In every county as we go along.

Strike up the drum, cry,-Courage, and away.

SCENE V. Changes to Tewksbury.

[Exeunt.

March. Enter the queen, prince of Wales, Somerset, Oxford, and foldiers.

QUEEN. Great lords, wife men ne'er fit and wail their But chearly feek how to redrefs their harms.

What though the mast be now blown over-board,
The cable broke, the holding anchor loft,
And half our failors fwallow'd in the flood?
Yet lives our pilot ftill; is't meet that he
Should leave the helm, and, like a fearful lad,
With tear-full eyes add water to the fea;

And give more strength to that which hath too much,
While in his moan the ship splits on the rock,
Which industry and courage might have fav'd?
Ah, what a fhame! ah, what a fault were this!
Say, Warwick was our anchor; what of that?
And Montague our top-maft; what of him?
Our flaughter'd friends, the tackle; what of these?
Why, is not Oxford here another anchor?
And Somerset another goodly mast?

The friends of France our shrouds and tackling still ?
And though unskilful, why not Ned and I
For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge?
We will not from the helm to fit and weep,

But keep our course, though the rough winds fay, no,
From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck,
As good to chide the waves, as fpeak them fair;
And what is Edward, but a ruthless sea?
What Clarence, but a quick-fand of deceit ?

[lofs,

And Richard, but a ragged fatal rock?
All these the enemies to our poor bark.
Say you can swim, alas, 'tis but a while;

Tread on the fand, why, there you quickly fink:
Bestride the rock, the tide will wash you off,
Or else you famish, that's a three-fold death.
This speak I, lords, to let you understand,
In case some one of you would fly from us,
There there's no hop'd-for mercy with the brothers,
More than with ruthless waves, with fands, and rocks.
Why, courage, then! what cannot be avoided,
'Twere childish weakness to lament, or fear.

PRINCE. Methinks, a woman of this valiant spirit
Should, if a coward heard her speak these words,
Infuse his breaft with magnanimity,

And make him, naked, foil a man at arms.
I fpeak not this, as doubting any here,
For did I but fufpect a fearful man,
He should have leave to go away betimes;
Left, in our need, he might infect another,
And make him of like fpirit to himself.
If any fuch be here, as, God forbid !
Let him depart before we need his help.

OXF. Women and children of fo high a courage!
And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame.
Oh, brave young prince! thy famous granfather
Doth live again in thee; long may'st thou live,
To bear his image, and renew his glories!

SOM. And he, that will not fight for fuch a hope, Go home to bed, and, like the owl by day,

If he arife, be mock'd and wonder'd at.

QUEEN. Thanks, gentle Somerset; fweet Oxford,thanks,

PRINCE. And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing

elfe.

Enter a meffenger.

MES. Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand, Ready to fight; therefore be resolute.

Ox F. I thought no less; it is his policy,
To hafte thus faft to find us unprovided.

SOM. But he's deceiv'd; we are in readiness.
QUEEN. This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness.
Oxr. Here pitch our battle, hence we will not budge.

SCENE VI. March. Enter king Edward, Gloucefter,
Clarence, and foldiers on the other fide of the stage.

K. Edw. Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, Which, by the heav'ns affiftance and your strength, Muft by the roots be hewn up yet ere night.

I need not add more fuel to your fire,

For, well I wot, ye blaze to burn them out.

Give fignal to the fight, and to it, lords.

QUEEN. Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should

My tears gainfay, for every word 1 speak,
Ye fee, I drink the water of my eye,

Therefore no more but this: Henry, your fov'reign,

Is pris'ner to the foe, his ftate ufurp'd,
His realm a flaughter-house, his subjects flain,
His ftatutes cancell'd, and his treasure spent,
And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil.
You fight in juftice; then, in God's name, lords,
Be valiant, and give fignal to the battle.

[fay,

Alarm. Retreat. Excurfions. Both parties go out.

Re-enter king Edward, Gloucefter, Clarence, &c. The queen, Oxford, and Somerset, prisoners.

K. EDW. Now here's a period of tumultuous broils.
Away with Oxford to Hammes-castle straight;
For Somerset, off with his guilty head.

-Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak.
OXF. For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words.
SOM. Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune.

[Exeunt. QUEEN. So part we sadly in this troublous world, To meet with joy in fweet Jerufalem.

K, EDW. Is proclamation made that who finds Edward, Shall have a high reward, and he his life?

GLO. It is, and lo where youthful Edward comes.

Enter the prince of Wales.

K. EDW. 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,
And all the trouble thou haft turn'd me to?

PRINCE. Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York.
Suppofe that I am now my father's mouth;
Refign thy chair; and where I stand, kneel thou,
Whilft I propose the self-same words to thee,
Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.

QUEEN. Ah! that thy father had been fo refolv'd! GLO. That you might still have worn the petticoat, And ne'er have ftoln the breech from Lancaster. PRINCE. Let Efop fable in a winter's night,

His currifh riddles fort not with this place.

GLO. By heav'n, brat, I'll plague ye for that word.
QUEEN. Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men.
GLO. For God's fake, take away this captive fcold.
PRINCE. Nay, take away this scolding crook-back rather.
K. EDW. Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue.
CLA. Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert.

PRINCE. I know my duty, you're undutiful:
Lafcivious Edward, and thou, perjur'd George,
And thou, mis-shapen Dick I, tell you all,
I am your better, traitors as ye are,

And thou ufurp'ft my father's right and mine.

GLO. Take that, thou likeness of this railer here.

[Stabs him.

K. EDW. And take thou that, to end thy agony.

[Edward ftabs him.

CLA. And there's for twitting me with perjury.

QUEEN. Oh, kill me too!

GLO. Marry, and fhall

[Clarence ftabs him.

[Offers to kill her.

K. EDW. Hold, Richard, hold, for we have done too

much.

GLO. Why should she live, to fill the world with words? K. EDW. What! doth fhe fwoon? ufe means for her re

cov'ry.

GLO. Clarence, excufe me to the king my brother;

I'll hence to London on a serious matter.

Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news.

CLA. What? what?

GLO. The Tower, man, the Tower!-I'll root 'em out.

[Exit.

QUEEN, Oh Ned! fweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy.