and Yong Prince, with Drumme and
Trumpettes.
Cliffordplaid the Orator,
Cliffordtell me, did'st thou neuer heare,
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="2" rend="notPresent">
<head type="supplied">[Act 2, Scene 2]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="mixed">Flourish. Enter the King, the Queene, Clifford, Northum‑
<lb/>and Yong Prince, with Drumme and
<lb/>Trumpettes.</stage>
<sp who="#F-3h6-qma">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="807">Welcome my Lord, to this braue town of Yorke,</l>
<l n="808">Yonders the head of that Arch‑enemy,</l>
<l n="809">That sought to be incompast with your Crowne.</l>
<l n="810">Doth not the obiect cheere your heart, my Lord.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-hn6">
<speaker rend="italic">K.</speaker>
<l n="811">I, as the rockes cheare them that feare their wrack,</l>
<l n="812">To see this sight, it irkes my very soule:</l>
<l n="813">With‑hold reuenge (deere God) 'tis not my fault,</l>
<l n="814">Nor wittingly haue I infring'd my Vow.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="815">My gracious Liege, this too much lenity</l>
<l n="816">And harmfull pitty must be layd aside:</l>
<l n="817">To whom do Lyons cast their gentle Lookes<c rend="italic">?</c>
</l>
<l n="818">Not to the Beast, that would vsurpe their Den.</l>
<l n="819">Whose hand is that the Forrest Beare doth licke?</l>
<l n="820">Not his that spoyles her yong before her face.</l>
<l n="821">Who scapes the lurking Serpents mortall sting?</l>
<l n="822">Not he that sets his foot vpon her backe.</l>
<l n="823">The smallest Worme will turne, being troden on,</l>
<l n="824">And Doues will pecke in safegard of their Brood.</l>
<l n="825">Ambitious Yorke, did leuell at thy Crowne,</l>
<l n="826">Thou smiling, while he knit his angry browes.</l>
<l n="827">He but a Duke, would haue his Sonne a King,</l>
<l n="828">And raise his issue like a louing Sire.</l>
<l n="829">Thou being a King, blest with a goodly sonne,</l>
<l n="830">Did'st yeeld consent to disinherit him:</l>
<l n="831">Which argued thee a most vnlouing Father.</l>
<l n="832">Vnreasonable Creatures feed their young,</l>
<l n="833">And though mans face be fearefull to their eyes,</l>
<l n="834">Yet in protection of their tender ones,</l>
<l n="835">Who hath not seene them euen with those wings,</l>
<l n="836">Which sometime they haue vs'd with fearfull flight,</l>
<l n="837">Make warre with him that climb'd vnto their nest,</l>
<l n="838">Offering their owne liues in their yongs defence?</l>
<l n="839">For shame, my Liege, make them your President:</l>
<l n="840">Were it not pitty that this goodly Boy</l>
<l n="841">Should loose his Birth‑right by his Fathers fault,</l>
<l n="842">And long heereafter say vnto his childe,</l>
<l n="843">What my great Grandfather, and Grandsire got,</l>
<l n="844">My carelesse Father fondly gaue away.</l>
<l n="845">Ah, what a shame were this? Looke on the Boy,</l>
<l n="846">And let his manly face, which promiseth</l>
<l n="847">Successefull Fortune steele thy melting heart,</l>
<l n="848">To hold thine owne, and leaue thine owne with him.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-hn6">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="849">Full well hath<hi rend="italic">Clifford</hi>plaid the Orator,</l>
<l n="850">Inferring arguments of mighty force:</l>
<l n="851">But<hi rend="italic">Clifford</hi>tell me, did'st thou neuer heare,</l>
<l n="852">That things ill got, had euer bad successe.</l>
<l n="853">And happy alwayes was it for that Sonne,</l>
<l n="854">Whose Father for his hoording went to hell:</l>
<l n="855">Ile leaue my Sonne my Vertuous deeds behinde,</l>
<l n="856">And would my Father had left me no more:</l>
<l n="857">For all the rest is held at such a Rate,</l>
<l n="858">As brings a thousand fold more care to keepe,</l>
<l n="859">Then in possession any iot of pleasure.</l>
<l n="860">Ah Cosin Yorke, would thy best Friends did know,</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="861">How it doth greeue me that thy head is heere.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-qma">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="862">My Lord cheere vp your spirits, our foes are nye,</l>
<l n="863">And this soft courage makes your Followers faint:</l>
<l n="864">You promist Knighthood to our forward sonne,</l>
<l n="865">Vnsheath your sword, and dub him presently.</l>
<l n="866">
<hi rend="italic">Edward</hi>, kneele downe.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-hn6">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="867">
<hi rend="italic">Edward Plantagenet</hi>, arise a Knight,</l>
<l n="868">And learne this Lesson; Draw thy Sword in right.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ped">
<speaker rend="italic">Prin.</speaker>
<l n="869">My gracious Father, by your Kingly leaue,</l>
<l n="870">Ile draw it as Apparant to the Crowne,</l>
<l n="871">And in that quarrell, vse it to the death.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="872">Why that is spoken like a toward Prince.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter a Messenger.</stage>
<sp who="#F-3h6-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mess.</speaker>
<l n="873">Royall Commanders, be in readinesse,</l>
<l n="874">For with a Band of thirty thousand men,</l>
<l n="875">Comes Warwicke backing of the Duke of Yorke,</l>
<l n="876">And in the Townes as they do march along,</l>
<l n="877">Proclaimes him King, and many flye to him,</l>
<l n="878">Darraigne your battell, for they are at hand.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="879">I would your Highnesse would depart the field,</l>
<l n="880">The Queene hath best successe when you are absent.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-qma">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="881">I good my Lord, and leaue vs to our Fortune.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-hn6">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="882">Why, that's my fortune too, therefore Ile stay.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-nor">
<speaker rend="italic">North.</speaker>
<l n="883">Be it with resolution then to fight.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ped">
<speaker rend="italic">Prin.</speaker>
<l n="884">My Royall Father, cheere these Noble Lords,</l>
<l n="885">And hearten those that fight in your defence:</l>
<l n="886">Vnsheath your Sword, good Father: Cry<choice>
<abbr>S.</abbr>
<expan>Saint</expan>
</choice>George.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">mixed. Enter Edward, Warwicke, Richard, Clarence,
<lb/>Norfolke, Mountague, and Soldiers.</stage>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ed4">
<speaker rend="italic">Edw.</speaker>
<l n="887">Now periur'd<hi rend="italic">Henry</hi>, wilt thou kneel for grace?</l>
<l n="888">And set thy Diadem vpon my head?</l>
<l n="889">Or bide the mortall Fortune of the field.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-qma">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="890">Go rate thy Minions, proud insulting Boy,</l>
<l n="891">Becomes it thee to be thus bold in termes,</l>
<l n="892">Before thy Soueraigne, and thy lawfull King?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ed4">
<speaker rend="italic">Ed.</speaker>
<l n="893">I am his King, and he should bow his knee:</l>
<l n="894">I was adopted Heire by his consent.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cla">
<speaker rend="italic">Cla.</speaker>
<l n="895">Since when, his Oath is broke: for as I heare,</l>
<l n="896">You that are King, though he do weare the Crowne,</l>
<l n="897">Haue caus'd him by new Act of Parliament,</l>
<l n="898">To blot out me, and put his owne Sonne in.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="899">And reason too,</l>
<l n="900">Who should succeede the Father, but the Sonne.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ri3">
<speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
<l n="901">Are you there Butcher? O, I cannot speake.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="902">I Crooke‑back, here I stand to answer thee,</l>
<l n="903">Or any he, the proudest of thy sort.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ri3">
<speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
<l n="904">'Twas you that kill'd yong Rutland, was it not?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="905">I, and old Yorke, and yet not satisfied.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ri3">
<speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
<l n="906">For Gods sake Lords giue signall to the fight.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-war">
<speaker rend="italic">War.</speaker>
<l n="907">What say'st thou<hi rend="italic">Henry</hi>,</l>
<l n="908">Wilt thou yeeld the Crowne?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-qma">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="909">Why how now long‑tongu'd Warwicke, dare
<lb rend="turnover"/>
<pc rend="turnover">(</pc>you speak?</l>
<l n="910">When you and I, met at<choice>
<abbr>S.</abbr>
<expan>Saint</expan>
</choice>
<hi rend="italic">Albons</hi>last,</l>
<l n="911">Your legges did better seruice then your hands.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-war">
<speaker rend="italic">War.</speaker>
<l n="912">Then 'twas my turne to fly, and now 'tis thine:</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="913">You said so much before, and yet you fled.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-war">
<speaker rend="italic">War.</speaker>
<l n="914">'Twas not your valor<hi rend="italic">Clifford</hi>droue me thence.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-nfk">
<speaker rend="italic">Nor.</speaker>
<l n="915">No, nor your manhood that<gap extent="1"
unit="chars"
reason="nonstandardCharacter"
agent="inkedSpacemarker"
resp="#ES"/>durst make you stay.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ri3">
<speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
<l n="916">Northumberland, I hold thee reuerently,</l>
<l n="917">Breake off the parley, for scarse I can refraine</l>
<l n="918">The execution of my big‑swolne heart</l>
<l n="919">Vpon that<hi rend="italic">Clifford</hi>, that cruell Child‑killer.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="920">I slew thy Father, cal'st thou him a Child?</l>
</sp>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0511-0.jpg" n="155"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ri3">
<speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
<l n="921">I like a Dastard, and a treacherous Coward,</l>
<l n="922">As thou didd'st kill our tender Brother Rutland,</l>
<l n="923">But ere Sunset, Ile make thee curse the deed.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-hn6">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="924">Haue done with words (my Lords) and heare
<lb/>me speake.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-qma">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="925">Defie them then, or els hold close thy lips.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-hn6">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="926">I prythee giue no limits to my Tongue,</l>
<l n="927">I am a King, and priuiledg'd to speake.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cli">
<speaker rend="italic">Clif.</speaker>
<l n="928">My Liege, the Wound that bred this meeting here,</l>
<l n="929">Cannot be cur'd by Words, therefore be still.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ri3">
<speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
<l n="930">Then Executioner vnsheath thy sword:</l>
<l n="931">By him that made vs all, I am resolu'd,</l>
<l n="932">That<hi rend="italic">Cliffords</hi>Manhood, lyes vpon his tongue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ed4">
<speaker rend="italic">Ed.</speaker>
<l n="933">Say<hi rend="italic">Henry</hi>, shall I haue my right, or no:</l>
<l n="934">A thousand men haue broke their Fasts to day,</l>
<l n="935">That ne're shall dine, vnlesse thou yeeld the Crowne.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-war">
<speaker rend="italic">War.</speaker>
<l n="936">If thou deny, their Blood vpon thy head,</l>
<l n="937">For Yorke in iustice put's his Armour on.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ped">
<speaker rend="italic">Pr. Ed.</speaker>
<l n="938">If that be right, which Warwick saies is right,</l>
<l n="939">There is no vvrong, but euery thing is right.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-war">
<speaker rend="italic">War.</speaker>
<l n="940">Who euer got thee, there thy Mother stands,</l>
<l n="941">For well I vvot, thou hast thy Mothers tongue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-qma">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="942">But thou art neyther like thy Sire nor Damme,</l>
<l n="943">But like a foule mishapen Stygmaticke,</l>
<l n="944">Mark'd by the Destinies to be auoided,</l>
<l n="945">As venome Toades, or Lizards dreadfull stings.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ri3">
<speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
<l n="946">Iron of Naples, hid with English gilt,</l>
<l n="947">Whose Father beares the Title of a King,</l>
<l n="948">(As if a Channell should be call'd the Sea)</l>
<l n="949">Sham'st thou not, knowing whence thou art extraught,</l>
<l n="950">To let thy tongue detect thy base‑borne heart.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ed4">
<speaker rend="italic">Ed.</speaker>
<l n="951">A wispe of straw were worth a thousand Crowns,</l>
<l n="952">To make this shamelesse Callet know her selfe:</l>
<l n="953">
<hi rend="italic">Helen</hi>of Greece was fayrer farre then thou,</l>
<l n="954">Although thy Husband may be<hi rend="italic">Menelaus</hi>;</l>
<l n="955">And ne're was<hi rend="italic">Agamemnons</hi>Brother wrong'd</l>
<l n="956">By that false Woman, as this King by thee.</l>
<l n="957">His Father reuel'd in the heart of France,</l>
<l n="958">And tam'd the King, and made the Dolphin stoope:</l>
<l n="959">And had he match'd according to his State,</l>
<l n="960">He might haue kept that glory to this day.</l>
<l n="961">But when he tooke a begger to his bed,</l>
<l n="962">And grac'd thy poore Sire with his Bridall day,</l>
<l n="963">Euen then that Sun‑shine brew'd a showre for him,</l>
<l n="964">That washt his Fathers fortunes forth of France,</l>
<l n="965">And heap'd sedition on his Crowne at home:</l>
<l n="966">For what hath broach'd this tumult but thy Pride?</l>
<l n="967">Had'st thou bene meeke, our Title still had slept,</l>
<l n="968">And we in pitty of the Gentle King,</l>
<l n="969">Had slipt our Claime, vntill another Age.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-cla">
<speaker rend="italic">Cla.</speaker>
<l n="970">But when we saw, our Sunshine made thy Spring,</l>
<l n="971">And that thy Summer bred vs no increase,</l>
<l n="972">We set the Axe to thy vsurping Roote:</l>
<l n="973">And though the edge hath something hit our selues,</l>
<l n="974">Yet know thou, since we haue begun to strike,</l>
<l n="975">Wee'l neuer leaue, till we haue hewne thee downe,</l>
<l n="976">Or bath'd thy growing, with our heated bloods.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ed4">
<speaker rend="italic">Edw.</speaker>
<l n="977">And in this resolution, I defie thee,</l>
<l n="978">Not willing any longer Conference,</l>
<l n="979">Since thou denied'st the gentle King to speake.</l>
<l n="980">Sound Trumpets, let our bloody Colours waue,</l>
<l n="981">And either Victorie, or else a Graue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-qma">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="982">Stay<hi rend="italic">Edward</hi>.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-3h6-ed4">
<speaker rend="italic">Ed.</speaker>
<l n="983">No wrangling Woman, wee'l no longer stay,</l>
<l n="984">These words will cost ten thousand liues this day.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt omnes.</stage>
<cb n="2"/>
</div>