Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Henry VI, Part One (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Act II
Scene i
674: Actus Secundus. Scena Prima.
675: [ Enter a Sergeant of a Band, with two Sentinels.]
676:
Ser.
Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant:
677: If any noyse or Souldier you perceiue
678: Neere to the walles, by some apparant signe
679: Let vs haue knowledge at the Court of Guard.
680:
Sent.
Sergeant you shall. Thus are poore Seruitors
681: (When others sleepe vpon their quiet beds)
682: Constrain'd to watch in darknesse, raine, and cold.
683: [ Enter Talbot, Bedford, and Burgundy, with scaling
Ladders: Their Drummes beating a
Dead March.]
686:
Tal.
Lord Regent, and redoubted Burgundy,
687: By whose approach, the Regions of Artoys,
688: Wallon, and Picardy, are friends to vs:
689: This happy night, the Frenchmen are secure,
690: Hauing all day carows'd and banquetted,
691: Embrace we then this opportunitie,
692: As fitting best to quittance their deceite,
693: Contriu'd by Art, and balefull Sorcerie.
694:
Bed.
Coward of France, how much he wrongs his fame,
695: Dispairing of his owne armes fortitude,
696: To ioyne with Witches, and the helpe of Hell.
697:
Bur.
Traitors haue neuer other company.
698: But what's that Puzell whom they tearme so pure?
699:
Tal.
A Maid, they say.
700:
Bed.
A Maid? And be so martiall?
701:
Bur.
Pray God she proue not masculine ere long:
702: If vnderneath the Standard of the French
703: She carry Armour, as she hath begun.
704:
Tal.
Well, let them practise and conuerse with spirits.
705: God is our Fortresse, in whose conquering name
706: Let vs resolue to scale their flinty bulwarkes.
707:
Bed.
Ascend braue Talbot, we will follow thee.
708:
Tal.
Not altogether: Better farre I guesse,
709: That we do make our entrance seuerall wayes:
710: That if it chance the one of vs do faile,
711: The other yet may rise against their force.
712:
Bed.
Agreed; Ile to yond corner.
713:
Bur.
And I to this.
714:
Tal.
And heere will Talbot mount, or make his graue.
715: Now Salisbury, for thee and for the right
716: Of English Henry, shall this night appeare
717: How much in duty, I am bound to both.
718:
Sent.
Arme, arme, the enemy doth make assault.
719: [ Cry, S[aint]. George, A Talbot.]
720: [ The French leape ore the walles in their shirts. Enter
seuerall wayes, Bastard, Alanson, Reignier,
halfe ready, and halfe vnready.]
723:
Alan.
How now my Lords? what all vnreadie so?
724:
Bast.
Vnready? I and glad we scap'd so well.
725:
Reig.
'Twas time (I trow) to wake and leaue our beds,
726: Hearing Alarums at our Chamber doores.
727:
Alan.
Of all exploits since first I follow'd Armes,
728: Nere heard I of a warlike enterprize
729: More venturous, or desperate then this.
730:
Bast.
I thinke this Talbot be a Fiend of Hell.
731:
Reig.
If not of Hell, the Heauens sure fauour him.
732:
Alans.
Here commeth Charles, I maruell how he sped?
733: [ Enter Charles and Ioane.]
734:
Bast.
Tut, holy Ioane was his defensiue Guard.
735:
Charl.
Is this thy cunning, thou deceitfull Dame?
736: Didst thou at first, to flatter vs withall,
737: Make vs partakers of a little gayne,
738: That now our losse might be ten times so much?
739:
Ioane.
Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend?
740: At all times will you haue my Power alike?
741: Sleeping or waking, must I still preuayle,
742: Or will you blame and lay the fault on me?
743: Improuident Souldiors, had your Watch been good,
744: This sudden Mischiefe neuer could haue falne.
745:
Charl.
Duke of Alanson, this was your default,
746: That being Captaine of the Watch to Night,
747: Did looke no better to that weightie Charge.
748:
Alans.
Had all your Quarters been as safely kept,
749: As that whereof I had the gouernment,
750: We had not beene thus shamefully surpriz'd.
751:
Bast.
Mine was secure.
752:
Reig.
And so was mine, my Lord.
753:
Charl.
And for my selfe, most part of all this Night
754: Within her Quarter, and mine owne Precinct,
755: I was imploy'd in passing to and fro,
756: About relieuing of the Centinels.
757: Then how, or which way, should they first breake in?
758:
Ioane.
Question (my Lords) no further of the case,
759: How or which way; 'tis sure they found some place,
760: But weakely guarded, where the breach was made:
761: And now there rests no other shift but this,
762: To gather our Souldiors, scatter'd and disperc't,
763: And lay new Plat-formes to endammage them.
764: [ Exeunt.]
765: [ Alarum. Enter a Souldier, crying, a Talbot, a Talbot:
they flye, leauing their Clothes behind.]
767:
Sould.
Ile be so bold to take what they haue left:
768: The Cry of Talbot serues me for a Sword,
769: For I haue loaden me with many Spoyles,
770: Vsing no other Weapon but his Name. [ Exit.]
771: [ Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundie.]
772:
Bedf.
The Day begins to breake, and Night is fled,
773: Whose pitchy Mantle ouer-vayl'd the Earth.
774: Here sound Retreat, and cease our hot pursuit. [ Retreat.]
775:
Talb.
Bring forth the Body of old Salisbury,
776: And here aduance it in the Market-Place,
777: The middle Centure of this cursed Towne.
778: Now haue I pay'd my Vow vnto his Soule:
779: For euery drop of blood was drawne from him,
780: There hath at least fiue Frenchmen dyed to night.
781: And that hereafter Ages may behold
782: What ruine happened in reuenge of him,
783: Within their chiefest Temple Ile erect
784: A Tombe, wherein his Corps shall be interr'd:
785: Vpon the which, that euery one may reade,
786: Shall be engrau'd the sacke of Orleance,
787: The trecherous manner of his mournefull death,
788: And what a terror he had beene to France.
789: But Lords, in all our bloudy Massacre,
790: I muse we met not with the Dolphins Grace,
791: His new-come Champion, vertuous Ioane of Acre,
792: Nor any of his false Confederates.
793:
Bedf.
'Tis thought Lord Talbot, when the fight began,
794: Rows'd on the sudden from their drowsie Beds,
795: They did amongst the troupes of armed men,
796: Leape o're the Walls for refuge in the field.
797:
Burg.
My selfe, as farre as I could well discerne,
798: For smoake, and duskie vapours of the night,
799: Am sure I scar'd the Dolphin and his Trull,
800: When Arme in Arme they both came swiftly running,
801: Like to a payre of louing Turtle-Doues,
802: That could not liue asunder day or night.
803: After that things are set in order here,
804: Wee'le follow them with all the power we haue.
805: [ Enter a Messenger.]
806:
Mess.
All hayle, my Lords: which of this Princely trayne
807: Call ye the Warlike Talbot, for his Acts
808: So much applauded through the Realme of France?
809:
Talb.
Here is the Talbot, who would speak with him?
810:
Mess.
The vertuous Lady, Countesse of Ouergne,
811: With modestie admiring thy Renowne,
812: By me entreats (great Lord) thou would'st vouchsafe
813: To visit her poore Castle where she lyes,
814: That she may boast she hath beheld the man,
815: Whose glory fills the World with lowd report.
816:
Burg.
Is it euen so? Nay, then I see our Warres
817: Will turne vnto a peacefull Comick sport,
818: When Ladyes craue to be encountred with.
819: You may not (my Lord) despise her gentle suit.
820:
Talb.
Ne're trust me then: for when a World of men
821: Could not preuayle with all their Oratorie,
822: Yet hath a Womans kindnesse ouer-rul'd:
823: And therefore tell her, I returne great thankes,
824: And in submission will attend on her.
825: Will not your Honors beare me company?
826:
Bedf.
No, truly, 'tis more then manners will:
827: And I haue heard it sayd, Vnbidden Guests
828: Are often welcommest when they are gone.
829:
Talb.
Well then, alone (since there's no remedie)
830: I meane to proue this Ladyes courtesie.
831: Come hither Captaine, you perceiue my minde.
832: [ Whispers.]
833:
Capt.
I doe my Lord, and meane accordingly.
834: [ Exeunt.]
835: [ Enter Countesse.]
836:
Count.
Porter, remember what I gaue in charge,
837: And when you haue done so, bring the Keyes to me.
838:
Port. Madame, I will.
[Exit.]
839:
Count.
The Plot is layd, if all things fall out right,
840: I shall as famous be by this exploit,
841: As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus death.
842: Great is the rumour of this dreadfull Knight,
843: And his atchieuements of no lesse account:
844: Faine would mine eyes be witnesse with mine eares,
845: To giue their censure of these rare reports.
846: [ Enter Messenger and Talbot.]
847:
Mess.
Madame, according as your Ladyship desir'd,
848: By Message crau'd, so is Lord Talbot come.
849:
Count.
And he is welcome: what? is this the man?
850:
Mess.
Madame, it is.
851:
Count.
Is this the Scourge of France?
852: Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad?
853: That with his Name the Mothers still their Babes?
854: I see Report is fabulous and false.
855: I thought I should haue seene some Hercules,
856: A second Hector, for his grim aspect,
857: And large proportion of his strong knit Limbes.
858: Alas, this is a Child, a silly Dwarfe:
859: It cannot be, this weake and writhled shrimpe
860: Should strike such terror to his Enemies.
861:
Talb.
Madame, I haue beene bold to trouble you:
862: But since your Ladyship is not at leysure,
863: Ile sort some other time to visit you.
864:
Count.
What meanes he now?
865: Goe aske him, whither he goes?
866:
Mess.
Stay my Lord Talbot, for my Lady craues,
867: To know the cause of your abrupt departure?
868:
Talb.
Marry, for that shee's in a wrong beleefe,
869: I goe to certifie her Talbot's here.
870: [ Enter Porter with Keyes.]
871:
Count.
If thou be he, then art thou Prisoner.
872:
Talb.
Prisoner? to whom?
873:
Count.
To me, blood-thirstie Lord:
874: And for that cause I trayn'd thee to my House.
875: Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
876: For in my Gallery thy Picture hangs:
877: But now the substance shall endure the like,
878: And I will chayne these Legges and Armes of thine,
879: That hast by Tyrannie these many yeeres
880: Wasted our Countrey, slaine our Citizens,
881: And sent our Sonnes and Husbands captiuate.
882:
Talb.
Ha, ha, ha.
883:
Count.
Laughest thou Wretch?
884: Thy mirth shall turne to moane.
885:
Talb.
I laugh to see your Ladyship so fond,
886: To thinke, that you haue ought but Talbots shadow,
887: Whereon to practise your seueritie.
888:
Count.
Why? art not thou the man?
889:
Talb.
I am indeede.
890:
Count.
Then haue I substance too.
891:
Talb.
No, no, I am but shadow of my selfe:
892: You are deceiu'd, my substance is not here;
893: For what you see, is but the smallest part,
894: And least proportion of Humanitie:
895: I tell you Madame, were the whole Frame here,
896: It is of such a spacious loftie pitch,
897: Your Roofe were not sufficient to contayn't.
898:
Count.
This is a Riddling Merchant for the nonce,
899: He will be here, and yet he is not here:
900: How can these contrarieties agree?
901:
Talb.
That will I shew you presently.
902: [ Winds his Horne, Drummes strike vp, a Peale
of Ordenance: Enter Souldiors.]
904: How say you Madame? are you now perswaded,
905: That Talbot is but shadow of himselfe?
906: These are his substance, sinewes, armes, and strength,
907: With which he yoaketh your rebellious Neckes,
908: Razeth your Cities, and subuerts your Townes,
909: And in a moment makes them desolate.
910:
Count.
Victorious Talbot, pardon my abuse,
911: I finde thou art no lesse then Fame hath bruited,
912: And more then may be gathered by thy shape.
913: Let my presumption not prouoke thy wrath,
914: For I am sorry, that with reuerence
915: I did not entertaine thee as thou art.
916:
Talb.
Be not dismay'd, faire Lady, nor misconster
917: The minde of Talbot, as you did mistake
918: The outward composition of his body.
919: What you haue done, hath not offended me:
920: Nor other satisfaction doe I craue,
921: But onely with your patience, that we may
922: Taste of your Wine, and see what Cates you haue,
923: For Souldiers stomacks alwayes serue them well.
924:
Count.
With all my heart, and thinke me honored,
925: To feast so great a Warrior in my House. [ Exeunt.]
926: [ Enter Richard Plantagenet, Warwick, Somerset,
Poole, and others.]
928:
Yorke.
Great Lords and Gentlemen,
929: What meanes this silence?
930: Dare no man answer in a Case of Truth?
931:
Suff.
Within the Temple Hall we were too lowd,
932: The Garden here is more conuenient.
933:
York.
Then say at once, if I maintain'd the Truth:
934: Or else was wrangling Somerset in th' error?
935:
Suff.
Faith I haue beene a Truant in the Law,
936: And neuer yet could frame my will to it,
937: And therefore frame the Law vnto my will.
938:
Som.
Iudge you, my Lord of Warwicke, then be-tweene
939: vs.
940:
War.
Between two Hawks, which flyes the higher pitch,
941: Between two Dogs, which hath the deeper mouth,
942: Between two Blades, which beares the better temper,
943: Between two Horses, which doth beare him best,
944: Between two Girles, which hath the merryest eye,
945: I haue perhaps some shallow spirit of Iudgement:
946: But in these nice sharpe Quillets of the Law,
947: Good faith I am no wiser then a Daw.
948:
York.
Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance:
949: The truth appeares so naked on my side,
950: That any purblind eye may find it out.
951:
Som.
And on my side it is so well apparrell'd,
952: So cleare, so shining, and so euident,
953: That it will glimmer through a blind-mans eye.
954:
York.
Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loth to speake,
955: In dumbe significants proclayme your thoughts:
956: Let him that is a true-borne Gentleman,
957: And stands vpon the honor of his birth,
958: If he suppose that I haue pleaded truth,
959: From off this Bryer pluck a white Rose with me.
960:
Som.
Let him that is no Coward, nor no Flatterer,
961: But dare maintaine the partie of the truth,
962: Pluck a red Rose from off this Thorne with me.
963:
War.
I loue no Colours: and without all colour
964: Of base insinuating flatterie,
965: I pluck this white Rose with Plantagenet.
966:
Suff.
I pluck this red Rose, with young Somerset,
967: And say withall, I thinke he held the right.
968:
Vernon.
Stay Lords and Gentlemen, and pluck no more
969: Till you conclude, that he vpon whose side
970: The fewest Roses are cropt from the Tree,
971: Shall yeeld the other in the right opinion.
972:
Som.
Good Master Vernon, it is well obiected:
973: If I haue fewest, I subscribe in silence.
974:
York.
And I.
975:
Vernon.
Then for the truth, and plainnesse of the Case,
976: I pluck this pale and Maiden Blossome here,
977: Giuing my Verdict on the white Rose side.
978:
Som.
Prick not your finger as you pluck it off,
979: Least bleeding, you doe paint the white Rose red,
980: And fall on my side so against your will.
981:
Vernon.
If I, my Lord, for my opinion bleed,
982: Opinion shall be Surgeon to my hurt,
983: And keepe me on the side where still I am.
984:
Som.
Well, well, come on, who else?
985:
Lawyer.
Vnlesse my Studie and my Bookes be false,
986: The argument you held, was wrong in you;
987: In signe whereof, I pluck a white Rose too.
988:
Yorke.
Now Somerset, where is your argument?
989:
Som.
Here in my Scabbard, meditating, that
990: Shall dye your white Rose in a bloody red.
991:
York.
Meane time your cheeks do counterfeit our Roses:
992: For pale they looke with feare, as witnessing
993: The truth on our side.
994:
Som.
No Plantagenet:
995: Tis not for feare, but anger, that thy cheekes
996: Blush for pure shame, to counterfeit our Roses,
997: And yet thy tongue will not confesse thy error.
998:
Yorke.
Hath not thy Rose a Canker, Somerset?
999:
Som.
Hath not thy Rose a Thorne, Plantagenet?
1000:
Yorke.
I, sharpe and piercing to maintaine his truth,
1001: Whiles thy consuming Canker eates his falsehood.
1002:
Som.
Well, Ile find friends to weare my bleeding Roses,
1003: That shall maintaine what I haue said is true,
1004: Where false Plantagenet dare not be seene.
1005:
Yorke.
Now by this Maiden Blossome in my hand,
1006: I scorne thee and thy fashion, peeuish Boy.
1007:
Suff.
Turne not thy scornes this way, Plantagenet.
1008:
Yorke.
Prowd Poole, I will, and scorne both him and
1009: thee.
1010:
Suff.
Ile turne my part thereof into thy throat.
1011:
Som.
Away, away, good William de la Poole,
1012: We grace the Yeoman, by conuersing with him.
1013:
Warw.
Now by Gods will thou wrong'st him, Somerset:
1014: His Grandfather was Lyonel Duke of Clarence,
1015: Third Sonne to the third Edward King of England:
1016: Spring Crestlesse Yeomen from so deepe a Root?
1017:
Yorke.
He beares him on the place's Priuiledge,
1018: Or durst not for his crauen heart say thus.
1019:
Som.
By him that made me, Ile maintaine my words
1020: On any Plot of Ground in Christendome.
1021: Was not thy Father, Richard, Earle of Cambridge,
1022: For Treason executed in our late Kings dayes?
1023: And by his Treason, stand'st not thou attainted,
1024: Corrupted, and exempt from ancient Gentry?
1025: His Trespas yet liues guiltie in thy blood,
1026: And till thou be restor'd, thou art a Yeoman.
1027:
Yorke.
My Father was attached, not attainted,
1028: Condemn'd to dye for Treason, but no Traytor;
1029: And that Ile proue on better men then Somerset,
1030: Were growing time once ripened to my will.
1031: For your partaker Poole, and you your selfe,
1032: Ile note you in my Booke of Memorie,
1033: To scourge you for this apprehension:
1034: Looke to it well, and say you are well warn'd.
1035:
Som.
Ah, thou shalt finde vs ready for thee still:
1036: And know vs by these Colours for thy Foes,
1037: For these, my friends in spight of thee shall weare.
1038:
Yorke.
And by my Soule, this pale and angry Rose,
1039: As Cognizance of my blood-drinking hate,
1040: Will I for euer, and my Faction weare,
1041: Vntill it wither with me to my Graue,
1042: Or flourish to the height of my Degree.
1043:
Suff.
Goe forward, and be choak'd with thy ambition:
1044: And so farwell, vntill I meet thee next. [ Exit.]
1045:
Som.
Haue with thee Poole: Farwell ambitious Ri-chard.
1046: [ Exit.]
1047:
Yorke.
How I am brau'd, and must perforce endure
1048: it?
1049:
Warw.
This blot that they obiect against your House,
1050: Shall be whipt out in the next Parliament,
1051: Call'd for the Truce of Winchester and Gloucester:
1052: And if thou be not then created Yorke,
1053: I will not liue to be accounted Warwicke.
1054: Meane time, in signall of my loue to thee,
1055: Against prowd Somerset, and William Poole,
1056: Will I vpon thy partie weare this Rose.
1057: And here I prophecie: this brawle to day,
1058: Growne to this faction in the Temple Garden,
1059: Shall send betweene the Red-Rose and the White,
1060: A thousand Soules to Death and deadly Night.
1061:
Yorke.
Good Master Vernon, I am bound to you,
1062: That you on my behalfe would pluck a Flower.
1063:
Ver.
In your behalfe still will I weare the same.
1064:
Lawyer.
And so will I.
1065:
Yorke.
Thankes gentle.
1066: Come, let vs foure to Dinner: I dare say,
1067: This Quarrell will drinke Blood another day.
1068: [ Exeunt.]
1069: [ Enter Mortimer, brought in a Chayre,
and Iaylors.]
1071:
Mort.
Kind Keepers of my weake decaying Age,
1072: Let dying Mortimer here rest himselfe.
1073: Euen like a man new haled from the Wrack,
1074: So fare my Limbes with long Imprisonment:
1075: And these gray Locks, the Pursuiuants of death,
1076: Nestor-like aged, in an Age of Care,
1077: Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer.
1078: These Eyes like Lampes, whose wasting Oyle is spent,
1079: Waxe dimme, as drawing to their Exigent.
1080: Weake Shoulders, ouer-borne with burthening Griefe,
1081: And pyth-lesse Armes, like to a withered Vine,
1082: That droupes his sappe-lesse Branches to the ground.
1083: Yet are these Feet, whose strength-lesse stay is numme,
1084: (Vnable to support this Lumpe of Clay)
1085: Swift-winged with desire to get a Graue,
1086: As witting I no other comfort haue.
1087: But tell me, Keeper, will my Nephew come?
1088:
Keeper.
Richard Plantagenet, my Lord, will come:
1089: We sent vnto the Temple, vnto his Chamber,
1090: And answer was return'd, that he will come.
1091:
Mort.
Enough: my Soule shall then be satisfied.
1092: Poore Gentleman, his wrong doth equall mine.
1093: Since Henry Monmouth first began to reigne,
1094: Before whose Glory I was great in Armes,
1095: This loathsome sequestration haue I had;
1096: And euen since then, hath Richard beene obscur'd,
1097: Depriu'd of Honor and Inheritance.
1098: But now, the Arbitrator of Despaires,
1099: Iust Death, kinde Vmpire of mens miseries,
1100: With sweet enlargement doth dismisse me hence:
1101: I would his troubles likewise were expir'd,
1102: That so he might recouer what was lost.
1103: [ Enter Richard.]
1104:
Keeper.
My Lord, your louing Nephew now is come.
1105:
Mor.
Richard Plantagenet, my friend, is he come?
1106:
Rich.
I, Noble Vnckle, thus ignobly vs'd,
1107: Your Nephew, late despised Richard, comes.
1108:
Mort.
Direct mine Armes, I may embrace his Neck,
1109: And in his Bosome spend my latter gaspe.
1110: Oh tell me when my Lippes doe touch his Cheekes,
1111: That I may kindly giue one fainting Kisse.
1112: And now declare sweet Stem from Yorkes great Stock,
1113: Why didst thou say of late thou wert despis'd?
1114:
Rich.
First, leane thine aged Back against mine Arme,
1115: And in that ease, Ile tell thee my Disease.
1116: This day in argument vpon a Case,
1117: Some words there grew 'twixt Somerset and me:
1118: Among which tearmes, he vs'd his lauish tongue,
1119: And did vpbrayd me with my Fathers death;
1120: Which obloquie set barres before my tongue,
1121: Else with the like I had requited him.
1122: Therefore good Vnckle, for my Fathers sake,
1123: In honor of a true Plantagenet,
1124: And for Alliance sake, declare the cause
1125: My Father, Earle of Cambridge, lost his Head.
1126:
Mort.
That cause (faire Nephew) that imprison'd me,
1127: And hath detayn'd me all my flowring Youth,
1128: Within a loathsome Dungeon, there to pyne,
1129: Was cursed Instrument of his decease.
1130:
Rich.
Discouer more at large what cause that was,
1131: For I am ignorant, and cannot guesse.
1132:
Mort.
I will, if that my fading breath permit,
1133: And Death approach not, ere my Tale be done.
1134: Henry the Fourth, Grandfather to this King,
1135: Depos'd his Nephew Richard, Edwards Sonne,
1136: The first begotten, and the lawfull Heire
1137: Of Edward King, the Third of that Descent.
1138: During whose Reigne, the Percies of the North,
1139: Finding his Vsurpation most vniust,
1140: Endeuour'd my aduancement to the Throne.
1141: The reason mou'd these Warlike Lords to this,
1142: Was, for that (young Richard thus remou'd,
1143: Leauing no Heire begotten of his Body)
1144: I was the next by Birth and Parentage:
1145: For by my Mother, I deriued am
1146: From Lionel Duke of Clarence, third Sonne
1147: To King Edward the Third; whereas hee,
1148: From Iohn of Gaunt doth bring his Pedigree,
1149: Being but fourth of that Heroick Lyne.
1150: But marke: as in this haughtie great attempt,
1151: They laboured, to plant the rightfull Heire,
1152: I lost my Libertie, and they their Liues.
1153: Long after this, when Henry the Fift
1154: (Succeeding his Father Bullingbrooke) did reigne;
1155: Thy Father, Earle of Cambridge, then deriu'd
1156: From famous Edmund Langley, Duke of Yorke,
1157: Marrying my Sister, that thy Mother was;
1158: Againe, in pitty of my hard distresse,
1159: Leuied an Army, weening to redeeme,
1160: And haue install'd me in the Diademe:
1161: But as the rest, so fell that Noble Earle,
1162: And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers,
1163: In whom the Title rested, were supprest.
1164:
Rich.
Of which, my Lord, your Honor is the last.
1165:
Mort.
True; and thou seest, that I no Issue haue,
1166: And that my fainting words doe warrant death:
1167: Thou art my Heire; the rest, I wish thee gather:
1168: But yet be wary in thy studious care.
1169:
Rich.
Thy graue admonishments preuayle with me:
1170: But yet me thinkes, my Fathers execution
1171: Was nothing lesse then bloody Tyranny.
1172:
Mort.
With silence, Nephew, be thou pollitick,
1173: Strong fixed is the House of Lancaster,
1174: And like a Mountaine, not to be remou'd.
1175: But now thy Vnckle is remouing hence,
1176: As Princes doe their Courts, when they are cloy'd
1177: With long continuance in a setled place.
1178:
Rich.
O Vnckle, would some part of my young yeeres
1179: Might but redeeme the passage of your Age.
1180:
Mort.
Thou do'st then wrong me, as y slaughterer doth,
1181: Which giueth many Wounds, when one will kill.
1182: Mourne not, except thou sorrow for my good,
1183: Onely giue order for my Funerall.
1184: And so farewell, and faire be all thy hopes,
1185: And prosperous be thy Life in Peace and Warre. [ Dyes.]
1186:
Rich.
And Peace, no Warre, befall thy parting Soule.
1187: In Prison hast thou spent a Pilgrimage,
1188: And like a Hermite ouer-past thy dayes.
1189: Well, I will locke his Councell in my Brest,
1190: And what I doe imagine, let that rest.
1191: Keepers conuey him hence, and I my selfe
1192: Will see his Buryall better then his Life. [ Exit.]
1193: Here dyes the duskie Torch of Mortimer,
1194: Choakt with Ambition of the meaner sort.
1195: And for those Wrongs, those bitter Iniuries,
1196: Which Somerset hath offer'd to my House,
1197: I doubt not, but with Honor to redresse.
1198: And therefore haste I to the Parliament,
1199: Eyther to be restored to my Blood,
1200: Or make my will th' aduantage of my good. [ Exit.]