West. Base, fearful, and despairing Henry! Clif. How hast thou injur'd both thyself and us? West. I cannot stay to hear these articles. North. Nor I. 181 Clif. Come, cousin, let's go tell the queen these news. West. Farewel, faint-hearted and degenerate king, In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides. North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, And die in bands for this unmanly deed! Clif. In dreadful war may'st thou be overcome! Or live in peace, abandon'd, and despis'd! [Exeunt NORTH. CLIF. and WEST. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not yield. K. Henry. Ah, Exeter! War. Why should you sigh, my lord? 191 K. Henry. 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; To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live, To honour me as thy king and sovereign; and 200 Neither by treason, nor hostility, To seek to put me down, and reign thyself. York. This oath I willingly take, and will perform. ·War War. Long live king Henry!-Plantagenet, em brace him. K. Henry. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. foes!.. Exe. Accurs'd be he, that seeks to make them 210 K. Henry. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. Enter the Queen, and Prince. Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: I'll steal away. K. Henry. Exeter, so will I. [Going. Queen. Nay, go not from me; I will follow thee. K. Henry. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay. Queen. Who can be patient in such extremes? Ah, wretched man! 'would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father! Hath he deserv'd to lose his birth-right thus ? Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I; Or felt that pain which I did for him once; 220 Or Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood; Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, If Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me : you be king, why should not I succeed? 230 K. Henry. Pardon me, Margaret ;-pardon me, sweet son; The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. Queen. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and wilt be forc'd? 240 I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour: 250 Whereby Whereby my son is disinherited. The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours, K. Henry. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak. 260 Queen. Thou hast spoke too much already; get thee gone. K. Henry. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Queen. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. Prince. When I return with victory from the field, I'll see your grace: 'till then, I'll follow her. Queen. Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [Exeunt Queen, and Prince. K. Henry. Poor queen! how love to me, and to her son, Hath made her break out into terms of rage ! 270 Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all. 276 [Exeunt. SCENE SCENE II. Sandal-Castle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give mě leave. Edw. No, I can better play the orator. Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible. Enter the Duke of YORK. York. Why, how now, sons, and brother, at a strife? What is your quarrel? how began it first? Edw. No quarrel, but a sweet contention. York. About what? 280 Rich. About that which concerns your grace, and us; The crown of England, father, which is your's. 290 York. I took an oath, that he should quietly reign. Edw. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be broken : I'd break a thousand oaths to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid, your grace should be for sworn. York. |