THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL Notice. THE action of this play comprehends a period of sixteen years. It commences with the events immediately sueceeding the disastrous battle of St. Alban's, 1455, and concludes with the murder of King Henry VI. and the birth of Prince Edward, (afterwards Edward V.) 1471. Dr. Johnson says, " Of these three plays, I think the second the best. The truth is, they have not sufficient variety of action, for the incidents are too often of the same kind; yet many of the characters are well discriminated. King Henry and his queen, King F.dward, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Earl of Warwick, are very strongly and distinctly painted." SCENE, during part of the third Act, in France; during all the rest of the Play, in England. ACT I. SCENE I.-London -The ParliamentHouse. Drums. Some Soldiers of YORK's party break in. Then, enter the Duke of YORK, EDWARD, RICHARD, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, WARWICK, and others with White Roses in their Hats. War. I wonder how the king escap'd our hands. York. While we pursued the horsemen of the He slily stole away, and left his men: [north, Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat, Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself, Lord Clifford, and lord Stafford, all abreast, Chang'd our main battle's front, and, break ing in, Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. Edw. Lord Stafford's father, duke of Buckingham; Is either slain, or wounded Jangerous: I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; That this is true, father, behold his blood. [Showing his bloody Sword. Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's blood, [To YORK, showing his Whom I encounter'd as the battles join'd. Rich. Speak thou for me, and tell them what I did, [Throwing down the duke of SOMERSET'S Head. York. Richard hath best deserv'd of all my Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's head. War. And so do 1.-Victorious prince of Before I see thee seated in that throne For hither we have broken in by force. Norf. We'll all assist you; he that flies shall die. York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk,-Stay by me, my lords ; And, soldiers, stay, and lodge by me this night. War. And when the king comes, offer him no violence, Unless he scek to thrust you out by force. [They retire. York. The queen, this day, here holds her parliament, But little thinks we shall be of her council : War. The bloody parliament shall this be call'd, Unless Plantagenet, duke of York, be king; And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice Hath made us by-words to our enemies. York. Then leave me not, my lords: be resolute; I mean to take possession of my right. War. Neither the king, nor he that loves him best, The proudest he that holds up Lancaster, Thy kinsmen, and thy friends, I'll have more lives, Than drops of blood were in my father's veins. Clif. Urge it no more; lest that, instead of words, I send thee, Warwick, such a messenger, less threats! York. Will you we show our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; I am the son of Henry the Fifth, And seiz'd upon their towns and provinces. War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. K. Hen. The lord protector lost it, and not I: When I was crown'd, I was but nine months old. Rich. You are old enough now, and yet me thinks, you lose : Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head Edw. Sweet father, do so; set it on your head. Mont. Good brother, [To YORK.] as thou lov'st aud honour'st arins, Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly. York. Sons, peace! K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to speak. War. Plantagenet shall speak first :-hear him, lords; • Since. And be you silent and attentive too, K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire and my father sat? Shall be my winding sheet.-Why faint you, lords? My title's good, and better far than his. War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. Hen. Henry the fourth by conquest got the crown. king: For Ricbard, in the view of many lords, And made him to resign his crown perforce. War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown? * Exe. No; for he could not so resign his crown, Bu that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter ? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon Of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, nor of Kent, Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not yield. K. Hen. Ah! Exeter : War. Why should you sigh, my lord! K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son, Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. Conditionally, that here thou take an oath perform. [Coming from the Throne. War. Long live king Henry !-Plantagenet, embrace him. K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are recou cil'd. Exe, Accurs'd be he that seeks to mkae thei foes! [Senet. The Lords come forward. York. Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle. War. And I'll keep London, with my sol diers. Norf. And I to Norfolk, with my followers. Mont. And I unto the sea, from whence I camie. [Exeunt YORK, and his Sons, WARWICK, NORFOLK, MONTAGUE, Soldiers, and Attendants. K. Hen. And I with grief and sorrow to the court. K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my Enter Queen MARGARET and the Prince of heart! York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown :What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? War. Do right unto this princely duke of York; Or I will fill the house with armed men, He stamps and the Soldiers show them- K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one word; Let me, for this my life-time, reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine heirs, And thou shalt reign in quiet while thon liv'st. K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Enjoy the kingdom after my decease. Cuf. What wrong is this unto the prince your son? War. What good is this to England and himself? • I. e. Detrimental to the general rights of hereditary royalty. WALES. Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: I'll steal away. K. Hen. Exeter, so will I. [Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. K. Hen. Be patient, gentle queen, and I will stay. Q. Mar. Who can be patient in such extremes ? Ah! wretched man! 'would I bad died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son, Rather than made that savage duke thine heir, Betray, discover. |