So first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece,
And next his throat unto the butcher's knife.-
What scene of death hath Roscius now to act?

370

Glo. Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; The thief doth fear each bush an officer.

K. Henry. The bird, that hath been limed in a bush,

With trembling wings misdoubteth every bush :
And I, the hapless male to one sweet bird,

Have now the fatal object in my eye,

Where my poor young was lim'd, was caught, and kill'd.

379

Glo. Why, what a peevish fool was that of Crete, That taught his son the office of a fowl? And yet, for all his wings, the fool was drown'd. K. Henry. I, Dædalus; my poor son, Icarus; Thy father, Minos, that deny'd our course; The sun, that sear'd the wings of my sweet boy, Thy brother Edward; and thyself, the sea, Whose envious gulph did swallow up his life. Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words! My breast can better brook thy dagger's point, Than can my ears that tragic history.— But wherefore dost thou come? is't for my life? Glo. Think'st thou, I am an executioner ? K. Henry. A persecutor, I am sure, thou art; If murdering innocents be executing,

Why, then thou art an executioner.

Glo. Thy son I kill'd for his presumption.

390

132

K. Henry. Hadst thou been kill'd, when first thou

didst presume,

Thou hadst not liv'd to kill a son of mine.
And thus I prophesy that many a thousand,
Which now mistrust no parcel of my fear;

And many an old man's sigh, and many a widow's,
And many an orphan's water-standing eye, 400
Men for their sons, wives for their husbands' fate,
And orphans for their parents' timeless death-
Shall rue the hour that ever thou wast born.
The owl shriek'd at thy birth, an evil sign;
The night-crow cry'd, aboding luckless time;

Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempests shook down trees;

The raven rook'd her on the chimney's top,
And chattering pyes in dismal discords šung.
Thy mother felt more than a mother's pain,
And yet brought forth less than a mother's hope; 410
To wit-an undigest deformed lump,

Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree.

Teeth hadst thou in thy head, when thou wast born, To signify thou cam'st to bite the world:

And, if the rest be true which I have heard,

Thou cam'st into the world with thy legs forwardGlo. I'll hear no more - Die, prophet, in thy

speech;

For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd.

[Stabs him.

K. Henry. Ay, and for much more slaughter after

this.

O God! forgive my sins, and pardon thee!

[Dies.

Glo

Glo. What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted.

422

See, how my sword weeps for the poor king's death? O, may such purple tears be alway shed

From those that wish the downfal of our house!→ If any spark of life be yet remaining,

430

Down, down to hell; and say-I sent thee thither,
[Stabs him again.
I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear.—
Indeed, 'tis true, that Henry told me of;
For I have often heard my mother say,
I came into the world with my legs forward:
Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste,
And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right?
The midwife wonder'd; and the women cry'd,
0, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!
And so I was; which plainly signify'd—
That I should snarl, and bite, and play the dog.
Then, since the heavens have shap'd my body so,
Let hell make crook'd my mind, to answer it.

I had no father, I am like no father:

I have no brother, I am like no brother :

440

And this word-Love, which grey-beards call divine,

Be resident in men like one another,

And not in me; I am myself alone.—

Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light;
But I will sort a pitchy day for thee:
For I will buz abroad such prophecies,
That Edward shall be fearful of his life;

And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death.

King Henry, and the prince his son, are gone: 450
Clarence, thy turn is next; and then the rest;
Counting myself but bad, 'till I be best.-
I'll throw thy body in another room,

And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom.

[Exit.

SCENE VII.

The Palace in London. Enter King EDWARD, the Queen, with the Young Prince, CLARENCE, GLOSTEL, HASTINGS, and Attendants.

K. Edw. Once more we sit on England's royal throne,

Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies.

What valiant foe-men, like to autumn's corn,
Have we mow'd down, in top of all their pride?
Three dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd
For hardy and undoubted champions :

460

Two Cliffords, as the father and the son,

And two Northumberlands; two braver men

Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound: With them the two brave bears, Warwick and Mon

tague,

That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion,

And made the forest tremble when they roar'd.
Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat,
And made our footstool of security.—

Come

Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy :

[Taking the Child.

Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles and myself, 470
Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night;
Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat,
That thou might'st repossess the crown in peace;
And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain.

Glo. I'll blast his harvest, if your head were lay'd'; For yet I am not look'd on in the world.

This shoulder was ordain'd so thick, to heave;
And heave it shall some weight, or break my back :-
Work thou the way-and thou shalt execute. [Aside.
K. Edw. Clarence and Gloster, love my lovely

queen ;

And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both.
Clar. The duty, that I owe unto your majesty,
I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe.

480

Queen. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks.

Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st,

Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit:

To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master;
And cry'd—all hail! when as he meant-all>Aside.

harm.

K. Edw. Now am I seated as my soul delights, Having my country's peace, and brothers' loves. 490 Clar. What will your grace have done with Mar

garet?

Reignier, her father, to the king of France

Hath