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And wheresoe'er he is, he's surely dead. [Clifford groans, and dies. Edw. Whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave?

Rich. A deadly groan, like life and death's departing.3

Edw. See who it is: and, now the battle's ended,

If friend or foe, let him be gently us'd.

Rich. Revoke that doom of mercy, for 't is Clifford;

Who not contented that he lopp'd the branch In hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth, But set his murd'ring knife unto the root From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring,

I mean our princely father, Duke of York. 50 War. From off the gates of York fetch down the head,

Your father's head, which Clifford placed there;

Instead whereof let this supply the room:
Measure for measure must be answered.

Edw. Bring forth that fatal screech-owl to our house, 5

That nothing sung but death to us and ours: [Now death shall stop his dismal threat'ning sound,

And his ill-boding tongue no more shall speak.] [Soldiers bring the body forward. [War. I think his understanding is bereft.Speak, Clifford, dost thou know who speaks to thee?

1 Fretting, ruffling, agitating.

2 Argosy, merchantman.

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3 Departing, separation. 4 Not contented, i.e. did not content himself.

5 That fatal screech-owl to our house, i.e. that screechowl so fatal to our family.

And he nor sees nor hears us what we say. Rich. O would he did! and so, perhaps, he doth:

"Tis but his policy to counterfeit,

Because he would avoid such bitter taunts Which in the time of death he gave our father. Geo. If so thou think'st, vex him with eager words.

Rich. Clifford, ask mercy, and obtain no grace.

Edw. Clifford, repent in bootless penitence. War. Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults. Geo. While we devise fell tortures for thy faults.

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SCENE I. A chase in the north of England. Enter two Keepers with cross-bows in their hands. First Keep. Under this thick-grown brake1 we'll shroud ourselves;

For through this laund2 anon the deer will come;

【And in this covert will we make our stand, Culling the principal of all the deer.]

Sec. Keep. I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot.

First Keep. That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow

Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost.
Here stand we both, and aim we at the best:
And, for3 the time shall not seem tedious,
I'll tell thee what befel me on a day
In this self place where now we mean to
stand.

10

For we were subjects but while you were king. K. Hen. Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man?]

Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear!
Look, as I blow this feather from my face,
And as the air blows it to me again,
[Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust;]
Such is the lightness of you common men.
But do not break your oaths; for of that sin
My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.
Go where you will, the king shall be com-
manded;

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And be you kings; command, and I'll obey. [First Keep. We are true subjects to the king, King Edward.

K. Hen. So would you be again to Henry,1 If he were seated as King Edward is. ] First Keep. We charge you, in God's name, and in the king's,

To go with us unto the officers.

K. Hen. In God's name, lead; your king's name be obey'd:

And what God will, that let your king perform; And what he will, I humbly yield unto.

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[Exeunt.

SCENE II. London. A room in the palace.

Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, CLARENCE, and LADY GREY.

K. Ed. Brother of Gloster, at Saint Alban's field

This lady's husband, Sir John Grey, was slain, His lands then seiz'd on by the conqueror:

1 Henry, pronounced as a trisyllable.

An if what pleases him shall pleasure you. [Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a

blow.

Clar. [Aside to Glo.] I fear her not, unless she chance to fall.

Glo. [Aside to Clar.] God forbid that! for he'll take vantages. ]

K. Edw. How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.

[Clar. [Aside to Glo.] I think he means to beg a child of her.

Glo. [Aside to Clar.] Nay, whip me, then; he'll rather give her two.]

L. Grey. Three, my most gracious lord. [Glo. [Aside] You shall have four, if you'll be rul'd by him.]

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K. Edw. Twere pity they should lose their father's lands.

L. Grey. Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it, then.

K. Edw. Lords, give us leave:3 I'll try this widow's wit.

2 Resolve me, give me an answer.

3 Give us leave, i.e. leave us.

Till youth take leave, and leave you to the crutch. [Retires with Clarence.

K. Edw. Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

L. Grey. Ay, full as dearly as I love myself. K. Edw. And would you not do much to do them good?

L. Grey. To do them good, I would sustain some harm.

K. Edw. Then get your husband's lands, to do them good.

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L. Grey. Therefore I came unto your majesty. K. Edw. I'll tell you how these lands are to be got.

L. Grey. So shall you bind me to your highness' service.

K. Edw. What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?

L. Grey. What you command, that rests in me to do.

K. Edw. But you will take exceptions to my boon.

L. Grey. No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.

K. Edw. Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.

L. Grey. Why, then I will do what your grace commands.

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Glo. [Aside to Clar.] He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble. [Clar. [Aside to Glo.] As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt.]

L. Grey. Why stops my lord? shall I not hear my task?

K. Edw. An easy task; 'tis but to love a king.

L. Grey. That's soon perform'd, because I am a subject.

K. Edw. Why, then, thy husband's lands I freely give thee.

L. Grey. I take my leave with many thousand thanks.

Glo. [Aside to Clar.] The match is made; she seals it with a curt'sy.

K. Edw. But stay thee,-'t is the fruits of love I mean.

L. Grey. The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.

What love, think'st thou, I sue so much to get? L. Grey. My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers;

That love which virtue begs, and virtue grants. K. Edw. No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.

L. Grey. Why, then you mean not as I thought you did.

K. Edw. But now you partly may perceive my mind.

L. Grey. My mind will never grant what I perceive

Your highness aims at, if I aim1 aright.

K. Edw. To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.

L. Grey. To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.

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K. Edw. Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband's lands.

L. Grey. Why, then mine honesty2 shall be my dower;

For by that loss I will not purchase them. K. Edw. Therein thou wrong'st thy children mightily.

L. Grey. Herein your highness wrongs both them and me.

But, mighty lord, this merry inclination Accords not with the sadness3 of my suit: Please you dismiss me, either with "ay" or "no." K. Edw. Ay, if thou wilt say "ay" to my request;

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No, if thou dost say "no" to my demand. L. Grey. Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end.

Glo. [Aside to Clar.] The widow likes him not, she knits her brows.

Clar. [Aside to Glo.] He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom.

K. Edw. [Aside] Her looks do argue her replete with modesty;

Her words do show her wit incomparable;
All her perfections challenge sovereignty:
One way or other, she is for a king;

And she shall be my love, or else my queen.— Say that King Edward take thee for his queen? 2 Honesty, honour, chastity.

1 Aim, guess.
3 Sadness, gravity.

4 Challenge, demand, claim as due.