1 Now here a period of tumultuous broils. 2 Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight: 3 For Somerset, off with his guilty head. 4 Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak.
OXFORD
5 For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words.
SOMERSET
6 Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune.
Exeunt Oxford and Somerset, guarded
QUEEN MARGARET
7 So part we sadly in this troublous world, 8 To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem.
KING EDWARD IV
9 Is proclamation made, that who finds Edward 10 Shall have a high reward, and he his life?
GLOUCESTER
11 It is: and lo, where youthful Edward comes!
Enter soldiers, with PRINCE EDWARD
KING EDWARD IV
12 Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak. 13 What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? 14 Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make 15 For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects, 16 And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to?
PRINCE EDWARD
17 Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York! 18 Suppose that I am now my father's mouth; 19 Resign thy chair, and where I stand kneel thou, 20 Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee, 21 Which traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.
QUEEN MARGARET
22 Ah, that thy father had been so resolved!
GLOUCESTER
23 That you might still have worn the petticoat, 24 And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster.
PRINCE EDWARD
25 Let AEsop fable in a winter's night; 26 His currish riddles sort not with this place.
GLOUCESTER
27 By heaven, brat, I'll plague ye for that word.
QUEEN MARGARET
28 Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men.
GLOUCESTER
29 For God's sake, take away this captive scold.
PRINCE EDWARD
30 Nay, take away this scolding crookback rather.
KING EDWARD IV
31 Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue.
CLARENCE
32 Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert.
PRINCE EDWARD
33 I know my duty; you are all undutiful: 34 Lascivious Edward, and thou perjured George, 35 And thou mis-shapen Dick, I tell ye all 36 I am your better, traitors as ye are: 37 And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine.
KING EDWARD IV
38 Take that, thou likeness of this railer here.
Stabs him
GLOUCESTER
39 Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy agony.
Stabs him
CLARENCE
40 And there's for twitting me with perjury.
Stabs him
QUEEN MARGARET
41 O, kill me too!
GLOUCESTER
42 Marry, and shall.
Offers to kill her
KING EDWARD IV
43 Hold, Richard, hold; for we have done too much.
GLOUCESTER
44 Why should she live, to fill the world with words?
KING EDWARD IV
45 What, doth she swoon? use means for her recovery.
GLOUCESTER
46 Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother; 47 I'll hence to London on a serious matter: 48 Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news.
CLARENCE
49 What? what?
GLOUCESTER
50 The Tower, the Tower.
Exit
QUEEN MARGARET
51 O Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! 52 Canst thou not speak? O traitors! murderers! 53 They that stabb'd Caesar shed no blood at all, 54 Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, 55 If this foul deed were by to equal it: 56 He was a man; this, in respect, a child: 57 And men ne'er spend their fury on a child. 58 What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? 59 No, no, my heart will burst, and if I speak: 60 And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. 61 Butchers and villains! bloody cannibals! 62 How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd! 63 You have no children, butchers! if you had, 64 The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse: 65 But if you ever chance to have a child, 66 Look in his youth to have him so cut off 67 As, deathmen, you have rid this sweet young prince!
KING EDWARD IV
68 Away with her; go, bear her hence perforce.
QUEEN MARGARET
69 Nay, never bear me hence, dispatch me here, 70 Here sheathe thy sword, I'll pardon thee my death: 71 What, wilt thou not? then, Clarence, do it thou.
CLARENCE
72 By heaven, I will not do thee so much ease.
QUEEN MARGARET
73 Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it.
CLARENCE
74 Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it?
QUEEN MARGARET
75 Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself: 76 'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity. 77 What, wilt thou not? Where is that devil's butcher, 78 Hard-favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou? 79 Thou art not here: murder is thy alms-deed; 80 Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back.
KING EDWARD IV
81 Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence.
QUEEN MARGARET
82 So come to you and yours, as to this Prince!
Exit, led out forcibly
KING EDWARD IV
83 Where's Richard gone?
CLARENCE
84 To London, all in post; and, as I guess, 85 To make a bloody supper in the Tower.
KING EDWARD IV
86 He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head. 87 Now march we hence: discharge the common sort 88 With pay and thanks, and let's away to London 89 And see our gentle queen how well she fares: 90 By this, I hope, she hath a son for me. Exeunt 91 3 KING HENRY VI