Lest thou be hated both of God and man. [Exit, forced off by Soldiers. Clif. How now! is he dead already? Or, is it fear, That makes him close his eyes? — I'll open them. Clif. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy: my father's blood Rut. Then let my father's blood open it again : He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him. Clif. Had I thy brethren here, their lives, and thine, Were not revenge sufficient for me. No; if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves, And hung their rotten coffins up in chains, It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. Is as a fury to torment my soul; Rut. O! let me pray before I take my death. To thee I pray: sweet Clifford, pity me! Clif. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. Rut. I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me? Rut. But 't was ere I was born. Thou hast one son, for his sake pity me, Ah! let me live in prison all my days, And when I give occasion of offence, Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause. Clif. No cause? Thy father slew my father: therefore, die. [CLIFFORD stabs him. Dii faciant, laudis summa sit ista tuæ! Rut. Clif. Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet ! And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade, Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood Congeal'd with this do make me wipe off both. York. The army of the queen hath got the field: My uncles both are slain in rescuing me; And all my followers to the eager foe Turn back, and fly like ships before the wind, Three times did Richard make a lane to me, And thrice cried, "Courage, father! fight it out:" Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue, [Dies. [Exit. [A short Alarum within. And I am faint, and cannot fly their fury; Enter Queen MARGARET, CLIFford, NorthuMBERLAND, Soldiers. Come, bloody Clifford, — rough Northumberland, I am your butt, and I abide your shot. North. Yield to our mercy, proud Plantagenet. Clif. Ay, to such mercy, as his ruthless arm With downright payment show'd unto my father. Now Phaeton hath tumbled from his car, And made an evening at the noontide prick. York. My ashes, as the phoenix, may bring forth And in that hope I throw mine eyes to heaven, So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives, York. O, Clifford! but bethink thee once again, And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice, But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one. Q. Mar. Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thousand causes I would prolong awhile the traitor's life. Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, Northumberland. and For one to thrust his hand between his teeth, And ten to one is no impeach of valour. [They lay hands on YORK, who struggles. Clif Ay, ay; so strives the woodcock with the gin. North. So doth the coney struggle in the net. [YORK is taken prisoner. York. So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty; So true men yield, with robbers so o'er-match'd. North. What would your grace have done unto him now? Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland? York: I pr'ythee, grieve to make me merry, Thou would'st be fee'd, I see, to make me sport : 1 A crown for York! - and, lords, bow low to him. [Putting a paper Crown on his Head. Ay, marry, Sir, now looks he like a king. But how is it, that great Plantagenet Is crown'd so soon, and broke his solemn oath? Now in his life, against your holy oath? Off with the crown; and, with the crown, his head! Clif. That is my office, for my father's sake. Q. Mar. Nay, stay; let's hear the orisons he makes. York. She-wolf of France, but worse than wolves of France; Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth, How ill-beseeming is it in thy sex, To triumph, like an Amazonian trull, Made impudent with use of evil deeds, I would assay, proud queen, to make thee blush: To tell thee whence thou cam'st, of whom deriv'd, Were shame enough to shame thee, wert thou not shameless. Thy father bears the type of king of Naples, Of both the Sicils, an Jerusalem, Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman. Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult? It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen; That beggars mounted run their horse to death. |