Bootless are plaints, and cureless are my wounds
No way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight:
The foe is merciless, and will not pity;
For, at their hands, I have deserv'd no pity.
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 father's bosom, split my breast.

[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, '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, Your brother Richard mark'd him for the grave: 'And, wheresoe'er he is, he's surely dead. [Clifford groans, and dies. Edw. Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave?

Rich. A deadly groan, like life and death's departing.1

Edw. See who it is: and, now the battle's ended, If friend, or foe, let him be gently us'd.

'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 'From whence that tender spray did sweetly

spring,

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; Measure for measure must be answered.

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.

[Attendants bring the body forward. War. I think his understanding is bereft:Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to

thee?

And rear it in the place your father's stands.—
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:

So shalt thou sinew both these lands together;
And, having France thy friend, thou shalt not
dread

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. First will I see the coronation;

And then to Britany 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 on thy shoulder do I build my seat;
And never will I undertake the thing,
*Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting.-
Richard, I will create thee duke of Gloster

And George, of Clarence;-Warwick, as ourself,
Shall do, and undo, as him pleaseth best.
Rich. Let me be duke of Clarence; George, of
Gloster;

For Gloster's dukedom is too ominous.

War. Tut, that's a foolish observation; Richard, be duke of Gloster: Now to London, To see these honours in possession.

ACT III.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I-A chase in the north of England. Enter two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands.

1 Keep. Under this thick-grown brake4 we'll shroud ourselves;

For through this launds anon the deer will come; And in this covert will we make our stand, "Culling the principal of all the deer.

萬

*2 Keep. I'll stay above the hill, so both may

shoot.

* 1 Keep. That cannot be; the noise of thy cross

bow

Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost.

*Here stand we both, and aim we at the best: And, for the time shall not seem tedious,

* I'll tell thee what befell me on a day, In this self-place where now we mean to stand. 2 Keep. Here comes a man, let's stay till he be past.

Enter 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. No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine;

(4) Thicket.

(5) A plain extended between woods.

K. Edw. Lords, give us leave; I'll try this widow's wit.

Glo. Ay, good leave! have you, for you will have leave,

Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch. [Glo. and Clar. retire to the other side. *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.

*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.

*K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my

boon.

*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.

Glo. He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble.

[Aside. * Clar. As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt. [Aside.

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.

L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand

thanks.

*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.

K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee. * L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.

K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands.

L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower;

For by that loss I will not purchase them.

K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily.

L. Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and me.

But, mighty lord, this merry inclination
Accords not with the sadness2 of my suit;
Please you dismiss me, either with ay, or no.

K. Edw. Ay; if thou wilt say ay, to my request: No; if thou dost say no, to my demand.

L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end.

'Glo. The widow likes him not, she knits her brows.

[Aside. Clar. He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom. [Aside.

'K. Edw. [Aside.] Her looks do argue her re

plete with modesty;

Her suit is granted for her husband's lands.

Enter a Nobleman.

Nob. My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, 'And brought your prisoner to your palace gate. K. Edw. See, that he be convey'd unto the

Tower:

'And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, To question of his apprehension.— 'Widow, go you along;-Lords, use her honourable. [Exeunt King Edward, Lady Grey, Clarence, and Lord.

Glo. Ay, Edward will use women honourably. Would he were wasted, marrow, bones, and all, 'That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, 'To cross me from the golden time I look for! And yet, between my soul's desire, and me, (The lustful Edward's title buried,)

Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, And all the unlook'd-for issue of their bodies, 'To take their rooms, ere I can place myself: A cold premeditation for my purpose! * Why, then I do but dream on sovereignty; Like one that stands upon a promontory, And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, *Wishing his foot were equal with his eye; And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, Saying-he'll lade it dry to have his way: So do I wish the crown, being so far off; *And so I chide the means that keep me from it; And so I say-I'll cut the causes off, Flattering me with impossibilities.

My eye's too quick, my heart o'erweens too much, * Unless my hand and strength could equal them. *Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard; * What other pleasure can the world afford? 'I'll make my heaven in a lady's lap, And deck my body in gay ornaments, And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. 'O miserable thought! and more unlikely, Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns! Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb: And, for I should not deal in her soft laws, She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub; To make an envious mountain on my back, Where sits deformity to mock my body; To shape my legs of an unequal size; To disproportion me in every part, Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp, That carries no impression like the dam. And am I then a man to be belov'd? 'O monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought! Then, since this earth affords no joy to me, *But to command, to check, to o'erbear such As are of better person than myself,

* I'll make my heaven-to dream upon the crown; * And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell, *Until my misshap'd trunk that bears this head, Be round impaled with a glorious crown. And yet I know not how to get the crown, * For many lives stand between me and home: And I,-like one lost in a thorny wood,

* That rents the thorns, and is rent with the thorns; Seeking a way, and straying from the way; Not knowing how to find the open air,

* But toiling desperately to find it out,

* Torment myself to catch the English crown: * And from that torment I will free myself, Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.

(1) Encircled.

And cry, content, to that which grieves my heart; *And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, *And frame my face to all occasions.

* I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk; I'll play the orator as well as Nestor, Deceive more slily than Ulysses could, *And, like a Sinon, take another Troy: I can add colours to the cameleon;

Change shapes, with Proteus, for advantages, And set the murd'rous Machiavel to school. Can I do this, and cannot get a crown? Tut! were it further off, I'll pluck it down. [Exit. SCENE III-France. A room in the palace. Flourish. Enter Lewis the French King, and Lady Bona, attended; the king takes his state. Then enter Queen Margaret, Prince Edward her son, and the Earl of Oxford.

'K. Lew. Fair queen of England, worthy Margaret, [Rising.

Sit down with us; it ill befits thy state, And birth, that thou should'st stand, while Lewis doth sit.

*Q. Mar. No, mighty king of France; now Margaret

*Must strike her sail, and learn a while to serve, Where kings command. I was, I must confess, * Great Albion's queen in former golden days: *But now mischance hath trod my title down, *And with dishonour laid me on the ground; * Where I must take like seat unto my fortune, *And to my humble seat conform myself. *K. Lew. Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair?

* Q. Mar. From such a cause as fills mine eyes

with tears,

And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in

cares.

*K. Lew. Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself, *And sit thee by our side: yield not thy neck [Seats her by him. To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind *Still ride in triumph over all mischance. Be plain, queen Margaret, and tell thy grief; It shall be eas'd, if France can yield relief. * Q. Mar. Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts,

*And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak. *Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis,*That Henry, sole possessor of my love, *Is, of a king, become a banish'd man, *And forc'd to live in Scotland a forlorn; While proud ambitious Edward, duke of York, *Usurps the regal title, and the seat *Of England's true-anointed lawful king. *This is the cause, that I, poor Margaret,With this my son, prince Edward, Henry's heir,Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid; And, if thou fail us, all our hope is done : *Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help; *Our people and our peers are both misled, *Our treasure seiz'd, our soldiers put to flight, And, as thou see'st, ourselves in heavy plight. *K. Lew. Renowned queen, with patience calm

*

the storm,

*While we bethink a means to break it off.

* Q. Mar. The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe.

*K. Lew. The more I stay, the more I'll succour

thee.

* Q. Mar. O, but impatience waiteth on true

sorrow:

* And see, where comes the breeder of my sorrow. Enter Warwick, attended.

'K. Lew. What's he, approacheth boldly to our presence?

K. Lew. Welcome, brave Warwick! What

*

brings thee to France?

[Descending from his state, Queen Mar. rises. Q. Mar. Ay, now begins a second storm to rise; *For this is he, that moves both wind and tide.

War. From worthy Edward, king of Albion,
My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend,
I come,-in kindness, and unfeigned love,-
First to do greetings to thy royal person;
And, then, to crave a league of amity;
And, lastly, to confirm that amity

With nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant
That virtuous lady Bona, thy fair sister,
To England's king in lawful marriage.

'Q. Mar. If that go forward, Henry's hope is done.

War. And, gracious madam, [To Bona.] in our king's behalf,

I am commanded, with your leave and favour, Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart: Where fame, late entering at his heedful ears, Hath plac'd thy beauty's image, and thy virtue. Q. Mar. King Lewis,-and lady Bona,-hear me speak,

Before you answer Warwick. His demand *Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love, *But from deceit, bred by necessity; * For how can tyrants safely govern home, * Unless abroad they purchase great alliance? *To prove him tyrant, this reason may suffice,* That Henry liveth still: but were he dead. * Yet here prince Edward stands, king Henry's son. *Look therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage

*Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour: *For though usurpers sway the rule a while, *Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs. War. Injurious Margaret!

Prince.

And why not queen? War. Because thy father Henry did usurp; And thou no more art prince, than she is Oxf. Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt,

queen.

Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain;
And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth,
"Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest ;
And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth,
Who by his prowess conquered all France:
From these our Henry lineally descends.

War. Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth dis

This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.
War. And I the house of York.

K. Lew. Queen Margaret, prince Edward, and
Oxford,

Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside,

While I use further conference with Warwick. * Q. Mar. Heaven grant, that Warwick's words bewitch him not!

[Retiring with the Prince and Oxford. K. Lew. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience,

Is Edward your true king? for I were loath,
To link with him that were not lawful chosen.
War. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine

honour.

K. Lew. But is he gracious in the people's eye? War. The more, that Henry was unfortunate. K. Lew. Then further,--all dissembling set aside, Tell me for truth the measure of his love Unto our sister Bona.

War.

Such it seems, As may beseem a monarch like himself. Myself have often heard him say, and swear,That this his love was an eternal plant; Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground, The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun; Exempt from envy, but not from disdain, Unless the lady Bona quit his pain.

K. Lew. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve. Bona. Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine: Yet I confess, [To War.] that often ere this day, When I have heard your king's desert recounted, Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire.

*K. Lew. Then, Warwick, thus,-Our sister shall be Edward's:

And now forthwith shall articles be drawn *Touching the jointure that your king must make, *Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd:Draw near, queen Margaret; and be a witness, That Bona shall be wife to the English king.

:

Prince. To Edward, but not to the English king. *Q. Mar. Deceitful Warwick! it was thy device By this alliance to make void my suit; Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend. *K. Lew. And still is friend to him and Mar garet:

But if your title to the crown be weak,As may appear by Edward's good success,*Then 'tis but reason, that I be releas'd

From giving aid, which late I promised. *Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand, That your estate requires, and mine can yield. War. Henry now lives in Scotland, at his ease; Where having nothing, nothing he can lose. And as for you yourself, our quondam queen,— You have a father able to maintain you; And better 'twere, you troubled him than France. * Q. Mar. Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick, peace;

Proud setter-up and puller-down of kings! *I will not hence, till with my talk and tears, *Both full of truth, I make king Lewis behold *Thy sly conveyance,2 and thy lord's false love; For both of you are birds of self-same feather. [A horn sounded within. K. Lew. Warwick, this is some post to us, or thee. (2) Juggling.