Yet neither conqueror, nor conquered: To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, So many days my ewes have been with young; Pass'd over to the end they were created, Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shade When care, mistrust, and treason wait on him. Alarum. Enter a Son that has killed his Father, dragging in the dead Body. Son. Ill blows the wind that profits no-body.This man, whom hand to hand I slew in fight, May be possessed with some store of crowns: And I, that haply take them from him now, May yet ere night yield both my life and them To some man else, as this dead man doth me.-Who's this?-O God! it is my father's face, Whom in this conflict I unawares have kill'd. O heavy times, begetting such events! From London by the king was I press'd forth; My father, being the earl of Warwick's man, Came on the part of York, press'd by his master; And 1, who at his hands receiv'd my life, Have by my hands of life bereaved him.Pardon me, God, I knew not what I did!And pardon, father, for I knew not thee!My tears shall wipe away these bloody marks; And no more words, till they have flow'd their fill. K. Hen. O piteous spectacle! O bloody times! Whilst lions war, and battle for their dens, Poor harmless lambs abide their enmity.Weep, wretched man, I'll aid thee tear for tear; And let our hearts, and eyes, like civil war, Be blind with tears, and break o'ercharg'd with grief. Enter a Father, who has killed his Son, with the Body in his arms. Fath. Thou that so stoutly hast resisted me, Give me thy gold, if thou hast any gold; For I have bought it with a hundred blows.But let me see:-is this our foeman's face? Ah, no, no, no, it is mine only son!Ah, boy, if any life be left in thee, Throw up thine eye; see,see, what showers arise, Blown with the windy tempest of my heart, Upon thy wounds, that kill mine eye and heart! O, pity, God, this miserable age! What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly, O boy, thy father gave thee life too soon, O, that my death would stay these ruthful son, Shed seas of tears, and ne'er be satisfied? K. Hen. How will the country, for these woful Misthink the king, and not be satisfied? Much is your sorrow; mine, ten times so much. My heart, sweet boy, shall be thy sepulchre; with care, Here sits a king more woful than you are. Alarums: Excursions. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, PRINCE OF WALES, and EXETER. Prince. Fly, father, fly! for all your friends are filed, And Warwick rages like a chafed bull: Q. Mar. Mount you, my lord, towards Berwick post amain, Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds With fiery eyes, sparkling for very wrath, Nay, stay not to expostulate, make speed; K. Hen. Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Not that I fear to stay, but love to go Whither the queen intends. Forward; away!! [Exeunt. A loud Alarum. Enter CLIFFORD, wounded. Clif. Here burns my candle out, ay, here it dies, Which, while it lasted, gave King Henry light. More than my body's parting with my soul. The common people swarm like summer flies: Or as thy father, and his father did, And what makes robbers bold, but too much lenity? Bootless are plaints, and cureless are my wounds; No way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight: I stabb'd your fathers' bosoms, split my breast. [He faints. Alarum and retreat. Enter EDWARD, GEORGE, RICHARD, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and Soldiers. Edw. Now breathe we, lords; good fortune bids us pause, And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks, Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen;That led calm Henry, though he were a king, As doth a sail, fill'd with a fretting gust, Command an argosy to stem the waves. But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them? War. No, 'tis impossible he should escape: For, though before his face I speak the words, Your brother Richard mark'd him for the grave: And wheresoe'er he is, he's surely dead." [CLIFFORD groans and dies. Edw. Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? [departing. Rich. A deadly groan, like life and death's Edw. See who it is; and now the battle's ended, If friend, or foe, let him be gently us'd. Rich. Revoke that doom of mercy, for 'tis Who not contented that be lopp'd the branch I mean our princely father, duke of York. |