I am the son of Henry the Fifth, Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, War. Talk not of France, fith thou haft loft it all. Father, tear the crown from the ufurper's head. Edw. Sweet father, do fo; fet it on your head. Mont. Good brother, as thou lov't and honour'ft Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. [arms, Rich. Sound drams and trumpets, and the King will fly. York. Sons, peace. K. Henry. Peace thou, and give King Henry leave to fpeak. War. Plantagenet shall speak firft; hear, him, Lords, And be you filent and attentive too; For he that interrupts him, fhall not live. K. Henry. Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly Wherein my grandfire and my father fat? [throne, No firft fhall war unpeople this my realm; War. But prove it, Henry, and thou fhalt be King. K. Henry. Henry the Fourth by conquest got the crown. York. 'I'was by rebellion against his King. K. Henry. I know not what to fay, my title's weak: Tell me, may not a King adopt an heir ? York What then? K. Henry. And if he may, then am I lawful King: For Richard, in the view of many Lords, Refign'd the crown to Henry the Fourth; York. He rofe against him, being his Sovereign, Exe. No, for he could not fo refign his crown, But that the next heir fhould fucceed and reign. K. Henry. Art thou against us, Duke of Exeter? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. York. Why whisper you, my Lords, and answer not? Exe. My confcience tells me he is lawful King. K. Henry. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou lay'ft, Think not that Henry fhall be fo depos'd. War. Depos'd he fhall be in defpight of thee. Which makes thee thus prefumptuous and proud, Clif King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, K. Henry. Oh Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! York. Henry of Lancafter, refign thy crown: What mutter you, or what confpire you; Lords? War. Do right unto this princely Duke of York, Or I will fill this houfe with armed men, And o'er the chair of state where now he fits, Write up his title with ufurping blood. [He flamps with his foot, and the foldiers fhow themselves. K. Henry. My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one Let me but reign in quiet while I live. [word; York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'ft. K. Henry. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. Clif. What wrong is this unto the Prince your fon? North. Nor I. Clif. Come, coufin, let us tell the Queen thefe news? Weft. Farewel, faint-hearted and degen'rate King, In whofe cold blood no spark of honour bides. North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, And die in bands for this unmanly deed! Clif. In dreadful war may'ft thou be overcome, Or live in peace abandon'd and defpis'd! [Exeunt North. Cliff. Weftm, SCENE III. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. Exe. They feek revenge, and therefore will not yield. K. Henry. Ah Exeter ! War. Why fhould you figh, my Lord ? K. Henry. Not for myfelf, Lord Warwick, but my Whom I unnaturally fhall difinherit. But be it as it may; I hear entail The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; To feek to put me down, and reign thyself. [fon, York. This oath I willingly take, and will perform. War. Long live King Henry! Plantagenet embrace him. K. Henry. And long live thou, and these thy forward York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. [fons! Exe. Accurs'd be he that feeks to make them foes! [Sonet. Here they come down. York. Farewel, my gracious Lord, I'll to my cafile. War. And I'll keep London with my foldiers. Norf. And I to Norfolk, with my followers, Mont. And I unto the fea, from whence I came. K. Henry. And I with grief and forrow to the court. [Exeunt York, Warwick, Norfolk, and Montague. Enter the Queen, and the Prince of Wales. -4 Exe. Here comes the Queen, whofe looks bewray I'll fteal away. [her anger. K. Henry. So, Exeter, will L. [Going. Queen Nay, go not from me; I will follow theeK Henry. Be patient, gentle Queen, and 1 will ftay. Queen. Who can be patient in fuch extremes ? Ah, wretched man! wou'd I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never born thee fon, If Prince. Father, you cannot difinherit me : you be King, why fhould not I fucceed? K. Henry. Pardon me, Marg'ret; pardon me, fweet The Earl of Warwick and the Duke inforc'd me. [fon; Queen. Inforc'd thee! art thou King, and wilt be forc'd? I fhame to hear thee fpeak. Ah, tim'rous wretch ! The northern Lords, that have forfworn thy colours, Thus I do leave thee. Come, fon, let's away; K. Henry. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me fpeak. Queen. Thou haft spoke too much already; get thee gone. K. Henry. Gentle fon Edward, thou wilt stay with me? Prince. When I return with victory from the field, I'll fee your Grace; till then I'll follow her, Queen. Come, fon, away; we may not linger thus. [Exeunt Queen and Prince. K. Henry. Poor Queen, how love to me and to her Hath made her break out into terms of rage! [fon Reveng'd may fhe be on that hateful Duke, Whofe haughty fpirit, winged with defire, * Will coaft my crown; and, like an empty eagle, The lofs of thofe three Lords torments my heart; Exe. And, as I hope, thall reconcile them all. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Changes to Sandal-castle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Rich. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. Enter the Duke of York. York. Why, how now, fons and brother, at a ftrife? What is your quarrel? how began it first ? Edw. No quarrel, but a sweet contention. Tork. About what? Rich. About that which concerns your Grace and us; The crown of England, father, which is your's. 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 breath, It will outrun you, father, in the end, York. I took an oath that he should quietly reign. * i. e. Hover over it. |