K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me 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. West. Farewell, 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 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; [To YORK. To cease this civil war, and whilst I live, brace him. K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes, The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours, Thus do I leave thee.-Come, son, let's away: K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak. gone. K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Q. Mar. 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. Q. Mar. Come, son; away! we may not linger thus. The loss of those three lords torments my heart: Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all. [Exeunt. Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible. York. Why, how now, sons, and brother! at a strife? What is your quarrel? how began it first? Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention. York. About what? 1 Prey. Rich. About that which concerns your grace, and us; The crown of England, father, which is yours. York. Mine, boy? not till king Henry be dead. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or death. Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end. York. I took an oath that he should quietly reign. And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. York. Richard, enough: I will be king, or die.— Brother, thou shalt to London presently, And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.- You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise: Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit. While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more, And yet the king not privy to my drift, Nor any of the house of Lancaster? Enter a Messenger. But, stay. What news? Why com'st thou in such post? Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and lords, Intends here to besiege you in your castle. |