No way to fly, nor strength to hold out flight.

  The foe is merciless, and will not pity,

  For at their hands I have deserved no pity.

  The air hath got into my deadly wounds,

  And much effuse28 of blood doth make me faint.

  Come, York and Richard, Warwick and the rest:

  Faints

  I stabbed your fathers’ bosoms; split my breast.

  Alarum and retreat. Enter Edward, Warwick, Richard and Soldiers, Montague and Clarence [George]

  EDWARD    Now breathe31 we, lords. Good fortune bids us pause,

  And smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks.

  Some troops pursue the bloody-minded queen,

  That led calm Henry, though he were a king,

  As doth a sail, filled with a fretting35 gust,

  Command an argosy to stem36 the waves.

  But think you, lords, that Clifford fled with them?

  WARWICK    No, ’tis impossible he should escape,

  For, though before his39 face I speak the words,

  Your brother Richard marked40 him for the grave,

  And wheresoe’er he is, he’s surely dead.

  Clifford groans [and dies]

  RICHARD    Whose soul is that which takes her heavy42 leave?

  A deadly groan, like life and death’s departing43.

  EDWARD    See who it is. And now the battle’s ended,

  If friend or foe, let him be gently used45.

  RICHARD    Revoke that doom46 of mercy, for ’tis Clifford,

  Who not contented that he lopped the branch

  In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth,

  But set his murd’ring knife unto the root

  From whence that tender spray50 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 placèd there,

  Instead whereof let this supply the room54:

  Measure55 for measure must be answerèd.

  EDWARD    Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house56,

  That nothing sung57 but death to us and ours:

  Now death shall stop his dismal58 threat’ning sound,

  And his ill-boding59 tongue no more shall speak.

  WARWICK    I think his understanding is bereft60.

  Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee?

  Dark cloudy death o’ershades his beams62 of life,

  And he nor63 sees nor hears us what we say.

  RICHARD    O, would he did, and so perhaps he doth.

  ’Tis but his policy65 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 eager68 words.

  RICHARD    Clifford, ask mercy and obtain no grace.

  EDWARD    Clifford, repent in bootless penitence.

  WARWICK    Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults71.

  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 fence75 you now?

  WARWICK    They mock thee, Clifford: swear as thou wast wont76.

  RICHARD    What, not an oath? Nay, then the world goes hard77

  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 hours’ life,

  That I in all despite might rail81 at him,

  This82 hand should chop it off, and with the issuing blood

  Stifle the villain whose unstanchèd83 thirst

  York and young Rutland could not satisfy.

  WARWICK    Ay, but he’s dead. Off with the traitor’s head,

  And rear86 it in the place your father’s stands.

  And now to London with triumphant march,

  There to be crownèd England’s royal king:

  From whence shall Warwick cut89 the sea to France,

  And ask the lady Bona90 for thy queen.

  So shalt thou sinew91 both these lands together,

  And having France thy friend, thou shalt not dread

  The scattered foe that hopes to rise again,

  For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt,

  Yet look to have them buzz95 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    Even99 as thou wilt, sweet Warwick, let it be,

  For in thy shoulder do I build my seat100,

  And never will I undertake the thing

  Wherein thy counsel and consent is wanting102.

  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 ominous107.

  WARWICK    Tut, that’s a foolish observation.

  Richard, be Duke of Gloucester. Now to London,

  To see these honours in possession.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 1]

  running scene 6

  Enter two Keepers with crossbows in their hands

  FIRST KEEPER    Under this thick-grown brake1 we’ll shroud ourselves,

  For through this laund anon2 the deer will come,

  And in this covert will we make our stand3,

  Culling the principal4 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 crossbow

  Will scare the herd, and so my shoot7 is lost.

  Here stand we both, and aim we at the best,

  And, for9 the time shall not seem tedious,

  I’ll tell thee what befell me on a day

  In this self-place11 where now we mean to stand.

  SECOND KEEPER    Here comes a man. Let’s stay till he be past.

  Enter the King, [disguised,] with a prayer-book

  KING HENRY VI    From Scotland am I stol’n, even of13 pure love,

  To greet mine own land with my wishful14 sight.

  No, Harry, Harry, ’tis no land of thine:

  Thy place is filled, thy sceptre wrung from thee,

  Thy balm17 washed off wherewith thou wast anointed.

  No bending knee will call thee Caesar18 now,

  No humble suitors press to speak for right19,

  No, not a man comes for redress of20 thee.

  For how can I help them, and not myself?

  FIRST KEEPER    Ay, here’s a deer whose skin’s a keeper’s fee22:

  This is the quondam23 king; let’s seize upon him.

  KING HENRY VI    Let me embrace the sour adversaries,

  For wise men say it is the wisest course.

  SECOND KEEPER    Why linger we? Let us lay hands upon him.

  FIRST KEEPER    Forbear27 awhile, we’ll hear a little more.

  KING HENRY VI    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 sister30

  To wife for Edward. If this news be true,

  Poor queen and son, your labour is but lost,

  For Warwick is a subtle33 orator,

  And Lewis34 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 batt’ry37 in his breast,

  Her tears will pierce into a marble heart,

  The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn;

  And Nero will be tainted40 with remorse,

  To hear and see her plaints, her brinish41 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 installed;

  That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more,

  Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths48 the wrong,

  Inferreth arguments49 of mighty strength,

  And in conclusion wins the king from her,

  With promise of his sister, and what51 else,

  To strengthen and support King Edward’s place.

  O Margaret, thus ’twill be, and thou, poor soul,

  Art then forsaken, as thou went’st forlorn54.

  SECOND KEEPER    Say, what art thou that talk’st of kings and queens?

  KING HENRY VI    More than I seem, and less than I was born to:

  A man at least, for less I should not be.

  And men may talk of kings, and why not I?

  SECOND KEEPER    Ay, but thou talk’st as if thou wert a king.

  KING HENRY VI    Why, so I am, in mind, and that’s enough.

  SECOND KEEPER    But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?

  KING HENRY VI    My crown is in my heart, not on my head,

  Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones63,

  Nor to be seen: my crown is called content.

  A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.

  SECOND KEEPER    Well, if you be a king crowned with content,

  Your crown content and you must be contented

  To go along with us, for, as we think,

  You are the king King Edward hath deposed,

  And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance

  Will apprehend71 you as his enemy.

  KING HENRY VI    But did you never swear and break an oath?

  SECOND KEEPER    No, never such an oath, nor will not now.

  KING HENRY VI    Where did you dwell when I was King of England?

  SECOND KEEPER    Here in this country75, where we now remain.

  KING HENRY VI    I was anointed king at nine months old.

  My father and my grandfather were kings,

  And you were sworn true subjects unto me:

  And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths?

  FIRST KEEPER No,

  For we were subjects but81 while you were king.

  KING HENRY VI    Why? Am I dead? Do I not breathe a82 man?

  Ah, simple83 men, you know not what you swear.

  Look, as I blow this feather from my face,

  And as the air blows it to me again,

  Obeying with my wind86 when I do blow,

  And yielding to another when it blows,

  Commanded always by the greater gust,

  Such is the lightness89 of you, common men.

  But do not break your oaths, for of that sin

  My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.

  Go where you will, the king shall be commanded,

  And be you kings, command, and I’ll obey.

  FIRST KEEPER    We are true subjects to the king, King Edward.

  KING HENRY VI    So would you be again to Henry,

  If he were seated as King Edward is.

  FIRST KEEPER    We charge97 you, in God’s name and the king’s,

  To go with us unto the officers.

  KING HENRY VI    In God’s name, lead. Your king’s name be obeyed,

  And what God will, that let your king perform,

  And what he will, I humbly yield unto.

  Exeunt

  [Act 3 Scene 2]

  running scene 7

  Richard is henceforth known as Gloucester, George as Clarence

  Enter King Edward, [Richard, now Duke of] Gloucester, [George, now Duke of] Clarence, Lady Grey

  KING EDWARD IV    Brother of Gloucester, at St Alban’s field1

  This lady’s husband, Sir Richard2 Grey, was slain,

  His land then seized on by the conqueror.

  Her suit is now to repossess4 those lands,

  Which we in justice cannot well deny,

  Because in quarrel of6 the House of York

  The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

  GLOUCESTER    Your highness shall do well to grant her suit:

  It were dishonour to deny it her.

  Gloucester and Clarence speak aside throughout

  KING EDWARD IV    It were no less, but yet I’ll make a pause.

  GLOUCESTER    Yea, is it so?

  I see the lady hath a thing12 to grant,

  Before the king will grant her humble suit.

  CLARENCE    He knows the game14. How true he keeps the wind!

  GLOUCESTER    Silence!

  KING EDWARD IV    Widow, we will consider of your suit,

  And come some other time to know our mind.

  LADY GREY    Right gracious lord, I cannot brook18 delay.

  May it please your highness to resolve19 me now,

  And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy20 me.

  GLOUCESTER    Ay, widow? Then I’ll warrant21 you all your lands,

  An if22 what pleases him shall pleasure you.

  Fight closer, or good faith, you’ll catch a blow23.

  CLARENCE    I fear her not, unless she chance to fall24.

  GLOUCESTER    God forbid that, for he’ll take vantages25.

  KING EDWARD IV    How many children hast thou, widow? Tell me.

  CLARENCE    I think he means to beg a child of her27.

  GLOUCESTER    Nay, then, whip me28: he’ll rather give her two.

  LADY GREY    Three, my most gracious lord.

  GLOUCESTER    You shall have four, if you’ll be ruled by him.

  KING EDWARD IV    ’Twere pity they should lose their father’s lands.

  LADY GREY    Be pitiful, dread32 lord, and grant it then.

  KING EDWARD IV    Lords, give us leave: I’ll try this widow’s wit33.

  GLOUCESTER    Ay, good leave have you, for you will have leave34,

  Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch35.

  KING EDWARD IV    Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

  LADY GREY    Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

  KING EDWARD IV    And would you not do much to do them good?

  LADY GREY    To do them good, I would sustain some harm.

  KING EDWARD IV    Then get your husband’s lands, to do them good.

  LADY GREY    Therefore41 I came unto your majesty.

  KING EDWARD IV    I’ll tell you how these lands are to be got.

  LADY GREY    So shall you bind me to your highness’ service.

  KING EDWARD IV    What service44 wilt thou do me, if I give them?

  LADY GREY    What you command, that rests in me45 to do.

  KING EDWARD IV    But you will take exceptions to my boon46.

  LADY GREY    No, gracious lord, except47 I cannot do it.

  KING EDWARD IV    Ay, but thou canst do48 what I mean to ask.

  LADY GREY    Why, then I will do what your grace commands.

  GLOUCESTER    He plies her hard50, and much rain wears the marble.

  CLARENCE    As red51 as fire! Nay, then her wax must melt.

  LADY GREY    Why stops my lord? Shall I not hear my task?

  KING EDWARD IV    An easy task53, ’tis but to love a king.

  LADY GREY    That’s soon performed, because I am a subject.

  KING EDWARD IV    Why, then, thy husband’s lands I freely give thee.

  LADY GREY    I take my leave with many thousand thanks.

  GLOUCESTER    The match57 is made: she seals it with a curtsy.

  KING EDWARD IV    But stay thee, ’tis the fruits of love58 I mean.

  LADY GREY    The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.

  KING EDWARD IV    Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense.

  What love, think’st thou, I sue61 so much to get?

  LADY GREY    My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers,

  That love which virtue begs and virtue grants.

  KING EDWARD IV    No, by my troth64, I did not mean such love.

  LADY GREY    Why, then you mean not as I thought you did.

  KING EDWARD IV    But now you partly may perceive my mind.

  LADY GREY    My mind will never grant what I perceive

  Your highness aims at, if I aim aright68.

  KING EDWARD IV    To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with69 thee.

  LADY GREY    To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.

  KING EDWARD IV    Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband’s lands.

  LADY GREY    Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower72,