[Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE,]
[p]and soldiers; with QUEEN MARGARET, OXFORD, and
[p]SOMERSET, prisoners]
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Now here a period of tumultuous broils.
Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight:
2895
For Somerset, off with his guilty head.
Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak.
- Earl Oxford. For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words.
- Duke/Earl of Somerset. Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune.
[Exeunt Oxford and Somerset, guarded]
- Queen Margaret. So part we sadly in this troublous world,
To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem.
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Is proclamation made, that who finds Edward
Shall have a high reward, and he his life?
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). It is: and lo, where youthful Edward comes!
2905
[Enter soldiers, with PRINCE EDWARD]
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak.
What! can so young a thorn begin to prick?
Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make
For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects,
2910
And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to?
- Prince Edward. Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York!
Suppose that I am now my father's mouth;
Resign thy chair, and where I stand kneel thou,
Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee,
2915
Which traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.
- Queen Margaret. Ah, that thy father had been so resolved!
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). That you might still have worn the petticoat,
And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster.
- Prince Edward. Let AEsop fable in a winter's night;
2920
His currish riddles sort not with this place.
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). By heaven, brat, I'll plague ye for that word.
- Queen Margaret. Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men.
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). For God's sake, take away this captive scold.
- Prince Edward. Nay, take away this scolding crookback rather.
2925
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue.
- George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert.
- Prince Edward. I know my duty; you are all undutiful:
Lascivious Edward, and thou perjured George,
And thou mis-shapen Dick, I tell ye all
2930
I am your better, traitors as ye are:
And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine.
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Take that, thou likeness of this railer here.
[Stabs him]
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy agony.
2935
[Stabs him]
- George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). And there's for twitting me with perjury.
[Stabs him]
- Queen Margaret. O, kill me too!
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Marry, and shall.
2940
[Offers to kill her]
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Hold, Richard, hold; for we have done too much.
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Why should she live, to fill the world with words?
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). What, doth she swoon? use means for her recovery.
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother;
2945
I'll hence to London on a serious matter:
Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news.
- George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). What? what?
- Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). The Tower, the Tower.
[Exit]
- Queen Margaret. O Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy!
Canst thou not speak? O traitors! murderers!
They that stabb'd Caesar shed no blood at all,
Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame,
If this foul deed were by to equal it:
2955
He was a man; this, in respect, a child:
And men ne'er spend their fury on a child.
What's worse than murderer, that I may name it?
No, no, my heart will burst, and if I speak:
And I will speak, that so my heart may burst.
2960
Butchers and villains! bloody cannibals!
How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd!
You have no children, butchers! if you had,
The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse:
But if you ever chance to have a child,
2965
Look in his youth to have him so cut off
As, deathmen, you have rid this sweet young prince!
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Away with her; go, bear her hence perforce.
- Queen Margaret. Nay, never bear me hence, dispatch me here,
Here sheathe thy sword, I'll pardon thee my death:
2970
What, wilt thou not? then, Clarence, do it thou.
- George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). By heaven, I will not do thee so much ease.
- Queen Margaret. Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it.
- George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it?
- Queen Margaret. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself:
2975
'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity.
What, wilt thou not? Where is that devil's butcher,
Hard-favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou?
Thou art not here: murder is thy alms-deed;
Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back.
2980
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence.
- Queen Margaret. So come to you and yours, as to this Prince!
[Exit, led out forcibly]
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). Where's Richard gone?
- George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). To London, all in post; and, as I guess,
2985
To make a bloody supper in the Tower.
- King Edward IV (Plantagenet). He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head.
Now march we hence: discharge the common sort
With pay and thanks, and let's away to London
And see our gentle queen how well she fares:
2990
By this, I hope, she hath a son for me.
[Exeunt]
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