110 As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate, And so farewell until I meet thee next. [Exit. Plan. How I am braved and must perforce endure it! War. This blot that they object against your house Shall be wiped out in the next parliament Call'd for the truce of Winchester and Glou That you on my behalf would pluck a flower. Ver. In your behalf still wil I wear the same. Law. And so will I. Plan. Thanks, gentle sir. 130 Come, let us four to dinner I dare say Mor. Kind keepers of my weak decaying age, Let dying Mortimer here rest himself. Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer. Wax dim, as drawing to their exigent; grief, 10 And pithless arms, like to a wither'd vine numb, Unable to support this lump of clay, will come : Enter RICHARD PLANTAGENET. First Gaol. My lord, your loving nephew now is come. Mor. Richard Plantagenet, my friend, is he come? Plan. Ay, noble uncle, thus ignobly used, Your nephew, late despised Richard, comes. Mor. Direct mine arms I may embrace his neck, 40 And in his bosom spend my latter gasp: Mor. I will, if that my fading breath permit And death approach not ere my tale be done. Henry the Fourth, grandfather to this king, Deposed his nephew Richard, Edward's son, The first-begotten and the lawful heir Of Edward king, the third of that descent During whose reign the Percies of the north, Finding his usurpation most unjust, Endeavor'd my advancement to the throne: The reason moved these warlike lords to this 70 Was, for that-young King Richard thus removed, Leaving no heir begotten of his body- From Lionel Duke of Clarence, the third son 80 But mark as in this haughty great attempt They labored to plant the rightful heir, I lost my liberty and they their lives. Long after this, when Henry the Frith, Succeeding his father Bolingbroke, did reign, Thy father, Earl of Cambridge, then derived From famous Edmund Langley, Duke of York, Marrying my sister that thy mother was, Again in pity of my hard distress Levied an army, weening to redeem And have install'd me in the diadem: But, as the rest, so fell that noble earl And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers, In whom the title rested, were suppress'd. Plan. Or which, my lord, your honor is the last. 90 Mor. True; and thou seest that I no issue have And that my fainting words do warrant death Thou art my heir; the rest I wish thee gather: But yet be wary in thy studious care. Plan Thy grave admonishments prevail with me: 100 But yet, methinks, my father's execution Might but redeem the passage of your age! slaughterer doth 169 Which giveth many wounds when one will kill. Mourn not, except thou sorrow for my good; Only give order for my funeral : And so farewell, and fair be all thy hopes And prosperous be thy life in peace and war! [Dies. Plan. And peace, no war, befall thy parting soul! In prison hast thou spent a pilgrimage [Exeunt Gaolers, bearing out the body Here dies the dusky torch of Mortimer, Or make my ill the advantage of my good. ACT III. SCENE I. London. The Parliament-house. Flourish. Enter KING, EXETER, GLOUCESTER, WARWICK, SOMERSET, and SUFFOLK; the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, and others. GLOUCESTER offers to put up a bill; WINCHESTER snatches it, and tears it. Win. Comest thou with deep premeditattu lines, With written pamphlets studiously devised, Humphrey of Gloucester? If thou canst ac cuse, Or aught intend'st to lay unto my charge, Glou Presumptuous priest! this place commands my patience, Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonor'd me. Think rot, although in writing preferr'd 10 The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes, That therefore I have forged, or am not able Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen : 20 Win. Gloucester, I do defy thee. Lords, vonchsafe 30 To give me hearing what I shall reply. As good! Thou bastard of my grandfather! But one imperious in another's throne? Win. It fitteth not a prelate so to plead. Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd [Begin again. Stay, stay, I say! Glou. And if you love me, as you say you do, Let me persuade you to forbear awhile. King. O, how this discord doth afflict my soul! 110 Can you, my Lord of Winchester, behold Except you mean with obstinate repulse You see what mischief and what murder too Hath been enacted through your enmity; Then be at peace, except ye thirst for blood. Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield. Glou. Compassion on the king commands me stoop; Or I would see his heart out, ere the priest 120 Should ever get that privilege of me. War. Behold, my Lord of Winchester, the duke Hath banish'd moody discontented fury, King. Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard you preach That malice was a great and grievous sin; 130 War. Sweet king! the bishop hath a kindly gird. For shame, my lord of Winchester, relent! What, shall a child instruct you what to do? Win. Well, Duke of Gloucester, I will yield to thee; Love for thy love and hand for hand I give. Glou. [Aside] Ay, but, I fear me, with a hollow heart. See here, my friends and loving countrymen, 140 Win. [Aside] So help me God, as I intend it not! King. O loving uncle, kind Duke of Gloucester, How joyful am I made by this contract! [Exeunt Serving-men, Mayor, &c. Accept this scroll, most gracious sovereign, War. Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet 150 We do exhibit to your majesty. Glou. Well urged, my Lord of Warwick: for, sweet prince, An if your grace mark every circumstance, You have great reason to do Richard right; Especially for those occasions At Eltham Place I told your majesty. King. And those occasions, uncle, were of force : Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is 159 War. Let Richard be restored to his blood; So shall his father's wrongs be recompensed. Wen. As will the rest, so willeth Winchester. King. If Richard will be true, not that alone But all the whole inheritance I give That doth belong unto the house of York, From whence you spring by lineal descent. I gird thee with the valiant sword of York: And as my duty springs, so perish they All. Welcome, high prince, the mighty Duke of York! Som. [Aside] Perish, base prince, ignoble Duke of York! Glou. Now will it best avail your majesty To cross the seas and to be crown'd in France": The presence of a king engenders love 181 Amongst his subjects and his loyal friends, As it disanimates his enemies. King. When Gloucester says the word, King For friendly counsel cuts off many foes. [Sennet. Flourish. Ereunt all but Exeter. Ere. Ay, we may march in England or in France, Not seeing what is likely to ensue. This late dissension grown betwixt the peers 200 [Exit. SCENE II. France. Before Rouen. Enter LA PUCELLE disguised, with four Soldiers with sacks upon their backs. Puc. These are the city gates, the gates of Rouen, Through which our policy must make a breach : Take heed, be wary how you place your words; An alarum. Enter TALBOT in an excursion. Tal. France, thou shalt rue this treason with thy tears, If Talbot but survive thy treachery. Puc. Good morrow, gallants! want ye corn for bread? I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast Before he'll buy again at such a rate: 'Twas full of darnel, do you like the taste? Bur. Scoff op, vile fiend, and shameless courtezan! I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own And make thee curse the harvest of that corn. Char. Your grace may starve perhaps before that time. Bed. O, let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason! Tal. Foul fiend of France, and hag of all despite, Encompass'd with thy lustful paramours! If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow. 60 Tal. Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field? Either to get the town again or die : Tal. But, ere we go, regard this dying prince, The valiant Duke of Bedford. Come, my lord, We will bestow you in some better place, Fitter for sickness and for crazy age. 91 Bed. Lord Talbot, do not so dishonor me: Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen And will be partner of your weal or woe. Bur. Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade you. Bed. Not to be gone from hence; for once That stout Pendragon in his litter sick Tal. Undaunted spirit in a dying breast! Then be it so: heavens keep old Bedford sale! And now no more ado, brave Burgundy, 161 But gather we our forces out of hand |