thou pause?

K. Henry. Canst thou dispense with heaven for

Enter Clifford such an oath?

War. Of one or both of us the time is come. Sal. It is great sin, to-swcar unto a sin;

York. Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other But greater sin, to keep a sinful oath.

chase, Who can be bound by any solemn vow

5 For I myself must hunt this deer to death. To do a murderous deed, to rob a man,

War. Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown To force a spotless virgin's chastity,

thou fight'st.To reare the orphan ot his patrimony,

Is I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day,
To wring the widow from her custoin'd right; It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd.
And have no other reason for this wrong, 10

[Eri Warwick. But that he was bound by a solemn oath?

Clif. What seest thou in me, York? why dost 2. Afar. A subtle traitor needs no sophister. K. Henry. Call Buckingham, and bid him arm York. With thy brave bearing should I be in love, himself.

[hast,

But that thou art so fast mine enemy. (esteem, York. Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou 15. Clif. Nor should thy prowess want praise and I am resolv'd for death, or dignity.

But that 'tis shewn ignobly, and in treason. Old Clif. The first I warrant thee, if dreams York. So let it help me now against thy sword, prove true.

As I in justice and true right express it! War. You were best go to bed, and dream again, Clif, My soul and body on the action both!To keep thee from the tempest of the field. 20 York.A dreadfullay'!-address *thee instantly. Old Clif. I am resolv'd to bear a greater storm,

[Fight, and Clifford falls. Than any thou can’st conjure up to-day:

Clif. La fin couronne les æuvres. [Dies. And that I'll write upon thy burgonet',

York, Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou Might I but know thee by thy house's badge.

art still. it ar. Now by my father's badge, old Nevil's 25 Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will! crest,

[Erit. The rampant bear chain'd to the ragged staff,

Enter young Clifford, This day I'll wear aloft my burgonet,

Y. Clif. Shame and confusion! all is on the rout; (As on a mountain top the cedar shews,

Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds That keeps his leaves in spight of any storm)

130 Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell. Even to atfright thee with the view thereof. Whom angry heavens do make their minister, Old Clif.And from thyburgonet I'llrendthybear,

Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part And tread it under foot with all contempt,

Hot coals of vengeance !-Let no soldier fly: Despight the bear-ward that protects the bear. He that is truly dedicate to war,

Y. Clif. And so to arnis, victorious noble father, 35 Hath no self-love; nor he, that loves himself, To quell these traitors and their 'complices.

Hath not essentially, but by circumstance, R. Plan. Fie! charity, for shame! speak not

The name of valour.-0, let the vile world end, in spight,

[Seeing his dead father. For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. And the premised' fames of the last day Y. Clif. Foul stigmatic?, that's more than thou 40 Knit earth and heaven together ! canst tcit.

Now let the general trumpet blow his blast, R. Plan. If not in heaven, you'll surely sup in Particularities and petty sounds hell, [E.reunt severally.

To cease Wast thou ordain'd, dear father,

To lose thy youth in peace, and to atchieve'
SCENE
II.

45 The silver livery of advised age;
The Field of Battle at Saint Albans, And, in thy reverence, and thy chair-days, thus
Enter Warwick.

To die in ruffian battle?-Even at this sight, War.Clifford of Cumberland,'tis Warwick calls! My heart is turn'd to stone: and, while’tis mine, And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear, It shall be stony. York not our old men spares ; Now,—when the angry trumpet sounds alarm, 50 No more will I their babes: tears virginal And dead men's cries do fill the empty air,- Shall be to me even as the dew to fire; Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me! And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims, Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland, Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and fax. Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms, Henceforth, I will not have to do with pity; Enter York.

55 Meet I an infant of the house of York, How now, my noble lord? what, all a-foot ? Into as many gobbets will I cut it,

York. The deadly-handed Clifford slewmysteed; As wild Medea young Absyrtus did:
But match to match I have encounter'd him, In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
And made a prey for carrion kites and croys Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house!
Even of the bonny beast he loy'd so well, J601

[Taking up the body. 'i.e. thy helmet · A stigmatic is one on whom nature has set a mark of deformity.

si.e. a dreadful wager.

* Premised, for sent before their time. The sense is, let the Hames reserved for the last day be sent now,

oi, e. to stop.
?i, e. to obtain.

As

4 j. e. prepare:

5

6

As did Eneas old Anchises bcar,

SCENE III. So bear I thee upon my inanly shoulders ;

Alarum. Retreat. Enter York, Richard PlantaBut then Æncas bare a living load,

genet, Warrick, and Soldiers, with Drum and Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine. [Erit.

Colours.

5 Exter Richard Plantagenet and Somerset, lo fight. York. Of Salisbury, who can report of him; R. Plan. So, lie thou there;

That winter lion, who, in rage, forgets

[Somerset is killed. Aged contusions and all brush of time; For, underneath an ale-house' paltry sign,

And, like a gallant in the brow of youth', The Castle in St. Albans, Somerset

10 Repairs him with occasion? this happy day Hath made the wizard famous in his death':

Is not itself, nor have we won one foot,
Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathtul still : If Salisbury be lost.
Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill. [Exit.

R. Plan. My noble father,

Three times to-day I holp him to his horse, Fight. Excursions. Enter King Henry, and Queen

151

Three times bestrid him *; thrice I led him off, Margaret, and others.

Persuaded him froin any further act: 2. Mar. Away, my lord, you are slow; for shame, away!

But still, where danger was, still there I met him;

And like rich hangings in a homely house,
K. Henry. Can we out-run the heavens? good

So was his will in his old feeble body.
Margaret, stay.

20 But, noble as he is, look where he comes. 2. Mar. What are you made of? you'll nor

Enter Salisbury. fight, nor fly; Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence,

Sal. Now, by mysword, well hast thou fought

to-day; To give the enemy way; and to secure us By what we can, which can no more but fly.

By the mass, so did we all.-I thank you, Richard: [Alarum afur of:

God knows, how long it is I have to live; If you be ta’en, we then should see the bottom

And it hath pleas'd him, that three times to-day

You have defended me from imminent death. Of all our fortunes: but if we haply 'scape, (As well we may, if not through your neglect),

Well, lords, we have not got that which we have; We shall to London get; where you are lov’d; 30 Being opposites to such repairing nature.

'Tis not enough our foes are this time fled, And where this breach, now in our fortunes made,

York. I know our safety is to follow them; May readily be stopp'd.

For, as I hear, the king is fled to London,
Enter young Clifford.

l'o call a present court of parliament.
Clif. But that my heart's on future mischief set, Let us pursue him, ere the writs go forth :-
I would speak blaspheiny ere bid you fly; 35 What says lord Warwick, shall we after them?
But fly you must; uncurable discomfit

War. After them! nay, before them, if we can. Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts. Now, by my hand, lords, 'twas a glorious day: Away, for your relief! and we will live

Saint Alban's battle, won by famous York, To see their day, and them our fortune give: Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come. Away, my lord, away!

401sound, drums and trumpets;—and to London all:

[Exeunt. And more such days as these to us befall! (Excunt. *The death of Somerset here accomplishes that equivocal prediction given by Jourdain, the witch, concerning this duke; which we met with at the close of the First Act of this play. 2 i. e. all wear, or rayage. * The brow of youth means the height or summit of youth. * i.e.three times 1 saw him fallen, and, striding over him, defended him till he recovered.

3

K I N G

H E N R Y

VI.

PERSONS REPRESENTED. King Henry the Sixth.

Duke of NORFOLK,
EDWARD, Prince of Wales, his Son.

Marquis of MONTAGUE,
Earl of Warwick,
Earl of SALISBURY,

Of the Duke of

York's Party. Duke nf SOMERSET,

Earl of PEMBROKE, Earl of NORTHUMBERLAND,

Lord Hastings, Earl of OxfORD,

Lords on ng

Lord STAFFORD, Earl of EXETER,

Henry's side.

Sir John MORTIMER, Earl of WESTMORELAND,

Sir Hugh MORTIMER, York Lord CLIFFORD,

Lord Rivers, Brother to the Lady Gray.

Sir John MONTGOMERY,Lieutenant of the Tower, RICHARD, Duke of York.

Mayor of York, Sir John SOMERVILLE.

HUMPHREY and Sinklo, two Huntsmen.
EDWARD, Earlof March,afterwards King, Lewis XI. King of France.
George, Duke of Clarence,

His
RICHARD, Duke of Gloster,

Sons. Queen MARGARET.
EDMUND, Eurl of Rutlund,

Bona, Sister to the French King.
\Lady Gray, afterwards Queen to Edward IV.

}Uncles to the Duke of

Soldiers and other Attendants on King Henry and King Edward, &c. In part of the Third Act, the Scene is laid in France; during all the rest of the Play in England.

A C T I.

I

SCENE I.

That this is true, father, behold his blood.
London. The Parliament House.

[Shewing his bloody sword.

Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of WiltAlarum. Enter Duke of York, Edward, Richard,

shire's blood, Norfolk, Montague, Warwick, and others, with 5

[To Warwick, shewing his, white roses in their hats.

Whom I encounter'd as the battles join’d. War. J Wonder, how the king escap'd our hands. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what

I did. the north,

[Throwing down the Duke of Somerset's head. He slily stole away, and left his men:

(10) York. Richard hath best deserv'dofallmy sons. Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, Is

your grace dead, my lord of Somerset? Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Chear'd up the drooping army; and himself,

Gaunt !

Thcad. Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all a-breast, Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's Chargʻd our main battle's front, and, breaking in, 15 War. And so do I.- Victorious prince of York, Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. Before I see thee seated in that throne Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buck- Which now the house of Lancaster usurps, ingham,

I vow by heaven, these eyes shall never close. Is either slain, or wounded dangerously: This is the palace of the fearful king, I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; 120 And this the regal seat: possess it, York;

? The action of this play opens just after the first battle at Saint Albans, wherein the York faction carried the day; and closes with the murder of king Henry VI. and the birth of prince Edward, afterwards king Edward V, So that this history takes in the space of full sixteen years.

For

For this is thine, and not king Henry's heirs'. York. Thou art deceived, I am thine.

York. Assist methen,sweet Warwick,and I will; Ere. For shame, come down; he made thee For hither are we broken in by force.

duke of York. Norf. We'llall assist you; he that flies shall die. York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the kingdom is. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk.-Stay by me, 5 Ere. Thy father was a traitor to the crown. my lords ;—.

Mar. Exeter, thou art a traitor to the crown, And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. In following this usurping Henry. [king? War. And, when the king comes, offer him no Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural violence,

War. True, Clifford; and that's Richard, duke Unless he seek to put us out by force. [ment; 10

of York.

[throne ? York. The queen, this day, here holds her parlia- K. Henry. And shall I stand, and thou sit-in my But little thinks, we shall be of her council: York. It must and shall be so.-Content thyseli. By words, or blows, here let us win our right. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. Rich. Arm’das we are,let's staywithin this house. West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster;

War. The bloody parliament shallthis becall’d, 15 And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. Unless Plantagenci, duke of York, be king; War. AndWarwick shall disproveit. You forget, And bashful Henry depos’d, whose cowardice That we are those, which chas'd you from the field, Hath made us by-words to our enemies. And slew your fathers, and with colours spread

York. Then leave me not, my lords; beresolute; March'd through the city to the palace-gates. I mean to take possession of my right.

201 North. No, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; War. Neitherthe king, nor he that loves him best, And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. The proudest he that holds up Lancaster,

West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells'. Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives, I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares: Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. Resolve thee, Richard; claim the English crown.25 Clif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, [Warwick leads York to the throne,zcho seutshimself: I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, Enter King Henry, Clifford, Northumberland, As shall revenge his death, before I stir.

Westmoreland, Exeter, and others, at the fur- War. Poor Clifford ! how I scorn his worthless ther end of the stuge.

threats! K. Henry. My lords, look where the sturdy 30, York. Will you, we shew our title to the crown? rebel sits,

If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. Even in the chair of state ! belike he nieans

K. Henry. What title hast thou, traitor, to the (Back’d by the power of Warwick, that false peer)

crown? To aspire'unto the crown, and reign as king.– Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; Earl of Northumberland, he slew thy father ;- 35 Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of March: And thine, lord Clifford; and you both vow'd I am the son of Henry the fifth, revenge

Who made the dauphin and the French to stoop, On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces.

North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng'd on me! War. Talk not of France,sith thou hast lost it all. Clif. The hope thereof makes Clifford mourn 40 K. Henry. The lord protector lost it, and not I; in steel.

[down: When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old. West. What, shall we suffer this? let's pluck him Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, meMy heart for anger burns, I cannot brook it.

thinks, you lose :K.Hen.Be patient, gentle earlof Westmoreland. Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. Clif. Patience is for poltroons, and such as he: 45 Edi. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head. He durst not sit there, had your father liv'd. Mont. Good brother,as thou lov'st and honour'st My gracious lord, here in the parliament

arms, Let us assail the family of York.

Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king K. Henry. Ah, know you not, the city favours 50 them,

York. Sons, peace!

[leave to speak. And they have troops of soldiers at their beck? K. Henry. Peace, thou ! and give king Henry Ere. But, when the duke is slain, they'll War. Plantagenet shall speak first :-—hear him, quickly fly.

[heart,

lords; K. Henry. Farbe it from the thoughts of Henry's 53 And be you silent and attentive too, To make a shambles of the parliament house! For he, that interrupts him, shall not live. Cousin of Exeter, frowns, words, and threats, K. Henry. Think'st thou, that I will leave my Shall be the war that Henry means to use.

kingly throne, [They advance to the duke, Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne, 60 No: first shall war unpeople this my realm; And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; Ay, and their colours-often borne in France I am thy sovereign.

And now in England, to our heart's great sorrow,-The allusion is to falconry. The hawks had sometimes little bells hung upon them, perhaps to fright the birds from rising.

Shall

will fly:

Shall be my winding-sheet.-Why faint you,lords? West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate My title's good, and better far than his

king, War. But proveit, Henry, and thou shalt be king. In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides. K. Henry. Henry the fourth by conquest got North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, the crown.

5 And die in bands for this unmanly deed ! York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. Clif. In dreadful war may'st thou be overcome! K. Henry. I know not what to say; my title's Or live in peace, abandon'd, and despis’d! weak.

[Exeunt Northumberland, Clifford,&l'estmoreland. Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir?

War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them York. What then?

10
not.

(yield. K. Henry. An if he may, then-am I lawful king: Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not For Richard, in the view of many lords,

K. Henry. Ah, Exeter! Resign’d the crown to Henry the fourth ;

War. Why should you sigh, my lord? [son, Whose heir my father was, and I am his.

K.Henry. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, 15 Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. And made him to resign the crown perforce. But, be it as it nay :- here entail

War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever;
Think you, 'twere prejudicial to the crown'? Conditionally, that here thou take an oath

Ere. No; for he could not so resign his crown, To cease this civil war, and, whilst I live,
But that the next heir should succeed and reign.20 To honour me as thy king and sovereign; and
K. Henry. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter: Neither by treason, nor hostility,
Eve. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. To seek to put me down, and reign thyself.
York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer York. This oath I willingly take,andwillperform.
not?

War. Long live king Henry - Plantagenet,
Ere. My conscience tells me, he is lawful king. 25 embrace him.
K. Henry. All will revolt from me, and turn to K. Henry. And long live thou, and these thy
him.

forward sons ! North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'st, York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Think not that Henry shall be so depos'd.

Exe. Accurs'd be he, that seeks to make them War Depos'd he shall be, in despight of all. 30 foes ! [Here the Lords come forward. North. Thou art deceiv’d: 'tis not thy southern York. Farewell, my gracious lord ; I'll to my power,

castle. Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent,

War. And I'll keep London with my soldiers. Which makestheethuspresumptuousandproud,- Norf. And I to Norfolk with my followers. Can set the duke up, in despight of me. |35| Mont. And I unto the sea, from whence I came.

Clij. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, [Exeunt York, and his sons, Warwick, NorLord Clifford vows to fight in thy defence:

thumberland, and Montaguie. May that ground gape, and swallow me alive, K. Henry. And I with grief and sorrow, to the Where I shall kneel to hin that slew my father!

court. K. Henry. O Clifford, how thy words revive 40 Enter the Queen, and Prince. my heart!

Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks beYork. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown:

wray her anger: What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords?

War. Doright unto this princely duke of York; K. Henry. Exeter, so will I. [Going Or I will fill the house with armed men, 45 Queen. Nay, go not from me; I will follow And, o'er the chair of state, where now he sits,

thee. Write up his title with usurping blood.

K.Henry.Be patient, gentle queen, and will stay. (He stamps, and the soldiers shew themseltes. Queen. Who can be patient in such extremes? K. Henry. My lord of Warwick, hear me but Ah, wretched man! 'would I had died a maid, one word;

50 And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Let me, for this my life-time, reign as king. Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father!

York.Confirm the crown to me,andtomineheirs, Hath he deserv'd to lose his birth-right thus ? And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I;

K.Henry. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Or felt that pain which I did for him once; Enjoy the kingdom after my

decease.

55Or nourish'd him, as I did with my blood; Clif. What wrongisthis unto the prince your son Thouwouldsthaveleftthydearestheart-bloodthere, War. What good is this to England, and himself: Rather than made that savage duke thine heir, West. Base, fearful, and despairing Henry! And disinherited thine only son. Clif. How hast thou injur'd both thyself and us ! Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: West. I cannot stay to hear these articles.

be king, why should not I succeed ? North. Nor I.

[news. K. Henry. Pardon me, Margaret;—pardon me, Clif. Come, cousin, let's go tell the queen these

sweet son ;!ic. to the prerogative of the crown,

The

I'll steal away;

160 If you