K. Hen. Ay, Clifford; a bedlam and ambitious humour Makes him oppose himself against his king. Clif. He is a traitor; let him to the Tower, And chop away that factious pate of his. Q. Mar. He is arrested, but will not obey; His sons, he says, shall give their words for him. York. Will you not, sons? Edw. Ay, noble Father, if our words will serve. Rich. And if words will not, then our weapons shall. Clif. Why, what a brood of traitors have we here! York. Look in a glass, and call thy image so; I am thy king, and thou a false-heart traitor.Call hither to the stake my two brave bears, That, with the very shaking of their chains, They may astonish these fell lurking curs; Bid Salisbury, and Warwick, come to me. Drums. Enter WARWICK and SALISBURY, with Forces. + Clif. Are these thy bears? we'll bait thy bears to death, And manacle the bearward in their chains, Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested As crooked in thy manners as thy shape! K. Hen. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow? Old Salisbury,-shame to thy silver hair, Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son!What, wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruf fian, And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles? O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty? me? Sal. I have. K. Hen. Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath? Sal. It is great sin, to swear unto a sin; But greater sin, to keep a sinful oath. Who can be bound by any solemn vow To do a murderous deed, to rob a man, To force a spotless virgin's chastity, To reave the orphan of his patrimony, To wring the widow from her custom'd right; And have no other reason for this wrong, But that he was bound by a solemn oath? Q. Mar. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. K. Hen. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself. York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast, I am resolv'd for death, or dignity. Clif. The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true. War. You were best to go to bed, and dream again, To keep thee from the tempest of the field. The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff, (As on a mountain top the cedar shows, That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm), Even to affright thee with the view thereof. Clif. And from thy burgonet I'll rend thy bear, And tread it under foot with all contempt, Despight the bearward that protects the bear. Y. Clif. And so to arms, victorious father, To quell the rebels, and their 'complices. Rich. Fye! charity, for shame! speak not in spite, For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. Y. Clif. Foul stigmatick, that's more than thou canst tell. Rich. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in [Exeunt severally. hell. SCENE II. Saint Albans. Alarums: Excursions. Enter WARWICK. War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls! And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, And dead men's cries do fill the empty air,Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms. Enter YORK. How now, my noble lord? what, all a-foot? York. The deadly handed Clifford slew my steed; But match to match I have encounter'd him, And made a prey for carrion kites and crows Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well. Enter CLIFFORD. War. Of one or both of us the time is come. York. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase, For I myself must hunt this deer to death. War. Then, nobly, York: 'tis for a crown thou fight'st. As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day, It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd. [Exit WARWICK. Clif. What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou pause? York. With thy brave bearing should I be in love, But that thou art so fast mine enemy. Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem, But that 'tis shown ignobly, and in treason. Clif. La fin couronne les œuvres. Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will! Enter young CLIFFORD. [Exit. Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout: Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds Hath no self-love; nor he, that loves himself, Now let the general trumpet blow his blast, To cease!-Wast thou ordain'd, dear father, And, in thy reverence, and thy chair-days, thus And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims, So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders: Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine. [Exit. Enter RICHARD PLANTAGENET and SOMERSET, fighting, and SOMERSET is killed. Rich. So, lie thou there; For, underneath an alehouse paltry sign, Hath made the wizard famous in his death.- [Exit. Alarums: Excursions. Enter KING HENRY, QUEEN MARGARET, and Others retreating. Q. Mar. Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away! K. Hen. Can we outrun the heavens? good Margaret, stay. Q. Mar. What are you made of? you'll not fight, nor fly: Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence, To give the enemy way and to secure us By what we can, which can no more but fly. [Alarum afar off. If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom Of all our fortunes: but if we haply scape (As well we may, if not through your neglect), We shall to London get; where you are lov'd; And where this breach, now in our fortunes made, May readily be stopp'd. |