THIRD PART OF KING HENRY VI. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. The Parliament-House. 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.' Warwick. I WONDER, how the king escap'd our hands. York. While we pursu'd the horsemen of the north, Whereat the great lord of Northumberland, I cleft his beaver with a downright blow; blood, [Showing his bloody sword. Mont. And, brother, here's the earl of Wiltshire's [To YORK, showing his. Whom I encountered 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 sons.What, is your grace dead, my lord of Somerset ? Norf. Such hope have all the line of John of Gaunt! [1] This play is only divided from the former for the convenience of exhibition; for the series of action is continued without interruption, nor are any two scenes of any play more closely connected than the first scene of this play with the last of the former. JOHNSON. [2] Here, as Mr. Elderton has observed to me, is a gross anachronism. At the time of the first battle of Saint Albans, at which Richard is represented in the last scene of the preceding play to have fought, he was, according to that gentleman's calcula'tion, not one year old, having (as he conceives,) been born at Frotheringay Castle, October 21, 1454. MALONE. Rich. Thus do I hope to shake king Henry's head. 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 seek 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: By words, or blows, here let us win our right. Rich. Arm'd as we are, let's stay within this house. And bashful Henry depos'd, whose cowardice 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, Dare stir a wing, if Warwick shake his bells.3 I'll plant Plantagenet, root him up who dares :— K. Hen. My lords, look where the sturdy rebel sits, And thine, lord Clifford; and you both have vow'd re venge On him, his sons, his favourites, and his friends. [3] The allusion is to falconry. The hawk had sometimes little bells hung upon them, perhaps to dare the birds; that is, to fright them from rising. JOHNSON North. If I be not, heavens, be reveng'd on me! K. Hen. Be patient, gentle earl of Westmoreland. North. Well hast thou spoken, cousin; be it so. [They advance to the Duke. Thou factious duke of York, descend my throne, And kneel for grace and mercy at my feet; I am thy sovereign. York. Thou art deceiv'd, I am thine. Exe. For shame, come down; he made thee duke of York. In following this usurping Henry. Clif. Whom should he follow, but his natural king? War. True, Clifford ; and that's Richard, duke of York. K. Hen. And shall I stand, and thou sit in my throne? York. It must and shall be so. Content thyself. War. Be duke of Lancaster, let him be king. West. He is both king and duke of Lancaster; And that the lord of Westmoreland shall maintain. War. And Warwick shall disprove it. You forget, That we are those, which chas'd you from the field, And slew your fathers, and with colours spread March'd through the city to the palace gates. North. Yes, Warwick, I remember it to my grief; And, by his soul, thou and thy house shall rue it. [4] York means, I suppose, that the dukedom of York was his inheritance from his father, as the earldom of March was his inheritance from his mother, Aune Mortimer, the wife of the Earl of Cambridge; and by naming the earldom, he covertly asserts his right to the crown; for his title to the crown was not as Duke of York, but Earl of March. MALONE. West. Plantagenet, of thee, and these thy sons, 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, As shall revenge his death, before I stir. War. Poor Clifford! how I scorn his worthless threats! York. Will you, we show our title to the crown? If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. K. Hen. What title hast thou, traitor, to the crown? Thy father was, as thou art, duke of York; Thy grandfather, Roger Mortimer, earl of March: Who made the Dauphin and the French to stoop, War. Talk not of France, sith thou hast lost it all. Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. 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; And be you silent and attentive too, For he, that interrupts him, shall not live. K. Hen. Think'st thou, that I will leave my kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? No first shall war unpeople this my realm; : Ay, and their colours-often borne in France; And now in England, to our heart's great sorrow,- War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. Hen. I know not what to say; my title's weak. [5] The military reputation of Henry the Fifth is the sole support of his son. The name of Henry the Fifth dispersed the followers of Cade. JOHNSON. |