Think not that Henry fhall be fo depos'd. War. Depos'd he fhall be in defpight of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy fouthern power Of Effex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent, Which makes thee thus prefumptuous and proud, Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, 1 K. Henry. Oh Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! York. Henry of Lancaster, refign thy crown: What mutter you, or what confpire you, Lords? War. Do right unto this princely Duke of York, Or I will fill this houfe with armed men, And o'er the chair of state where now he fits Write up his title with ufurping blood. [He ftamps with his foot, and the Soldiers fhew themselves. K. Henry. My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one word; Let me for the time prefent reign as King. York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, Clif. What wrong is this unto the Prince your fan! North. Nor I. Clif. Come, coufin, let us tell the Queen these news. Weft. Farewel, faint-hearted and degen'rate King, In whofe cold blood no fpark 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'ft thou be overcome, Or live in peace abandon'd and defpis'd! [Ex.Nor.Clif. Weft. of this time SCENE War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not.. Exe. They feek revenge, and therefore will not yield. K. Henry. Ah, Exeter! War. Why fhould you figh, my Lord? K. Henry. Not for my felf, Lord Warwick, but my fon, Whom I unnaturally fhall difinherit. But be it as it may; I here entail The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; To honour me as 5 'thy true King and Sovereign; To seek to put me down, and reign thy self. York. This oath I willingly take, and will perform. War. Long live King Henry! Plantagenet, embrace him. K. Henry. And long live thou, and these thy forward fons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Exe. Accurs'd be he that feeks to make them foes! [Tucket. Here they come down. York. Farewel, my gracious Lord, I'll to my caftle. War. And I'll keep London with my foldiers. Norf. And I to Norfolk with my followers. Mont. And I unto the fea, from whence I came. [Ex. York, War. Norf, and Mont. K. Henry. And I with grief and forrow to the Court. Enter Queen Margaret, and the Prince of Wales. Exe. Here comes the Queen, whofe looks bewray her I'll fteal away. K. Henry. So, Exeter, will I. [anger. [Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. K. Henry. Be patient, gentle Queen, and I will stay.. Q. Mar. Who can be patient in fuch extreams? Ah wretched man! would I had dy'd a maid, N4 And 5 thy King And never feen thee, never born thee son, Prince. Father, you cannot difinherit me: If you be King, why fhould not I fucceed? 4 K. Henry. Pardon me, Margret; pardon me, fweet fon; The northern Lords, that have forfworn thy colours, Thus Thus do I leave thee; come, fon, let's away, K.Henry. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me fpeak. Q.Mar. Thou haft fpoke too much already; get thee gone. K. Henry. Gentle fon Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Q. Mar. Ay, to be murther'd by his enemies. Prince. When I return with victory from the field I'll fee your Grace; 'till then I'll follow her. Q. Mar. Come, fon, away, we may not linger thus. The lofs of those three Lords torments my heart; Come, coufin, you shall be the messenger. Exe. And as I hope fhall reconcile them all. [Exeunt. Changes to Sandal-Caftle in Yorkshire. Enter Richard Plantagenet, Edward Plantagenet, 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 the Duke of York. York. Why, how now, fons and brother, at a ftrife? What is your quarrel? how began it first? 6 coft York. York. About what? 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 th' houfe of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will out-run you, father, in the end. York. I took an oath that he fhould quietly reign. Edw. But for a kingdom any oath may be broken: I'd break a thoufand oaths to reign one year. Rich. No; God forbid your Grace fhould be forfworn! York. I fhall be, if I claim by open war. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me fpeak. York. Thou can't not, fon, it is impoffible. Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took That hath authority o'er him that fwears. And whet on Warwick to this enterprize. Thou, Richard, fhalt to th' Duke of Norfolk go, You, Edward, fhall unto my 7'Lord of Cobham, ''Wealthy and courteous, liberal, full of fpirit While 7 Lord Cobham, 8 Witty, courteous, old edit. Theob. emend. |