O, may such purple tears be alway shed From those that wish the downfall of our house!
If any spark of life be yet remaining, Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither:
Stabs him again I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear.
Indeed, 'tis true that Henry told me of;
For I have often heard my mother say I came into the world with my legs forward:
Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste, And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right?
The midwife wonder'd and the women cried 'O, Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!'
And so I was; which plainly signified That I should snarl and bite and play the dog.
Then, since the heavens have shaped my body so, Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it.
I have no brother, I am like no brother;
And this word 'love,' which graybeards call divine, Be resident in men like one another And not in me: I am myself alone.
Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light:
But I will sort a pitchy day for thee;
For I will buz abroad such prophecies That Edward shall be fearful of his life, And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death.
King Henry and the prince his son are gone:
Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the rest, Counting myself but bad till I be best.
I'll throw thy body in another room And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom.
Exit, with the body SCENE VII. London. The palace. Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, QUEEN ELIZABETH, CLARENCE, GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, a Nurse with the young Prince, and Attendants KING EDWARD IV Once more we sit in England's royal throne, Re-purchased with the blood of enemies.
What valiant foemen, like to autumn's corn, Have we mow'd down, in tops of all their pride!
Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd For hardy and undoubted champions;Two Cliffords, as the father and the son, And two Northumberlands; two braver men Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound;With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague, That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion And made the forest tremble when they roar'd.
Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat And made our footstool of security.
Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy.
Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles and myself Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night, Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat, That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace;And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain. GLOUCESTER [Aside] I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid;For yet I am not look'd on in the world.
This shoulder was ordain'd so thick to heave;And heave it shall some weight, or break my back:
Work thou the way,--and thou shalt execute. KING EDWARD IV Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely queen;And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. CLARENCE The duty that I owe unto your majesty I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe. QUEEN ELIZABETH Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks. GLOUCESTER And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st, Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit.
Aside And cried 'all hail!' when as he meant all harm. KING EDWARD IV Now am I seated as my soul delights, Having my country's peace and brothers' loves. CLARENCE What will your grace have done with Margaret?
Reignier, her father, to the king of France Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem, And hither have they sent it for her ransom. KING EDWARD IV Away with her, and waft her hence to France.
And now what rests but that we spend the time With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows, Such as befits the pleasure of the court?
Sound drums and trumpets! farewell sour annoy!
For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.
Exeunt
