Henry VI, Part III

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? Warwick

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.

Edward Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave? Richard A deadly groan, like life and death’s departing. Edward

See who it is: and, now the battle’s ended,
If friend or foe, let him be gently used.

Richard

Revoke that doom of mercy, for ’tis Clifford;
Who not contented that he lopp’d the branch
In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth,
But set his murdering knife unto the root
From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring,
I mean our princely father, Duke of York.

Warwick

From off the gates of York fetch down the head,
Your father’s head, which Clifford placed there;
Instead whereof let this supply the room:
Measure for measure must be answered.

Edward

Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house,
That nothing sung but death to us and ours:
Now death shall stop his dismal threatening sound,
And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak.

Warwick

I think his understanding is bereft.
Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee?
Dark cloudy death o’ershades his beams of life,
And he nor sees nor hears us what we say.

Richard

O, would he did! and so perhaps he doth:
’Tis but his policy to counterfeit,
Because he would avoid such bitter taunts
Which in the time of death he gave our father.

George If so thou think’st, vex him with eager words. Richard Clifford, ask mercy and obtain no grace. Edward Clifford, repent in bootless penitence. Warwick Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults. George While we devise fell tortures for thy faults. Richard Thou didst love York, and I am son to York. Edward Thou pitied’st Rutland; I will pity thee. George Where’s Captain Margaret, to fence you now? Warwick They mock thee, Clifford: swear as thou wast wont. Richard

What, not an oath? nay, then the world goes hard
When Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath.
I know by that he’s dead; and, by my soul,
If this right hand would buy two hour’s life,
That I in all despite might rail at him,
This hand should chop it off, and with the issuing blood
Stifle the villain whose unstanched thirst
York and young Rutland could not satisfy.

Warwick

Ay, but he’s dead: off with the traitor’s head,
And rear it in the place your father’s stands.
And now to London with triumphant march,
There to be crowned England’s royal king:
From whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France,
And ask the Lady Bona for thy queen:
So shalt thou sinew both these lands together;
And, having France thy friend, thou shalt not dread
The scatter’d foe that hopes to rise again;
For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt,
Yet look to have them buzz to offend thine ears.
First will I see the coronation;
And then to Brittany I’ll cross the sea,
To effect this marriage, so it please my lord.

Edward

Even as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be;
For in thy shoulder do I build my seat,
And never will I undertake the thing
Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting.
Richard, I will create thee Duke of Gloucester,
And George, of Clarence: Warwick, as ourself,
Shall do and undo as him pleaseth best.

Richard

Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloucester;
For Gloucester’s dukedom is too ominous.

Warwick

Tut, that’s a foolish observation:
Richard, be Duke of Gloucester. Now to London,
To see these honours in possession. Exeunt.

Act III

Scene I

A forest in the north of England.

	Enter two Keepers, with cross-bows in their hands.
First Keeper	Under this thick-grown brake we’ll shroud ourselves; For through this laund anon the deer will come; And in this covert will we make our stand, Culling the principal of all the deer.
Second Keeper	I’ll stay above the hill, so both may shoot.
First Keeper	That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost. Here stand we both, and aim we at the best: And, for the time shall not seem tedious, I’ll tell thee what befell me on a day In this self-place where now we mean to stand.
Second Keeper	Here comes a man; let’s stay till he be past.
	Enter King Henry, disguised, with a prayer-book.
King Henry	From Scotland am I stol’n, even of pure love, To greet mine own land with my wishful sight. No, Harry, Harry, ’tis no land of thine; Thy place is fill’d, thy sceptre wrung from thee, Thy balm wash’d off wherewith thou wast anointed: No bending knee will call thee Caesar now, No humble suitors press to speak for right, No, not a man comes for redress of thee; For how can I help them, and not myself?
First Keeper	Ay, here’s a deer whose skin’s a keeper’s fee: This is the quondam king; let’s seize upon him.
King Henry	Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, For wise men say it is the wisest course.
Second Keeper	Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him.
First Keeper	Forbear awhile; we’ll hear a little more.
King Henry	My queen and son are gone to France for aid; And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick Is thither gone, to crave the French king’s sister To wife for Edward: if this news be true, Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost; For Warwick is a subtle orator, And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words. By this account then Margaret may win him; For she’s a woman to be pitied much: Her sighs will make a battery in his breast; Her tears will pierce into a marble heart; The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn; And Nero will be tainted with remorse, To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears. Ay, but she’s come to beg, Warwick, to give; She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry, He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward. She weeps, and says her Henry is deposed; He smiles, and says his Edward is install’d; That she, poor