ACT I. SCENE I.-London. The Parliament-House. Drums. Some Soldiers of YORK's party break in. Then enter the WAR. I wonder how the king escap'd our hands. EDW. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham, 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. [Throwing down the DUKE OF SOMERSET's head. YORK. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my sons. But, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset? NORF. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! Before I see thee seated in that throne And this the regal seat: possess it, York; 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. 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 perforce. [The Soldiers retire. YORK. The queen, this day, here holds her parliament, By words or blows here let us win our right. Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king, YORK. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute, 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 him up who dares: Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown. [WARWICK leads YORK to the throne, who seats himself. Flourish. Enter KING HENRY, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND, WEST- K. HEN. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd revenge My heart for anger burns; I cannot brook it. K. HEN. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland. He durst not sit there, had your father liv'd. Let us assail the family of York. NORTH. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? EXE. But when the duke is slain, they'll quickly fly.b [They advance to the DUKE. Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thy sovereign. YORK. I am thine.c EXE. For shame, come down: he made thee duke of York. Patience is for poltroons,-] An old Italian proverb says the same:—“Pazienza è pasto di poltroni." b But when, &c.] In the folio 1623, this is assigned to Westmoreland: in "The True Tragedy," 1595, it has, rightly, the prefix, Exeter. I am thine.] "The True Tragedy" reads:-"Thou art deceiv'd: I am thine," which Malone adopts. As the earldom was.] For earldom, "The True Tragedy" has kingdome. EXE. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. In following this usurping Henry. CLIF. Whom should he follow but his natural king? WAR. True, Clifford; and that's Richard, duke of York. NORTH. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; CLIF. Ürge 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! If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. HEN. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? 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. K. HEN. The lord protector lost it, and not I; When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old. RICH. You are old enough now, and yet, methinks you lose : Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. EDW. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head. MONT. Good brother [To YORK.], as thou lov'st and honour'st arms, Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. RICH. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly. YORK. Sons, peace! K. HEN. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to speak. And be you silent and attentive too, For he that interrupts him shall not live. And that's Richard,-] And, omitted in the folio, 1623, is restored from "The True Tragedy." b Yes, Warwick,-] The earlier version reads, "No, Warwick," which is preferable. Thy father-] In the folio 1623, "My father," &c., corrected from "The True Tragedy." K. HEN. Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly throne, WAR. Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. HEN. Henry the fourth by conquest got the crown. K. HEN. [Aside.] I know not what to say; my title's weak. YORK. What then? K. HEN. An if he may, then am I lawful king: YORK. He rose against him, being his sovereign, WAR. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, EXE. No; for he could not so resign his crown, K. HEN. [Aside.] All will revolt from me and turn to him. Think not that Henry shall be so depos'd. WAR. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. NORTH. Thou art deceiv'd: 't is 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: K. HEN. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! [He stamps, and the Soldiers show themselves. K. HEN. My lord of Warwick, hear but one word; Let me for this my life-time reign as king. YORK. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. K. HEN. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, CLIF. What wrong is this unto the prince your son! CLIF. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news. NORTH. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, And die in bands, for this unmanly deed! CLIF. In dreadful war mayst thou be overcome! Or live in peace, abandon'd and despis'd! [Exeunt NORTHUMBERLAND, CLIFFORD, and WESTMORELAND. WAR. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. 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; (1) [Coming from the throne. [Sennet. The Lords come forward. YORK. Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle. WAR. And I'll keep London with my soldiers. NORF. And I to Norfolk with my followers. MONT. And I unto the sea, from whence I came. [Exeunt YORK and his Sons, WARWICK, NORFOLK, K. HEN. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. K. HEN. Exeter, so will I. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, and the PRINCE OF WALES. Q. MAR. Nay, go not from me; I will follow thee. [Going. |