SCENE V. Another part of the Field

Flourish. Enter King Edward, Richard, George and Soldiers; with Queen Margaret, Oxford and Somerset as prisoners.

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 hence; I will not hear them speak.

OXFORD. For my part, I’ll not trouble thee with words.

SOMERSET. Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune.

[ Exeunt Oxford and Somerset , guarded. ]

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.

Enter soldiers with Prince Edward .

KING EDWARD. Bring forth the gallant; let us hear him speak. What, can so young a man begin to prick? Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects, And all the trouble thou hast turned me to?

PRINCE EDWARD. Speak like a subject, proud, ambitious York. 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 Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.

QUEEN MARGARET. Ah, thy father had been so resolved!

RICHARD. That you might still have worn the petticoat And ne’er 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, thou 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, thou art too malapert.

PRINCE EDWARD. I know my duty; you are all undutiful. Lascivious Edward, and thou perjured George, And thou misshapen Dick, I tell ye all I am your better, traitors as ye are, And thou usurp’st my father’s right and mine.

KING EDWARD. Take that, the likeness of this railer here.

[ Stabs him. ]

RICHARD. Sprawl’st thou? Take that to end thy agony.

[ Stabs him. ]

GEORGE. And there’s for twitting me with perjury.

[ Stabs him. ]

QUEEN MARGARET. O, kill me too!

RICHARD. Marry, and shall.

[ Offers to kill her. ]

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, doth she swoon? Use means for her recovery.

RICHARD. 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.

GEORGE. What? What?

RICHARD. The Tower, the Tower!

[ Exit. ]

QUEEN MARGARET. O Ned, sweet Ned, speak to thy mother, boy. Canst thou 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 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; 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 hence perforce.

QUEEN MARGARET. Nay, never bear me hence, dispatch me here. Here sheathe thy sword; I’ll pardon thee my death. What, wilt thou not? Then, Clarence, do it thou.

GEORGE. By heaven, I will not do thee so much ease.

QUEEN MARGARET. Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it.

GEORGE. Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it?

QUEEN MARGARET. Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself. ’Twas sin before, but now ’tis charity. What, wilt thou not? Where is that devil’s butcher, Richard, Hard-favoured Richard? Richard, where art thou? Thou art not here. Murder is thy alms-deed; Petitioners for blood thou ne’er putt’st back.

KING EDWARD. Away, I say! I charge ye, bear her hence.

QUEEN MARGARET. So come to you and yours as to this prince!

[ She is taken out. ]

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 hence. 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 hath a son for me.

[ Exeunt. ]