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not Oxford here another anchor？ And Somerset another goodly mast？ The
friends of France our shrouds and tacklings？ And； though unskilful； why
not Ned and I For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge？ We will not from
the helm to sit and weep； But keep our course； though the rough wind say
no； From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wreck； As good to chide
the waves as speak them fair。 And what is Edward but a ruthless sea？
What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit？ And Richard but a ragged fatal
rock？ All these the enemies to our poor bark。 Say you can swim； alas； 'tis
but a while！ Tread on the sand； why； there you quickly sink。 Bestride the
rock； the tide will wash you off； Or else you famish… that's a threefold
death。 This speak I； lords； to let you understand； If case some one of you
would fly from us； That there's no hop'd…for mercy with the brothers More
than with ruthless waves； with sands； and rocks。 Why； courage then！ What
cannot be avoided 'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear。 PRINCE
OF WALES。 Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit Should； if a coward
hear her speak these words； Infuse his breast with magnanimity And make
him naked foil a man…at…arms。 I speak not this as doubting any here； For
did I but suspect a fearful man； He should have leave to go away betimes；
Lest in our need he might infect another And make him of the like spirit to
himself。 If any such be here… as God forbid！… Let him depart before we
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need his help。 OXFORD。 Women and children of so high a courage； And
warriors faint！ Why； 'twere perpetual shame。 O brave young Prince！ thy
famous grandfather Doth live again in thee。 Long mayst thou Eve To bear
his image and renew his glories！ SOMERSET。 And he that will not fight
for such a hope； Go home to bed and； like the owl by day； If he arise； be
mock'd and wond'red at。 QUEEN MARGARET。 Thanks； gentle Somerset；
sweet Oxford； thanks。 PRINCE OF WALES。 And take his thanks that yet
hath nothing else。
Enter a MESSENGER
MESSENGER。 Prepare you； lords； for Edward is at hand Ready to
fight； therefore be resolute。 OXFORD。 I thought no less。 It is his policy To
haste thus fast； to find us unprovided。 SOMERSET。 But he's deceiv'd； we
are in readiness。 QUEEN MARGARET。 This cheers my heart； to see your
forwardness。 OXFORD。 Here pitch our battle； hence we will not budge。
Flourish and march。 Enter； at a distance； KING EDWARD；
GLOUCESTER； CLARENCE； and soldiers
KING EDWARD。 Brave followers； yonder stands the thorny wood
Which； by the heavens' assistance and your strength； Must by the roots be
hewn up yet ere night。 I need not add more fuel to your fire； For well I wot
ye blaze to burn them out。 Give signal to the fight； and to it； lords。
QUEEN MARGARET。 Lords； knights； and gentlemen； what I should say
My tears gainsay； for every word I speak； Ye see； I drink the water of my
eye。 Therefore； no more but this： Henry； your sovereign； Is prisoner to the
foe； his state usurp'd； His realm a slaughter…house； his subjects slain； His
statutes cancell'd； and his treasure spent； And yonder is the wolf that
makes this spoil。 You fight in justice。 Then； in God's name； lords； Be
valiant； and give signal to the fight。 Alarum； retreat； excursions。 Exeunt
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SCENE V。 Another part of the field
Flourish。 Enter KING EDWARD； GLOUCESTER； CLARENCE； and
forces； With QUEEN MARGARET； OXFORD； and SOMERSET；
prisoners
KING EDWARD。 Now here a period of tumultuous broils。 Away
with Oxford to Hames Castle straight； For Somerset； off with his guilty
head。 Go； bear them hence； I will not hear them speak。 OXFORD。 For my
part； I'll not trouble thee with words。 SOMERSET。 Nor I； but stoop with
patience to my fortune。 Exeunt OXFORD and SOMERSET； guarded
QUEEN MARGARET。 So part we sadly in this troublous world； To meet
with joy in sweet Jerusalem。 KING EDWARD。 Is proclamation made that
who finds Edward Shall have a high reward； and he his life？
GLOUCESTER。 It is； and lo where youthful Edward comes。
Enter soldiers； with PRINCE EDWARD KING EDWARD。 Bring
forth the gallant； let us hear him speak。 What； can so young a man begin to
prick？ Edward； what satisfaction canst thou make For bearing arms； for
stirring up my subjects； And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to？
PRINCE OF WALES。 Speak like a subject； proud ambitious York。
Suppose that I am now my father's mouth； Resign thy chair； and where I
stand kneel thou； Whilst I propose the self…same words to the Which；
traitor； thou wouldst have me answer to。 QUEEN MARGARET。 Ah； that
thy father had been so resolv'd！ GLOUCESTER。 That you might still have
worn the petticoat And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster。
PRINCE OF WALES。 Let Aesop fable in a winter's night； His currish
riddle sorts not with this place。 GLOUCESTER。 By heaven； brat； I'll
plague ye for that word。 QUEEN MARGARET。 Ay； thou wast born to be a
plague to men。 GLOUCESTER。 For God's sake； take away this captive
scold。 PRINCE OF WALES。 Nay； take away this scolding crookback
rather。 KING EDWARD。 Peace； wilful boy； or I will charm your tongue。
CLARENCE。 Untutor'd lad； thou art too malapert。 PRINCE OF WALES。 I
know my duty； you are all undutiful。 Lascivious Edward； and thou perjur'd
George； And thou misshapen Dick； I tell ye all I am your better； traitors as
ye are； And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine。 KING EDWARD。
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Take that； the likeness of this railer here。 ＇Stabs him＇ GLOUCESTER。
Sprawl'st thou？ Take that； to end thy agony。 ＇Stabs him＇ CLARENCE。
And there's for twitting me with perjury。 ＇Stabs him＇ QUEEN
MARGARET。 O； kill me too！ GLOUCESTER。 Marry； and shall。 ＇Offers
to kill her＇ KING EDWARD。 Hold； Richard； hold； for we have done to
much。 GLOUCESTER。 Why should she live to fill the world with words？
KING EDWARD。 What； doth she swoon？ Use means for her recovery。
GLOUCESTER。 Clarence； excuse me to the King my brother。 I'll hence to
London on a serious matter； Ere ye come there； be sure to hear some news。
CLARENCE。 What？ what？ GLOUCESTER。 The Tower！ the Tower！ Exit
QUEEN MARGARET。 O Ned； sweet Ned； speak to thy mother； boy！
Canst thou not speak？ O traitors！ murderers！ They that stabb'd Caesar shed
no blood at all； Did not offend； nor were not worthy blame； If this foul
deed were by to equal it。 He was a man： this； in respect； a child； And men
ne'er spend their fury on a child。 What's worse than murderer； that I may
name it？ No； no； my heart will burst； an if I speak… And I will speak； that
so my heart may burst。 Butchers and villains！ bloody cannibals！ How
sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd！ You have no children； butchers；
if you had； The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse。 But if you
ever chance to have a child； Look in his youth to have him so cut off As；
deathsmen； you have rid this sweet young prince！ KING EDWARD。 Away
with her； go； bear her hence perforce。 QUEEN MARGARET。 Nay； never
bear me hence； dispatch me here。 Here sheathe thy sword； I'll pardon thee
my death。 What； wilt thou not？ Then； Clarence； do it thou。 CLARENCE。
By heaven； I will not do thee so much ease。 QUEEN MARGARET。 Good
Clarence； do； sweet Clarence； do thou do it。 CLARENCE。 Didst thou not
hear me swear I would not do it？ QUEEN MARGARET。 Ay； but thou
usest to forswear thyself。 'Twas sin before； but now 'tis charity。 What！ wilt
thou not？ Where is that devil's butcher； Hard…favour'd Richard？ Richard；
where art thou？ Thou art not here。 Murder is thy alms…deed； Petitioners for
blood thou ne'er put'st back。 KING EDWARD。 Away； I say； I charge ye
bear her hence。 QUEEN MARGARET。 So come to you and yours as to
this prince。 Exit； led out forcibly KING EDWARD。 Where's Richar