West. I cannot stay to hear these articles. news. Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these [king, West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate 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. 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. The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Exe. Accurs'd be he that seeks to make them foes; [Senet. The Lords come forward. York. Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle. War. And I'll keep London with my soldiers. Norf. And I to Norfolk, with my followers. Mont. And I unto the sea, from whence I came. [Exeunt YORK, and his Sons, WAR. NORF. MONT. Soldiers, and Attendants. K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. Enter QUEEN MARGARET and the PRINCE OF WALES. Ere. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: I'll steal away. K. Hen. Exeter, so will I. [Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay. Q. Mar. 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 birthright thus? Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I; Or felt that pain which I did for him once; Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood; Thou would'st have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Rather than have made that savage duke thine heir, And disinherited thine only son. Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me : If you be king, why should not I succeed? K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret;-pardon me, sweet son; The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. Q. Mar. Enforc'd thee! art thou king, and wilt be forc'd? I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me, Before I would have granted to that act. The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours, Will follow mine, if once they see them spread: Thus do I leave thee :-Come, son, let's away; Q. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. Q. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [Exeunt QUEEN MARGARET, and the Prince. K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me and to her son, Hath made her break out into terms of rage! SCENE II. A Room in Sandal Castle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. Edw. No, I can better play the orator. Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible. Enter YORK. York. Why, how now, sons and brother, at a What is your quarrel? how began it first? 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. 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 fors worn. York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: Brother, thou shalt to London presently, You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham, Enter a Messenger. But, stay; What news? Why com'st thou in such post? Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and lords, Intend here to besiege you in your castle: Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;- [Exit. Enter SIR JOHN and SIR HUGH MORTIMER. York. Sir John, and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles! You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; York. What, with five thousand men ? Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in order; And issue forth, and bid them battle straight. York. Five men to twenty!-though the odds be great, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. |