The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE I. _Fields between Dartford and Blackheath_.
_Enter_ YORK, _and his army of Irish, with drum and colours_. _York._ From Ireland thus comes York to claim his right, [bea001] And pluck the crown from feeble Henry’s head: Ring, bells, aloud; burn, bonfires, clear and bright, To entertain great England’s lawful king. Ah! sancta majestas, who would not buy thee dear? [bea005] Let them obey that know not how to rule; [bea006] This hand was made to handle nought but gold. I cannot give due action to my words, [bea008] Except a sword or sceptre balance it: A sceptre shall it have, have I a soul, [bea010] On which I’ll toss the flower-de-luce of France. [bea011] _Enter_ BUCKINGHAM. Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb me? The king hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble. _Buck._ York, if thou meanest well, I greet thee well. _York._ Humphrey of Buckingham, I accept thy greeting. ·bea015· Art thou a messenger, or come of pleasure? _Buck._ A messenger from Henry, our dread liege, To know the reason of these arms in peace; Or why thou, being a subject as I am, Against thy oath and true allegiance sworn, ·bea020· Should raise so great a power without his leave, [bea021] Or dare to bring thy force so near the court.
_York._ [_Aside_] Scarce can I speak, my choler is so great: [bea023] O, I could hew up rocks and fight with flint, I am so angry at these abject terms; ·bea025· And now, like Ajax Telamonius, On sheep or oxen could I spend my fury. [bea027] I am far better born than is the king, More like a king, more kingly in my thoughts: But I must make fair weather yet a while, ·bea030· Till Henry be more weak and I more strong.-- Buckingham, I prithee, pardon me, [bea032] That I have given no answer all this while; My mind was troubled with deep melancholy. The cause why I have brought this army hither ·bea035· Is to remove proud Somerset from the king, Seditious to his grace and to the state. _Buck._ That is too much presumption on thy part: But if thy arms be to no other end, [bea039] The king hath yielded unto thy demand: ·bea040· The Duke of Somerset is in the Tower. _York._ Upon thine honour, is he prisoner? _Buck._ Upon mine honour, he is prisoner. [bea043] _York._ Then, Buckingham, I do dismiss my powers. Soldiers, I thank you all; disperse yourselves; ·bea045· Meet me to-morrow in Saint George’s field, You shall have pay and every thing you wish. And let my sovereign, virtuous Henry, Command my eldest son, nay, all my sons, As pledges of my fealty and love; ·bea050· I’ll send them all as willing as I live: Lands, goods, horse, armour, any thing I have, Is his to use, so Somerset may die.
_Som._ O monstrous traitor! I arrest thee, York, Of capital treason ’gainst the king and crown: Obey, audacious traitor; kneel for grace. _York._ Wouldst have me kneel? first let me ask of these, [bea109] If they can brook I bow a knee to man. ·bea110· Sirrah, call in my sons to be my bail: [_Exit Attendant._ [bea111] I know, ere they will have me go to ward, They’ll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement. [bea113] _Queen._ Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain. To say if that the bastard boys of York ·bea115· Shall be the surety for their traitor father. [bea116] [_Exit Buckingham._ _York._ O blood-bespotted Neapolitan, Outcast of Naples, England’s bloody scourge! The sons of York, thy betters in their birth, Shall be their father’s bail; and bane to those [bea120] That for my surety will refuse the boys! [bea121] _Enter_ EDWARD _and_ RICHARD. See where they come: I’ll warrant they’ll make it good. [bea122] _Enter old_ CLIFFORD _and his_ Son. _Queen._ And here comes Clifford to deny their bail. _Clif._ Health and all happiness to my lord the king! [bea124] [_Kneels_. _York._ I thank thee, Clifford: say, what news with thee? [bea125] Nay, do not fright us with an angry look: [bea126] We are thy sovereign, Clifford, kneel again; For thy mistaking so, we pardon thee. _Clif._ This is my king, York, I do not mistake; But thou mistakest me much to think I do: [bea130] To Bedlam with him! is the man grown mad?
_Queen._ A subtle traitor needs no sophister. _King._ Call Buckingham, and bid him arm himself. _York._ Call Buckingham, and all the friends thou hast, I am resolved for death or dignity. [bea194] _Clif._ The first I warrant thee, if dreams prove true. [bea195] _War._ You were best to go to bed and dream again, [bea196] To keep thee from the tempest of the field. _Clif._ I am resolved to bear a greater storm Than any thou canst conjure up to-day; And that I’ll write upon thy burgonet, ·bea200· Might I but know thee by thy household badge. [bea201] _War._ Now, by my father’s badge, old Nevil’s crest, [bea202] The rampant bear chain’d to the ragged staff, [bea203] This day I’ll wear aloft my burgonet, As on a mountain top the cedar shows ·bea205· That keeps his leaves in spite of any storm, Even to affright thee with the view thereof. [bea207] _Clif._ And from thy burgonet I’ll rend thy bear And tread it under foot with all contempt, Despite the bear-ward that protects the bear. [bea210] _Y. Clif._ And so to arms, victorious father, [bea211] To quell the rebels and their complices. [bea212] _Rich._ Fie! charity, for shame! speak not in spite, For you shall sup with Jesu Christ to-night. _Y. Clif._ Foul stigmatic, that’s more than thou canst tell. ·bea215· _Rich._ If not in heaven, you’ll surely sup in hell. [bea216] [_Exeunt severally._
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.