'Tis virtue that doth make them most admir'd; Or as the south to the septentrion. O tiger's heart wrapp'd in a woman's hide! And yet be seen to bear a woman's face? Thou stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorseless. Bidd'st thou me rage? why, now thou hast thy wish : 'Gainst thee, fell Clifford, and thee, false Frenchwoman. North. Beshrew me, but his passions move me so That hardly can I check my eyes from tears. York. That face of his the hungry cannibals Would not have touch'd, would not have stain'd with blood; But you are more inhuman, more inexorable, O! ten times more, than tigers of Hyrcania. See, ruthless queen, a hapless father's tears: This cloth thou dipp'dst in blood of my sweet boy, Keep thou the napkin, and go boast of this; And if thou tell'st the heavy story right, Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears; There, take the crown, and with the crown my curse, And in thy need such comfort come to thee As now I reap at thy too cruel hand! To see how inly sorrow gripes his soul. Q. Mar. What! weeping-ripe, my Lord Northumberland ? Think but upon the wrong he did us all, And that will quickly dry thy melting tears. Clif. Here's for my oath; here's for my father's death. Stabbing him. Q. Mar. And here's to right our gentle-hearted king. Stabbing him. York. Open thy gate of mercy, gracious God! My soul flies through these wounds to seek out thee. Dies. Q. Mar. Off with his head, and set it on York gates: So York may overlook the town of York. Flourish. Exeunt. ACT II SCENE I.-A Plain near Mortimer's Cross in Herefordshire. A March. Enter EDWARD and RICHARD, with their Power. Edw. I wonder how our princely father 'scap'd, From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit. Or had he 'scap'd, methinks we should have heard The happy tidings of his good escape. How fares my brother? why is he so sad? Rich. I cannot joy until I be resolv'd And watch'd him how he singled Clifford forth. Or as a bear, encompass'd round with dogs, Edw. Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns? Not separated with the racking clouds, But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky. See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss, As if they vow'd some league inviolable: Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun. In this the heaven figures some event. Edw. 'Tis wondrous strange, the like yet never heard of. I think it cites us, brother, to the field, Should notwithstanding join our lights together, Rich. Nay, bear three daughters: by your leave I speak it, You love the breeder better than the male. Enter a Messenger. But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell Mess. Ah! one that was a woeful looker-on Edw. O! speak no more, for I have heard too much. Rich. Say how he died, for I will hear it all. And stood against them, as the hope of Troy Who crown'd the gracious duke in high despite ; A napkin steeped in the harmless blood Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain : They took his head, and on the gates of York Edw. Sweet Duke of York! our prop to lean upon, Now thou art gone, we have no staff, no stay. O Clifford boisterous Clifford ! thou hast slain The flower of Europe for his chivalry; And treacherously hast thou vanquish'd him, For hand to hand he would have vanquish'd thee. Ah! would she break from hence, that this my body Rich. I cannot weep, for all my body's moisture And burn me up with flames that tears would quench. Tears then for babes; blows and revenge for me! Edw. His name that valiant duke hath left with thee; His dukedom and his chair with me is left. Rich. Nay, if thou be that princely eagle's bird, March. Enter WARWICK and MONTAGUE, with their Army. War. How now, fair lords! What fare? what news abroad? Rich. Great Lord of Warwick, if we should recount Our baleful news, and at each word's deliverance Stab poniards in our flesh till all were told, The words would add more anguish than the wounds. O valiant lord! the Duke of York is slain. Edw. O Warwick! Warwick! that Plantagenet Which held thee dearly as his soul's redemption, Is by the stern Lord Clifford done to death. War. Ten days ago I drown'd these news in tears, |