The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. _Sandal Castle_.
_Enter_ RICHARD, EDWARD, _and_ MONTAGUE. _Rich._ Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. [cab001] _Edw._ No, I can better play the orator. _Mont._ But I have reasons strong and forcible. _Enter the_ DUKE OF YORK. _York._ Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife? [cab004] What is your quarrel? how began it first? ·cab005· _Edw._ No quarrel, but a slight contention. [cab006] _York._ About what? _Rich._ About that which concerns your grace and us; The crown of England, father, which is yours. _York._ Mine, boy? not till King Henry be dead. [cab010] _Rich._ Your right depends not on his life or death. _Edw._ Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now: By 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. ·cab015· _Edw._ But for a kingdom any oath may be broken: I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year. [cab017] _Rich._ No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn. _York._ I shall be, if I claim by open war. _Rich._ I’ll prove the contrary, if you’ll hear me speak. ·cab020· _York._ Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. _Rich._ An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: [cab024] Henry had none, but did usurp the place; ·cab025· 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 ·cab030· 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 dyed Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry’s heart.
_Enter_ SIR JOHN MORTIMER _and_ SIR HUGH MORTIMER. _York._ Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles, [cab062] You are come to Sandal in a happy hour; The army of the queen mean to besiege us. [cab064] _Sir John._ She shall not need; we’ll meet her in the field. ·cab065· _York._ What, with five thousand men? _Rich._ Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need: A woman’s general; what should we fear? [_A march afar off._ _Edw._ I hear their drums: let’s set our men in order, [cab069] And issue forth and bid them battle straight. ·cab070· _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? [cab075] [_Alarum. Exeunt._
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.