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be scap'd away or no From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit。 Had
he been ta'en； we should have heard the news； Had he been slain； we
should have heard the news； Or had he scap'd； methinks we should have
heard The happy tidings of his good escape。 How fares my brother？ Why
is he so sad？ RICHARD。 I cannot joy until I be resolv'd Where our right
valiant father is become。 I saw him in the battle range about； And watch'd
him how he singled Clifford forth。 Methought he bore him in the thickest
troop As doth a lion in a herd of neat； Or as a bear； encompass'd round
with dogs； Who having pinch'd a few and made them cry； The rest stand
all aloof and bark at him。 So far'd our father with his enemies； So fled his
enemies my warlike father。 Methinks 'tis prize enough to be his son。 See
how the morning opes her golden gates And takes her farewell of the
glorious sun。 How well resembles it the prime of youth； Trimm'd like a
younker prancing to his love！ EDWARD。 Dazzle mine eyes； or do I see
three suns？ RICHARD。 Three glorious suns； each one a perfect sun； Not
separated with the racking clouds； But sever'd in a pale clear…shining sky。
See； see！ they join； embrace； and seem to kiss； As if they vow'd some
league inviolable。 Now are they but one lamp； one light； one sun。 In this
the heaven figures some event。 EDWARD。 'Tis wondrous strange； the like
yet never heard of。 I think it cites us； brother； to the field； That we； the
sons of brave Plantagenet； Each one already blazing by our meeds； Should
notwithstanding join our lights together And overshine the earth； as this
the world。 Whate'er it bodes； henceforward will I bear Upon my target
three fair shining suns。 RICHARD。 Nay； bear three daughters… by your
leave I speak it； You love the breeder better than the male。
Enter a MESSENGER； blowing
But what art thou； whose heavy looks foretell Some dreadful story
hanging on thy tongue？ MESSENGER。 Ah； one that was a woeful looker…
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King Henry VI； Part 3
on When as the noble Duke of York was slain； Your princely father and
my loving lord！ EDWARD。 O； speak no more！ for I have heard too much。
RICHARD。 Say how he died； for I will hear it all。 MESSENGER。
Environed he was with many foes； And stood against them as the hope of
Troy Against the Greeks that would have ent'red Troy。 But Hercules
himself must yield to odds； And many strokes； though with a little axe；
Hews down and fells the hardest…timber'd oak。 By many hands your father
was subdu'd； But only slaught'red by the ireful arm Of unrelenting Clifford
and the Queen； Who crown'd the gracious Duke in high despite； Laugh'd
in his face； and when with grief he wept； The ruthless Queen gave him to
dry his cheeks A napkin steeped in the harmless blood Of sweet young
Rutland； by rough Clifford slain； And after many scorns； many foul taunts；
They took his head； and on the gates of York They set the same； and there
it doth remain； The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd。 EDWARD。 Sweet
Duke of York； our prop to lean upon； Now thou art gone； we have no staff；
no stay。 O Clifford； boist'rous Clifford； thou hast slain The flow'r of
Europe for his chivalry； And treacherously hast thou vanquish'd him； For
hand to hand he would have vanquish'd thee。 Now my soul's palace is
become a prison。 Ah； would she break from hence； that this my body
Might in the ground be closed up in rest！ For never henceforth shall I joy
again； Never； O never； shall I see more joy。 RICHARD。 I cannot weep； for
all my body's moisture Scarce serves to quench my furnace…burning heart；
Nor can my tongue unload my heart's great burden； For self…same wind
that I should speak withal Is kindling coals that fires all my breast； And
burns me up with flames that tears would quench。 To weep is to make less
the depth of grief。 Tears then for babes； blows and revenge for me！
Richard； I bear thy name； I'll venge thy death； Or die renowned by
attempting it。 EDWARD。 His name that valiant duke hath left with thee；
His dukedom and his chair with me is left。 RICHARD。 Nay； if thou be that
princely eagle's bird； Show thy descent by gazing 'gainst the sun； For chair
and dukedom； throne and kingdom； say： Either that is thine； or else thou
wert not his。
March。 Enter WARWICK； MONTAGUE； and their army
WARWICK。 How now； fair lords！ What fare？ What news abroad？
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RICHARD。 Great Lord of Warwick； if we should recount Our baleful
news and at each word's deliverance Stab poinards in our flesh till all were
told； The words would add more anguish than the wounds。 O valiant lord；
the Duke of York is slain！ EDWARD。 O Warwick； Warwick！ that
Plantagenet Which held thee dearly as his soul's redemption Is by the stern
Lord Clifford done to death。 WARWICK。 Ten days ago I drown'd these
news in tears； And now； to add more measure to your woes； I come to tell
you things sith then befall'n。 After the bloody fray at Wakefield fought；
Where your brave father breath'd his latest gasp； Tidings； as swiftly as the
posts could run； Were brought me of your loss and his depart。 I； then in
London； keeper of the King； Muster'd my soldiers； gathered flocks of
friends； And very well appointed； as I thought； March'd toward Saint
Albans to intercept the Queen； Bearing the King in my behalf along； For
by my scouts I was advertised That she was coming with a full intent To
dash our late decree in parliament Touching King Henry's oath and your
succession。 Short tale to make… we at Saint Albans met； Our battles join'd；
and both sides fiercely fought； But whether 'twas the coldness of the King；
Who look'd full gently on his warlike queen； That robb'd my soldiers of
their heated spleen； Or whether 'twas report of her success； Or more than
common fear of Clifford's rigour； Who thunders to his captives blood and
death； I cannot judge； but； to conclude with truth； Their weapons like to
lightning came and went： Our soldiers'； like the night…owl's lazy flight Or
like an idle thresher with a flail； Fell gently down； as if they struck their
friends。 I cheer'd them up with justice of our cause； With promise of high
pay and great rewards； But all in vain； they had no heart to fight； And we
in them no hope to win the day； So that we fled： the King unto the Queen；
Lord George your brother； Norfolk； and myself； In haste post…haste are
come to join with you； For in the marches here we heard you were Making
another head to fight again。 EDWARD。 Where is the Duke of Norfolk；
gentle Warwick？ And when came George from Burgundy to England？
WARWICK。 Some six miles off the Duke is with the soldiers； And for
your brother； he was lately sent From your kind aunt； Duchess of
Burgundy； With aid of soldiers to this needful war。 RICHARD。 'Twas odds；
belike； when valiant Warwick fled。 Oft have I heard his praises in pursuit；
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But ne'er till now his scandal of retire。 WARWICK。 Nor now my scandal；
Richard； dost thou hear； For thou shalt know this strong right hand of mine
Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry's head And wring the awful
sceptre from his fist； Were he as famous and as bold in war As he is fam'd
for mildness； peace； and prayer。 RICHARD。 I know it well； Lord Warwick；
blame me not。 'Tis love I bear thy glories makes me speak。 But in this
troublous time what's to be done？ Shall we go throw away our coats of
steel And wrap our bodies in black mourning…gowns； Numbering our Ave…
Maries with our beads？ Or shall we on the helmets of our foes Tell our
devotion with revengeful arms？ If for the last； say 'Ay；' and to it； lords。
WARWICK。 Why； therefore Warwick came to seek you out； And therefore
comes my brother Montague。 Attend me； lords。 The proud insulting Queen；
With Clifford and the haught Northumberland； And of their feather m