West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. Clif. Urge 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. York. Will you, we show our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, 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. War. Plantagenet shall speak first: hear him, lords; And be you silent and attentive too, 4THY father was, as thou art, duke of York ;] The folio, by mistake, has My for "Thy," as is shown by "The True Tragedy," 1595. As Malone states, the line contains a historical error, the father of York having been earl of Cambridge, and never duke of York, though he would have inherited the title had he outlived his elder brother. For he, that interrupts him, shall not live. K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? No: first shall war unpeople this my realm; War. Prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. crown. York. "Twas by rebellion against his king. K. Hen. I know not what to say: my title's weak. Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? 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, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown? Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, But that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, Think not, that Henry shall be so depos'd. War. Depos'd he shall be in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy southern power, Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent, Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud, Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, Lord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence: May that ground gape, and swallow me alive, Where I shall kneel to him that slew my father! K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown. What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? War. Do right unto this princely duke of York, And, o'er the chair of state, where now he sits, [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, Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son? Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news. Clif. In dreadful war may'st 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. Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not yield. K. Hen. Ah, Exeter! 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; Conditionally, that here thou take an oath To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, York. This oath I willingly take, and will perform. him. K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Enter Queen MARGARET and the Prince of WALES. Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: I'll steal away. Exeter, so will I. [Going. K. Hen. Ah, wretched man! would I had died a maid, Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, If Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me. you be king, why should not I succeed? K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret ;-pardon me, sweet son: The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and wilt be forc'd? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch ! And given unto the house of York such head, |