The trembling lamb environed with wolves.
Had I been there, which am a silly woman,
The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes,
Before I would have granted to that act.

But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour;
And, seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself,
Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed,
Until that act of parliament be repeai'd,
Whereby my son is disinherited.

The northern lords, that have forsworn thy colours,

Will follow mine, if once they see them spread : And spread they shall be; to thy foul disgrace, And utter ruin of the house of York.

Thus do I leave thee.-Come, son, let's away; Our army is ready; come, we'll after them.

K. Hen. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak.

2. Mar. Thou hast spoke too much already; get thee gone.

K. Hen. Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me?

2. Mar. Ay, to be murder'd by his enemies. Prince. When I return with victory from the field

I'll see your grace: till then, I'll follow her. 2. Mar. Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [Exeunt Q. MAR. and the PRINCE. K. Hen. Poor queen! how love to me, and to

her son,

Hath made her break out into terms of rage!
Revenged may she be on that hateful duke;
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,
Will cost my crown, and, like an empty eagle,
Tire on the flesh of me and of my son!

The loss of those three lords torments my heart :

I'll write unto them, and entreat them fair;-
Come, cousin, you shall be the messenger.

Exe. And I, I hope, shall reconcile them all.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II-A Room in Sandal Castle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire.

Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE. Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.

Edw. No, I can better play the orator.

Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible.

Enter YORK,

York. Why, how now, sons and brother, at a strife?

What is your quarrel? how began it first?
Edw. No quarrel, but a slight contention.
York. About what?

Rich. About that which concerns your grace,

and us;

The crown of England, father, which is yours. York. Mine, boy? not till king Henry be dead. Rich. Your right depends not on his life, or death.

Edw. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it

now:

By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe, It will outrun you, father, in the end.

York. I took an oath that he should quietly reign.

Edw. But for a kingdom any oath may be broken:

I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.

Rich. No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.

York. I shall be if I claim by open war.

Rick. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak.

York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. Rich. An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate,

That hath authority over him that swears:
Henry had none, but did usurp the place;
Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose,
Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.
Therefore, to arms. And, father, do but think
How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown;
Within whose circuit is Elysium,

And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.
Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest,
Until the white rose that I wear be dyed
Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart.
York. Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.
Brother, thou shalt to London presently,
And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.
Thou, Richard, shalt unto the duke of Norfolk,
And tell him privily of our intent.

You, Edward, shall unto my lord Cobham,
With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise:
In them I trust; for they are soldiers,
Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.

While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more,
But that I seek occasion how to rise,

And yet the king not privy to my drift,

Nor any of the house of Lancaster?

Enter a Messenger.

But, stay; what news? why com'st thou in such post?

Mess. The queen, with all the northern earls and lords,

Intend here to besiege you in your castle :
She is hard by with twenty thousand men;
And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.
York. Ay, with my sword.

thou that we fear them?

What! think'st

Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;
My brother Montague shall post to London :
Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,
Whom we have left protectors of the king,
With powerful policy strengthen themselves,
And trust not simple Henry, nor his oaths.
Mont. Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it

not:

And thus most humbly I do take my leave.

Enter Sir JOHN and Sir HUGH MORTIMER.

[Exit.

York. Sir John, and sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles !

You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;

The army of the queen mean to besiege us. Sir John. She shall not need, we'll meet her in the field.

York. What, with five thousand men? Rich. Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need. A woman's general; what should we fear?

[A march afar off.

Edw. I hear their drums; let's set our men in order;

And issue forth, and bid them battle straight. York. Five men to twenty-though the odds be great,

I doubt not, uncle, of our victory.
Many a battle have I won in France,

Whenas the enemy hath been ten to one; Why should I not now have the like success? [Alarum. Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Plains near Sandal Castle.

Alarums; excursions. Enter RUTLAND, and his Tutor. Rut. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?

Ah, tutor! look where bloody Clifford comes!

Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers.

Clif. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life.

As for the brat of this accursed duke,

Whose father slew my father, he shall die.

Tut. And I, my lord, will bear him company. Clif. Soldiers, away with him.

Tut. Ah, Clifford ! murder not this innocent

child,

Lest thou be hated both of God and man.

[Exit, forced off by Soldiers. Clif. How now! is he dead already? Or is it

fear

That makes him close his eyes ?-I'll open them. Rut. So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch

That trembles under his devouring paws:
And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey;
And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder.
Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword,
And not with such a cruel threatening look.
Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die :
I am too mean a subject for thy wrath;
Be thou revenged on men, and let me live.