Rich. You are old enough now, and yet, methinks you lose : Father, tear the crown from the usurper's head. Let's fight it out, and not stand cavilling thus. Rich. Sound drums and trumpets, and the king will fly. York. Sons, peace! K. Hen. Peace thou! and give king Henry leave to speak. War. Plantagenet shall speak first :-hear him, lords; And be you silent and attentive too, For he, that interrupts him, shall not live. K. Hen. Think'st thou that I will leave my kingly throne, Wherein my grandsire, and my father, sat? War. But prove it, Henry, and thou shalt be king. K. Hen. I know not what to say; my title's weak. Tell me, may not a king adopt an heir? York. What then? K. Hen. An if he may, than am I lawful king: For Richard, in the view of many lords, Resign'd the crown to Henry the fourth; 7 Whose heir my father was, and I am his. York. He rose against him, being his sovereign, And made him to resign his crown perforce. War. Suppose, my lords, he did it unconstrain'd, Think you, 'twere prejudicial to his crown? Ere. No; for he could not so resign his crown, But that the next heir should succeed and reign. K. Hen. Art thou against us, duke of Exeter? Exe. His is the right, and therefore pardon me. York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? Exe. My conscience tells me he is lawful king. K. Hen. All will revolt from me, and turn to him. North. Plantagenet, for all the claim thou layʼst, Think not, that Henry shall be so depos'd. War. Depos'd he shall be, in despite of all. North. Thou art deceiv'd: 'tis not thy southern power, Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, K. Hen. O Clifford, how thy words revive my heart! Or I will fill the house with armed men, And, o'er the chair of state, where now he sits, VOL. VIII. [He stamps, and the Soldiers show themselves. K. Hen. My lord of Warwick, hear me but one word; Let me, for this my life-time, reign as king. York. Confirm the crown to me, and to mine heirs, And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'st. K. Hen. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Clif. What wrong is this unto the prince your son? Clif. Come, cousin, let us tell the queen these news. West. Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king, In whose cold blood no spark of honour bides. North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, And die in bands for this unmanly deed! Clif. In dreadful war may'st thou be overcome! Or live in peace, abandon'd, and despis'd! [Exeunt NORTH. CLIF. and WEST. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. Exe. They seek revenge, and therefore will not yield. K. Hen. Ah, Exeter! War. Why should you sigh, my lord? K. Hen. Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son, Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit. But, be it as it may :-I here entail The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; To honour me as thy king and sovereign; And neither by treason, nor hostility, To seek to put me down, and reign thyself. York. This oath I willingly take, and will perform. [Coming from the Throne. War. Long live king Henry !—Plantagenet, embrace him. K. Hen. And long live thou, and these thy forward sons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. K. Hen. And I, with grief and sorrow, to the court. Enter Queen MARGARET and the Prince of WALES. Exe. Here comes the queen, whose looks bewray her anger: I'll steal away. K. Hen. Exeter, so will I. [Going. Q. Mar. Nay, go not from me, I will follow thee. 2 Or felt that pain which I did for him once; Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me: If you be king, why should not I succeed? K. Hen. Pardon me, Margaret;-pardon me, sweet son; The earl of Warwick, and the duke, enforc'd me. I shame to hear thee speak. Ah, timorous wretch! |