so thou think’st, vex him with eager words. [cbf068]

_Rich._ Clifford, ask mercy and obtain no grace.

_Edw._ Clifford, repent in bootless penitence. ·cbf070·

_War._ Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults.

_Geo._ While we devise fell tortures for thy faults. [cbf072]

_Rich._ Thou didst love York, and I am son to York.

_Edw._ Thou pitied’st Rutland; I will pity thee.

_Geo._ Where’s Captain Margaret, to fence you now? ·cbf075·

_War._ They mock thee, Clifford: swear as thou wast wont. [cbf076]

_Rich._ What, not an oath? nay, then the world goes hard [cbf077] When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath. I know by that he’s dead; and, by my soul, If this right hand would buy two hours’ life, [cbf080] That I in all despite might rail at him, This hand should chop it off, and with the issuing blood [cbf082] Stifle the villain whose unstanched thirst York and young Rutland could not satisfy.

_War._ Ay, but he’s dead: off with the traitor’s head, ·cbf085· And rear it in the place your father’s stands. [cbf086] And now to London with triumphant march, There to be crowned England’s royal king: From whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France, And ask the Lady Bona for thy queen: [cbf090] So shalt thou sinew both these lands together; [cbf091] And, having France thy friend, thou shalt not dread [cbf092] The scatter’d foe that hopes to rise again; For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt, Yet look to have them buzz to offend thine ears. ·cbf095· First will I see the coronation; [cbf096] And then to Brittany I’ll cross the sea, To effect this marriage, so it please my lord.

_Edw._ Even as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be; For in thy shoulder do I build my seat, [cbf100] And never will I undertake the thing Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting. Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucester, And George, of Clarence: Warwick, as ourself, Shall do and undo as him pleaseth best. ·cbf105·

_Rich._ Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloucester; [cbf106] For Gloucester’s dukedom is too ominous.

_War._ Tut, that’s a foolish observation: Richard, be Duke of Gloucester. Now to London, To see these honours in possession. [_Exeunt._ ·cbf110·

## ACT III.

## SCENE I. _A forest in the north of England_.

_Enter two_ Keepers, _with cross-bows in their hands_.

_First Keep._ Under this thick-grown brake we’ll shroud ourselves; [cca001] For through this laund anon the deer will come; [cca002] And in this covert will we make our stand, [cca003] Culling the principal of all the deer.

_Sec. Keep._ I’ll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. [cca005]

_First Keep._ That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. [cca007] Here stand we both, and aim we at the best: And, for the time shall not seem tedious, I’ll tell thee what befel me on a day ·cca010· In this self-place where now we mean to stand.

_Sec. Keep._ Here comes a man; let’s stay till he be past. [cca012]

_Enter_ KING HENRY, _disguised, with a prayer-book_.

_K. Hen._ From Scotland am I stol’n, even of pure love, To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. [cca014] No, Harry, Harry, ’tis no land of thine; ·cca015· Thy place is fill’d, thy sceptre wrung from thee, Thy balm wash’d off wherewith thou wast anointed: [cca017] No bending knee will call thee Cæsar now, No humble suitors press to speak for right, [cca019] No, not a man comes for redress of thee; [cca020] For how can I help them, and not myself?

_First Keep._ Ay, here’s a deer whose skin ’s a keeper’s fee: This is the quondam king; let’s seize upon him.

_K. Hen._ Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, [cca024] For wise men say it is the wisest course. ·cca025·

_Sec. Keep._ Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him.

_First Keep._ Forbear awhile; we’ll hear a little more.

_K. Hen._ My queen and son are gone to France for aid; And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick [cca029] Is thither gone, to crave the French king’s sister ·cca030· To wife for Edward: if this news be true, Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost; For Warwick is a subtle orator, And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. By this account then Margaret may win him; ·cca035· For she’s a woman to be pitied much: Her sighs will make a battery in his breast; Her tears will pierce into a marble heart; The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn; [cca039] And Nero will be tainted with remorse, [cca040] To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears. Ay, but she’s come to beg, Warwick, to give; She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry, He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward. She weeps, and says her Henry is deposed; ·cca045· He smiles, and says his Edward is install’d; That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more; Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong, [cca048] Inferreth arguments of mighty strength, And in conclusion wins the king from her, ·cca050· With promise of his sister, and what else, [cca051] To strengthen and support King Edward’s place. O Margaret, thus ’twill be; and thou, poor soul, [cca053] Art then forsaken, as thou went’st forlorn!

_Sec. Keep._ Say, what art thou that talk’st of kings and queens? [cca055]

_K. Hen._ More than I seem, and less than I was born to: A man at least, for less I should not be; And men may talk of kings, and why not I?

_Sec. Keep._ Ay, but thou talk’st as if thou wert a king.

_K. Hen._ Why, so I am, in mind; and that’s enough. [cca060]

_Sec. Keep._ But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?

_K. Hen._ My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not deck’d with diamonds and Indian stones, [cca063] Nor to be seen: my crown is call’d content: [cca064] A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. ·cca065·

_Sec. Keep._ Well, if you be a king crown’d with content, Your crown content and you must be contented To go along with us; for, as we think, You are the king King Edward hath deposed; And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance ·cca070· Will apprehend you as his enemy.

_K. Hen._ But did you never swear, and break an oath?

_Sec. Keep._ No, never such an oath; nor will not now. [cca073]

_K. Hen._ Where did you dwell when I was King of England? [cca074]

_Sec. Keep._ Here in this country, where we now remain. ·cca075·

_K. Hen._ I was anointed king at nine months old; My father and my grandfather were kings, And you were sworn true subjects unto me: And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths?

_First Keep._ No; [cca080] For we were subjects but while you were king. [cca081]

_K. Hen._ Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man? Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear! [cca083] Look, as I blow this feather from my face, And as the air blows it to me again, ·cca085· Obeying with my wind when I do blow, And yielding to another when it blows, Commanded always by the greater gust; Such is the lightness of you common men. But do not break your oaths; for of that sin [cca090] My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty. Go where you will, the king shall be commanded; And be you kings, command, and I’ll obey.

_First Keep._ We are true subjects to the king, King Edward. [cca094]

_K. Hen._ So would you be again to Henry, ·cca095· If he were seated as King Edward is.

_First Keep._ We charge you, in God’s name, and the king’s, [cca097] To go with us unto the officers.

_K. Hen._ In God’s name, lead; your king’s name be obey’d: And what God will, that let your king perform; [cca100] And what he will, I humbly yield unto. [_Exeunt._

## SCENE II. _London. The palace_.

_Enter_ KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, _and_ LADY GREY.

_K. Edw._ Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban’s field [ccb001] This lady’s husband, Sir Richard Grey, was slain, [ccb002] His lands then seized on by the conqueror: [ccb003] Her suit is now to repossess those lands; Which we in justice cannot well deny, ·ccb005· Because in quarrel of the house of York The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

_Glou._ Your highness shall do well to grant her suit; It were dishonour to deny it her.

_K. Edw._ It were no less; but yet I’ll make a pause. ·ccb010·

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] Yea, is it so? [ccb011] I see the lady hath a thing to grant, Before the king will grant her humble suit.

_Clar._ [_Aside to Glou._] He knows the game: how true he keeps the wind! [ccb014]

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] Silence! ·ccb015·

_K. Edw._ Widow, we will consider of your suit; And come some other time to know our mind.

_L. Grey._ Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay: May it please your highness to resolve me now; And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me. ·ccb020·

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] Ay, widow? then I’ll warrant you all your lands, [ccb021] An if what pleases him shall pleasure you. [ccb022] Fight closer, or, good faith, you’ll catch a blow.

_Clar._ [_Aside to Glou._] I fear her not, unless she chance to fall.

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] God forbid that! for he’ll take vantages. ·ccb025·

_K. Edw._ How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.

_Clar._ [_Aside to Glou._] I think he means to beg a child of her.

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] Nay, whip me then: he’ll rather give her two. [ccb028]

_L. Grey._ Three, my most gracious lord.

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] You shall have four, if you’ll be ruled by him. ·ccb030·

_K. Edw._ ’Twere pity they should lose their father’s lands. [ccb031]

_L. Grey._ Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then. [ccb032]

_K. Edw._ Lords, give us leave: I’ll try this widow’s wit.

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave, Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch. [ccb035] [_Glou. and Clar. retire._

_K. Edw._ Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

_L. Grey._ Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

_K. Edw._ And would you not do much to do them good?

_L. Grey._ To do them good, I would sustain some harm.

_K. Edw._ Then get your husband’s lands, to do them good. ·ccb040·

_L. Grey._ Therefore I came unto your majesty.

_K. Edw._ I’ll tell you how these lands are to be got.

_L. Grey._ So shall you bind me to your highness’ service.

_K. Edw._ What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?

_L. Grey._ What you command, that rests in me to do. ·ccb045·

_K. Edw._ But you will take exceptions to my boon. [ccb046]

_L. Grey._ No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.

_K. Edw._ Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.

_L. Grey._ Why, then I will do what your grace commands.

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble. [ccb050]

_Clar._ [_Aside to Glou._] As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt. [ccb051]

_L. Grey._ Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my task?

_K. Edw._ An easy task; ’tis but to love a king.

_L. Grey._ That’s soon perform’d, because I am a subject.

_K. Edw._ Why, then, thy husband’s lands I freely give thee. ·ccb055·

_L. Grey._ I take my leave with many thousand thanks. [ccb056]

_Glou._ [_Aside to Clar._] The match is made; she seals it with a curt’sy. [ccb057]

_K. Edw._ But stay thee, ’tis the fruits of love I mean.

_L. Grey._ The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.

_K. Edw._ Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. ·ccb060· What love, think’st thou, I sue so much to get?

_L. Grey._ My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers; That love which virtue begs and virtue grants.

_K. Edw._ No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.

_L. Grey._ Why, then you mean not as I thought you did. ·ccb065·

_K. Edw._ But now you partly may perceive my mind.

_L. Grey._ My mind will never grant what I perceive Your highness aims at, if I aim aright. [ccb068]

_K. Edw._ To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.

_L. Grey._ To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison. [ccb070]

_K. Edw._ Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband’s lands.