KING EDWARD
Now here a period of tumultuous broils.
Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight.
For Somerset, off with his guilty head.
Go, bear them ; I will not hear them speak.
OXFORD
For my part, I’ll not trouble with words.
SOMERSET
Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune.
QUEEN MARGARET
So part we sadly in this troublous world,
To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem.
KING EDWARD
Is proclamation made that who finds Edward
Shall have a high reward, and he his life?
RICHARD
It is, and lo where youthful Edward comes.
KING EDWARD
Bring forth the gallant; let us hear him speak.
What, can so young a man begin to prick?
Edward, what satisfaction canst make
For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects,
And all the trouble turned me to?
PRINCE EDWARD
Speak like a subject, proud, ambitious York.
Suppose that I am now my father’s mouth;
Resign chair, and where I stand kneel ,
Whilst I propose the selfsame words to
Which, traitor, have me answer to.
QUEEN MARGARET
Ah, father had been so resolved!
RICHARD
That you might still have worn the petticoat
And have stol’n the breech from Lancaster.
PRINCE EDWARD
Let Aesop fable in a winter’s night;
His currish riddle sorts not with this place.
RICHARD
By heaven, brat, I’ll plague you for that word.
QUEEN MARGARET
Ay, wast born to be a plague to men.
RICHARD
For God’s sake, take away this captive scold.
PRINCE EDWARD
Nay, take away this scolding crookback rather.
KING EDWARD
Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue.
GEORGE
Untutored lad, art too malapert.
PRINCE EDWARD
I know my duty; you are all undutiful.
Lascivious Edward, and perjured George,
And misshapen Dick, I tell all
I am your better, traitors as are,
And usurp’st my father’s right and mine.
KING EDWARD
Take that, the likeness of this railer here.
RICHARD
Sprawl’st ? Take that to end agony.
GEORGE
And there’s for twitting me with perjury.
QUEEN MARGARET
O, kill me too!
RICHARD
Marry, and shall.
KING EDWARD
Hold, Richard, hold; for we have done too much.
RICHARD
Why should she live to fill the world with words?
KING EDWARD
What, she swoon? Use means for her recovery.
RICHARD
Clarence, excuse me to the King my brother.
I’ll to London on a serious matter.
come there, be sure to hear some news.
GEORGE
What? What?
RICHARD
The Tower, the Tower!
QUEEN MARGARET
O Ned, sweet Ned, speak to mother, boy.
Canst not speak? O traitors, murderers!
They that stabbed Caesar shed no blood at all,
Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame,
If this foul deed were by to equal it.
He was a man; this, in respect, a child,
And men 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;
And I will speak, that so my heart may burst.
Butchers and villains, bloody cannibals!
How sweet a plant have you untimely cropped!
You have no children, butchers; if you had,
The thought of them would have stirred up remorse.
But if you ever chance to have a child,
Look in his youth to have him so cut off
As, deathsmen, you have rid this sweet young prince!
KING EDWARD
Away with her; go bear her perforce.
QUEEN MARGARET
Nay, never bear me , dispatch me here.
Here sheathe sword; I’ll pardon my death.
What, wilt not? Then, Clarence, do it .
GEORGE
By heaven, I will not do so much ease.
QUEEN MARGARET
Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do do it.
GEORGE
not hear me swear I would not do it?
QUEEN MARGARET
Ay, but usest to forswear thyself.
sin before, but now charity.
What, wilt not? Where is that devil’s butcher, Richard,
Hard-favoured Richard? Richard, where art ?
art not here. Murder is alms-deed;
Petitioners for blood putt’st back.
KING EDWARD
Away, I say! I charge , bear her .
QUEEN MARGARET
So come to you and yours as to this prince!
KING EDWARD
Where’s Richard gone?
GEORGE
To London all in post, and, as I guess,
To make a bloody supper in the Tower.
KING EDWARD
He’s sudden if a thing comes in his head.
Now march we . Discharge the common sort
With pay and thanks, and let’s away to London
And see our gentle Queen how well she fares.
By this, I hope, she a son for me.