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giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe； It will outrun you； father；
in the end。 YORK。 I took an oath that he should quietly reign。 EDWARD。
But for a kingdom any oath may be broken： I would break a thousand
oaths to reign one year。 RICHARD。 No； God forbid your Grace should be
forsworn。 YORK。 I shall be； if I claim by open war。 RICHARD。 I'll prove
the contrary； if you'll hear me speak。 YORK。 Thou canst not； son； it is
impossible。 RICHARD。 An oath is of no moment； being not took Before a
true and lawful magistrate That hath authority over him that swears。 Henry
had none； but did usurp the place； Then； seeing 'twas he that made you to
depose； Your oath； my lord； is vain and frivolous。 Therefore； to arms。 And；
father； do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown； Within whose
circuit is Elysium And all that poets feign of bliss and joy。 Why do we
linger thus？ I cannot rest Until the white rose that I wear be dy'd Even in
the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart。 YORK。 Richard； enough； I will be
King； or die。 Brother； thou shalt to London presently And whet on
Warwick to this enterprise。 Thou； Richard； shalt to the Duke of Norfolk
And tell him privily of our intent。 You； Edward； shall unto my Lord
Cobham； With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise； In them I trust；
for they are soldiers； Witty； courteous； liberal； full of spirit。 While you are
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King Henry VI； Part 3
thus employ'd； what resteth more But that I seek occasion how to rise； And
yet the King not privy to my drift； Nor any of the house of Lancaster？
Enter a MESSENGER
But； stay。 What news？ Why com'st thou in such post？ MESSENGER。
The Queen with all the northern earls and lords Intend here to besiege you
in your castle。 She is hard by with twenty thousand men； And therefore
fortify your hold； my lord。 YORK。 Ay； with my sword。 What！ think'st thou
that we fear them？ Edward and Richard； you shall stay with me； My
brother Montague shall post to London。 Let noble Warwick； Cobham； and
the rest； Whom we have left protectors of the King； With pow'rful policy
strengthen themselves And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths。
MONTAGUE。 Brother； I go； I'll win them； fear it not。 And thus most
humbly I do take my leave。 Exit
Enter SIR JOHN and SIR HUGH MORTIMER
YORK。 Sir john and Sir Hugh Mortimer； mine uncles！ You are come
to Sandal in a happy hour； The army of the Queen mean to besiege us。 SIR
JOHN。 She shall not need； we'll meet her in the field。 YORK。 What； with
five thousand men？ RICHARD。 Ay； with five hundred； father； for a need。
A woman's general； what should we fear？ ＇A march afar off＇ EDWARD。 I
hear their drums。 Let's set our men in order； And issue forth and bid them
battle straight。 YORK。 Five men to twenty！ Though the odds be great； I
doubt not； uncle； of our victory。 Many a battle have I won in France； When
as the enemy hath been ten to one； Why should I not now have the like
success？ Exeunt
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King Henry VI； Part 3
SCENE III。 Field of battle between Sandal Castle
and Wakefield
Alarum。 Enter RUTLAND and his TUTOR
RUTLAND。 Ah； whither shall I fly to scape their hands？ Ah； tutor；
look where bloody Clifford comes！
Enter CLIFFORD and soldiers
CLIFFORD。 Chaplain； away！ Thy priesthood saves thy life。 As for
the brat of this accursed duke； Whose father slew my father； he shall die。
TUTOR。 And I； my lord； will bear him company。 CLIFFORD。 Soldiers；
away with him！ TUTOR。 Ah； Clifford； murder not this innocent child； Lest
thou be hated both of God and man。 Exit； forced off by soldiers
CLIFFORD。 How now； is he dead already？ Or is it fear That makes him
close his eyes？ I'll open them。 RUTLAND。 So looks the pent…up lion o'er
the wretch That trembles under his devouring paws； And so he walks；
insulting o'er his prey； And so he comes； to rend his limbs asunder。 Ah；
gentle Clifford； kill me with thy sword； And not with such a cruel
threat'ning look！ Sweet Clifford； hear me speak before I die。 I am too
mean a subject for thy wrath； Be thou reveng'd on men； and let me live。
CLIFFORD。 In vain thou speak'st； poor boy； my father's blood Hath
stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter。 RUTLAND。 Then let
my father's blood open it again： He is a man； and； Clifford； cope with him。
CLIFFORD。 Had I thy brethren here； their lives and thine Were not
revenge sufficient for me； No； if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves And
hung their rotten coffins up in chains； It could not slake mine ire nor ease
my heart。 The sight of any of the house of York Is as a fury to torment my
soul； And till I root out their accursed line And leave not one alive； I live
in hell。 Therefore… RUTLAND。 O； let me pray before I take my death！ To
thee I pray： sweet Clifford； pity me。 CLIFFORD。 Such pity as my rapier's
point affords。 RUTLAND。 I never did thee harm； why wilt thou slay me？
CLIFFORD。 Thy father hath。 RUTLAND。 But 'twas ere I was born。 Thou
hast one son； for his sake pity me； Lest in revenge thereof； sith God is just；
He be as miserably slain as I。 Ah； let me live in prison all my days； And
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King Henry VI； Part 3
when I give occasion of offence Then let me die； for now thou hast no
cause。 CLIFFORD。 No cause！ Thy father slew my father； therefore； die。
＇Stabs him＇ RUTLAND。 Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae！ ＇Dies＇
CLIFFORD。 Plantagenet； I come； Plantagenet； And this thy son's blood
cleaving to my blade Shall rust upon my weapon； till thy blood； Congeal'd
with this； do make me wipe off both。 Exit
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King Henry VI； Part 3
SCENE IV。 Another part of the field
Alarum。 Enter the DUKE OF YORK
YORK。 The army of the Queen hath got the field。 My uncles both are
slain in rescuing me； And all my followers to the eager foe Turn back and
fly； like ships before the wind； Or lambs pursu'd by hunger…starved wolves。
My sons… God knows what hath bechanced them； But this I know… they
have demean'd themselves Like men born to renown by life or death。
Three times did Richard make a lane to me； And thrice cried 'Courage；
father！ fight it out。' And full as oft came Edward to my side With purple
falchion； painted to the hilt In blood of those that had encount'red him。
And when the hardiest warriors did retire； Richard cried 'Charge； and give
no foot of ground！' And cried 'A crown； or else a glorious tomb！ A sceptre；
or an earthly sepulchre！' With this we charg'd again； but out alas！ We
bodg'd again； as I have seen a swan With bootless labour swim against the
tide And spend her strength with over…matching waves。 ＇A short alarum
within＇ Ah； hark！ The fatal followers do pursue； And I am faint and cannot
fly their fury； And were I strong； I would not shun their fury。 The sands are
numb'red that make up my life； Here must I stay； and here my life must
end。
Enter QUEEN MARGARET； CLIFFORD； NORTHUMBERLAND；
the PRINCE OF WALES； and soldiers
Come； bloody Clifford； rough Northumberland； I dare your
quenchless fury to more rage； I am your butt； and I abide your shot。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 Yield to our mercy； proud Plantagenet。
CLIFFORD。 Ay； to such mercy as his ruthless arm With downright
payment show'd unto my father。 Now Phaethon hath tumbled from his car；
And made an evening at the noontide prick。 YORK。 My ashes； as the
phoenix； may bring forth A bird that will revenge upon you all； And in that
hope I throw mine eyes to heaven； Scorning whate'er you can afflict me
with。 Why come you not？ What！ multitudes； and fear？ CLIFFORD。 So
cowards fight when they can fly no further； So doves do peck the falcon's
piercing talons； So desperate thieves； all hopeless of their lives； Breath