ACT I - SCENE III. Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield.
Alarums. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor
RUTLAND
1 Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands? 2 Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes!
Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers
CLIFFORD
3 Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life. 4 As for the brat of this accursed duke, 5 Whose father slew my father, he shall die.
Tutor
6 And I, my lord, will bear him company.
CLIFFORD
7 Soldiers, away with him!
Tutor
8 Ah, Clifford, murder not this innocent child, 9 Lest thou be hated both of God and man!
Exit, dragged off by Soldiers
CLIFFORD
10 How now! is he dead already? or is it fear 11 That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them.
RUTLAND
12 So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch 13 That trembles under his devouring paws; 14 And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey, 15 And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder. 16 Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword, 17 And not with such a cruel threatening look. 18 Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die. 19 I am too mean a subject for thy wrath: 20 Be thou revenged on men, and let me live.
CLIFFORD
21 In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood 22 Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter.
RUTLAND
23 Then let my father's blood open it again: 24 He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.
CLIFFORD
25 Had thy brethren here, their lives and thine 26 Were not revenge sufficient for me; 27 No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves 28 And hung their rotten coffins up in chains, 29 It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart. 30 The sight of any of the house of York 31 Is as a fury to torment my soul; 32 And till I root out their accursed line 33 And leave not one alive, I live in hell. 34 Therefore--
Lifting his hand
RUTLAND
35 O, let me pray before I take my death! 36 To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!
CLIFFORD
37 Such pity as my rapier's point affords.
RUTLAND
38 I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me?
CLIFFORD
39 Thy father hath.
RUTLAND
40 But 'twas ere I was born. 41 Thou hast one son; for his sake pity me, 42 Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just, 43 He be as miserably slain as I. 44 Ah, let me live in prison all my days; 45 And when I give occasion of offence, 46 Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause.
CLIFFORD
47 No cause! 48 Thy father slew my father; therefore, die.
Stabs him
RUTLAND
49 Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae!
Dies
CLIFFORD
50 Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! 51 And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade 52 Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood, 53 Congeal'd with this, do make me wipe off both. Exit 54 3 KING HENRY VI