RUTLAND
Ah, shall I fly to scape their hands?
Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes.
CLIFFORD
Chaplain, away! priesthood saves 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 be hated both of God and man.
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 the wretch
That trembles under his devouring paws;
And so he walks, insulting his prey,
And so he comes to rend his limbs asunder.
Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with 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 wrath;
Be revenged on men, and let me live.
CLIFFORD
In vain speak’st, poor boy; my father’s blood
stopped the passage where 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 brethren here, their lives and
Were not revenge sufficient for me.
No, if I digged up 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 I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!
CLIFFORD
Such pity as my rapier’s point affords.
RUTLAND
I never did harm; why wilt slay me?
CLIFFORD
father .
RUTLAND
But I was born.
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 when I give occasion of offence
Then let me die, for now no cause.
CLIFFORD
No cause? father slew my father; therefore die.
RUTLAND
Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae!
CLIFFORD
Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet!
And this son’s blood cleaving to my blade
Shall rust upon my weapon till blood,
Congealed with this, do make me wipe off both.