York, Open thy gate of mercy, gracious God!
My foul flies through these wounds to seek out thee.

[Dies.

2. Mar. Off with his head, and fet it on York gates; So York may overlook the town of York,

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT II. SCENE I.

A Plain near Mortimer's cross in Herefordshire.

Drums. Enter EDWARD, and RICHARD, with their forces, marching.

"Edw. I wonder, how our princely father 'fcap'd; "Or whether he be 'fcap'd away, or no,

"From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit ; "Had he been ta'en, we should have heard the news; "Had he been flain, we should have heard the news; "Or, had he 'fcap'd, methinks, we should have heard "The happy tidings of his good escape.How fares my brother? why is he fo fad? Rich. I cannot joy, until I be refolv'd Where our right valiant father is become. • I saw him in the battle range about ;

And watch'd him, how he fingled Clifford forth. 'Methought, he bore him in the thickest troop, As doth a lion in a herd of neat:

"Or as a bear, encompass'd round with dogs;
"Who having pinch'd a few, and made them cry,
"The reft ftand all aloof, and bark at him.
"So far'd our father with his enemies;

So fled his enemies my warlike father;
Methinks, 'tis prize enough to be his fon.
See, how the morning opes her golden gates,
And takes her farewell of the glorious fun!
"How well resembles it the prime of youth,
"Trimm'd like a younker, prancing to his love?

Edw. Dazzle mine eyes, or do I fee three funs?

Rich. Three glorious funs, each one a perfect sun ; Not feparated with the racking clouds,

But fever'd in a pale clear-fhining fky.

See, fee! they join, embrace, and seem to kifs,
As if they vow'd fome league inviolable:
Now are they but one lamp, one light, one fun.

In this the heaven figures fome event.

"Edw. 'Tis wondrous ftrange, the like yet never heard of.

I think, it cites us, brother, to the field;
That we, the fons of brave Plantagenet,

• Each one already blazing by our meeds,
Should, notwithstanding, join our lights together,
And over fhine the earth, as this the world.
'Whate'er it bodes, henceforward will I bear
Upon my target three fair fhining funs.

"Rich. Nay, bear three daughters;—by your leave I fpeak it,

"You love the breeder better than the male,

Enter a Meffenger.

'But what art thou, whole heavy looks foretel
• Some dreadful ftory hanging on thy tongue?
Mef. Ah, one that was a woful looker on,
When as the noble duke of York was flain,
"Your princely father, and my loving lord.

• Edw. O, fpeak no more! for I have heard too much, Rich. Say how he died, for I will hear it all.

• Mef. Environed he was with many foes;

"And stood against them, as the hope of Troy

66

Against the Greeks, that would have enter'd Troy. "But Hercules himfelf muft yield to odds;

"And

“And many strokes, though with a little axe,
"Hew down and fell the hardest-timber'd oak.
By many hands your father was subdu'd;
But only flaughter'd by the ireful arm

• Of unrelenting Clifford, and the queen :

Who crown'd the gracious duke, in high despight;
Laugh'd in his face; and, when with grief he wept,
The ruthless queen gave him, to dry his cheeks,

A napkin steeped in the harmless blood

⚫ Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford flain : And, after many fcorns, many foul taunts,

They took his head, and on the gates of York • They set the same; and there it doth remain,

The faddeft fpectacle that e'er I view'd.

Edw. Sweet duke of York, our prop to lean upon; Now thou art gone, we have no staff, no stay !→→→.. "Q Clifford, boift'rous Clifford, thou haft flain "The flower of Europe for his chivalry;

"And treacherously haft thou vanquish'd him, “For, hand to hand, he would have vanquish'd thee!Now my foul's palace is become a prison:

Ah, would fhe break from hence! that this my body Might in the ground be closed up in reft: • For never henceforth fhall I joy again, Never, O never, fhall I fee more joy.

• Rich. I cannot weep; for all my body's moisture Scarce ferves to quench my furnace-burning heart: "Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burden; "For felf-fame wind, that I fhould fpeak withal, "Is kindling coals, that fire all my breast,

"And burn me up with flames, that tears would quench. "To weep, is to make lefs the depth of grief: "Tears, then, for babes; blows, and revenge, for me!→ • Richard

Richard, I bear thy name, I'll venge thy death,

• Or die renowned by attempting it.

Edw. His name that valiant duke hath left with thee;
His dukedom and his chair with me is left.

Rich. Nay, if thou be that princely eagle's bird,
Show thy descent by gazing 'gainst the fun :
For chair and dukedom, throne and kingdom say;
Either that is thine, or else thou wert not his.

March. Enter WARWICK and MONTAGUE, with forces.

War. How now, fair lords? What fare? what news

abroad?

Rich. Great lord of Warwick, if we should recount
Our baleful news, and, at each word's deliverance,
Stab poniards in our flesh, till all were told,

The words would add more anguish than the wounds.
O valiant lord, the duke of York is flain.

Edw. O Warwick! Warwick! that Plantagenet,
Which held thee dearly, as his foul's redemption,
Is by the ftern lord Clifford done to death.

War. Ten days ago I drown'd these news in tears:
And now, to add more measure to your woes,
I come to tell you things fince then befall'n.
After the bloody fray at Wakefield fought,
Where your brave father breath'd his latest gasp,.
Tidings, as swiftly as the posts could run,
Were brought me of your lofs, and his depart.
I then in London, keeper of the king,

Mufter'd my foldiers, gather'd flocks of friends,
And very well appointed, as I thought,

March'd towards faint Alban's to intercept the queen,
Bearing the king in my behalf along :

For