The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE V. _Another part of the field_.
_Flourish. Enter_ KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, _and soldiers; with_ QUEEN MARGARET, OXFORD, _and_ SOMERSET, _prisoners_. _K. Edw._ Now here a period of tumultuous broils. [cee001] Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight: [cee002] For Somerset, off with his guilty head. Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. _Oxf._ For my part, I’ll not trouble thee with words. ·cee005· _Som._ Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune. [cee006] [_Exeunt Oxford and Somerset, guarded._ _Q. Mar._ So part we sadly in this troublous world, To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem. _K. Edw._ Is proclamation made, that who finds Edward Shall have a high reward, and he his life? ·cee010· _Glo._ It is: and lo, where youthful Edward comes! [cee011] _Enter_ Soldiers, _with_ PRINCE EDWARD. _K. Edw._ Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak. [cee012] What! can so young a thorn begin to prick? Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects, ·cee015· And all the trouble thou hast turn’d me to? [cee016] _Prince._ Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York! [cee017] Suppose that I am now my father’s mouth; Resign thy chair, and where I stand kneel thou, Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee, ·cee020· Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to. _Q. Mar._ Ah, that thy father had been so resolved!
_Glou._ 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. [cee048] _Clar._ What? what? _Glou._ The Tower, the Tower. [_Exit._ [cee050] _Q. Mar._ O Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy! Canst thou not speak? O traitors! murderers! They that stabb’d Cæsar shed no blood at all, Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, If this foul deed were by to equal it: [cee055] 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: [cee059] And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. ·cee060· 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, ·cee065· Look in his youth to have him so cut off As, deathsmen, you have rid this sweet young prince! _K. Edw._ Away with her; go, bear her hence perforce. _Q. Mar._ Nay, never bear me hence, dispatch me here; Here sheathe thy sword, I’ll pardon thee my death: ·cee070· What, wilt thou not? then, Clarence, do it thou.
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