SCENE II-A field of Battle near Barnet. Alarums, and Excursions.-Enter KING EDWARD, bringing in K. Edw. So, lie thou there: die thou, and die our fear; My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows, Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle, Under whose shade the ramping lion slept; Whose top-branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree, And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind. These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black veil, To search the secret treasons of the world: The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood, Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres; For who lived king, but I could dig his grave? And who durst smile, when Warwick bent his brow? Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust? Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET. Som. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are, The queen from France hath brought a puissant power; Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead. Som. Ah, Warwick, Montague hath breath'd his last : And more he would have said; and more he spoke, [Exit. Which sounded like a cannon in a vault, That might not be distinguish'd; but, at last, War. Sweet rest to his soul! Fly, lords, and save yourselves; for Warwick bids You all farewell, to meet again in heaven. Oxf. Away, away, to meet the queen's great power! [Dies. [Exeunt, bearing off WARWICK's body. SCENE III.-Another part of the Field. Flourish.-Enter KING EDWARD in triumph; with CLARENCE, K. Edw. Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, I mean, my lords, those powers, that the queen Clar. A little gale will soon disperse that cloud, Glo. The queen is valued thirty thousand strong, K. Edw. We are advértised by our loving friends, Strike up the drum; cry-Courage! and away. SCENE IV-Plains near Tewksbury. [Exeunt. March. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE EDWARD, Q. Mar. Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, But cheerly seek how to redress their harms. What though the mast be now blown overboard, The cable broke, the holding anchor lost, With tearful eyes add water to the sea, And give more strength to that which hath too much; The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? We will not from the helm, to sit and weep; But keep our course, though the rough wind say-no, That there's no hoped-for mercy with the brothers, Prince. Methinks, a woman of this valiant spirit And make him, naked, foil a man at arms. Oxf. Women and children of so high a courage! To bear his image, and renew his glories! Som. And he, that will not fight for such a hope, Go home to bed, and, like the owl by day If he arise, be mock'd and wonder'd at. Q. Mar. Thanks, gentle Somerset ;-sweet Oxford, thanks. VOL. III. S Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand. Ready to fight; therefore be resolute. Orf. I thought no less it is his policy, To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided. Som. But he's deceived, we are in readiness. Q. Mar. This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness. K. Edw. Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, I need not add more fuel to your fire, For well I wot,* ye blaze to burn them out: Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords. Q. Mar. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what, I should say, My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes. Therefore, no more but this:-Henry, your sovereign, Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd, His realm a slaughterhouse, his subjects slain, [Exeunt both Armies. SCENE V-Another part of the same. Alarums: Excursions: and afterwards a Retreat. Then Enter KING EDWARD, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, and Forces; with QUEEN MARGARET, OXFORD, and SOMERSET, Prisoners. K. Edw. Now, here a period of tumultuous broils. Away with Oxford to Hammes' castle straight: For Somerset, off with his guilty head. Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. [Exeunt OXFORD and SOMERSET, guarded. Q. Mar. So part we sadly in this troublous world, To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem. K. Edw. Is proclamation made,—that, who finds Edward, Shall have a high reward, and he his life? Glo. It is: and, lo, where youthful Edward comes. Enter Soldiers with PRINCE EDWARD. K. Edw. Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak: What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? * Know. Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make, Prince. Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York! Prince. Let Esop* fable in a winter's night: Glo. By heaven, brat, I'll plague you for that word. Prince. I know my duty, you are all undutiful: I am your better, traitors as ye are ; And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine. K. Edw. Take that, the likeness of this railer here. [Stabs him. Glo. Sprawl'st thou ? take that, to end thy agony. [GLOSTER stabs him. Clar. And there's for twitting me with perjury. Q. Mar. O, kill me too! [CLARENCE stabs him. [Offers to kill her K. Edw. Hold, Richard, hold, for we have done too much. K. Edw. What! doth she swoon? use means for her recovery. I'll hence to London on a serious matter: Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news. Clar. What? what? Glo. The Tower, the Tower! Q. Mar. O, Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! Canst thou not speak ?-O traitors, murderers! They, that stabb'd Cæsar, shed no blood at all, Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, He was a man; this, in respect, a child; What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. *The Prince calls Richard, for his crookedness, Æsop. [Exit. |