FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI.

Scene IV.

It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
Your roof were not sufficient to contain it.

And stands upon the honour of his birth,
If he suppose that I bave pleaded truth,

Count. This is a riddling merchant for the From off this brier pluck a white rose with me.

nonce; *

Som. Let him that is no coward, nor no
flatterer,

He will be here, and yet he is not here:

How can these contrarieties agree?

Tul. That will I show you presently.

But dare maintain the party of the truth,
Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with ine
War. I love no colours; and, without all
colour

He winds a Horn. Drums heard; then a Peal
of Ordnance. The Gates being forced, enter
Soldiers.

How say you, madam? are you now persuaded,
That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
These are his substance, sinews, arms, and
strength,

With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,
Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns,
And in a moment makes thein desolate.

Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:
I find, thou art no less than fame hath bruited, t
And more thau may be gather'd by thy shape.
Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath;
For I am sorry, that with reverence
I did not entertain thee as thou art.

of base insinuating flattery,

I pluck this white rose, with Plantagenet:
Suff pluck this red rose, with young So-
merset ;

Ver. Stay, lords, and gentlemen: and pluck
And say withal, I think he held the right.
no more,

Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor mis

construe

The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake
The outward composition of his body.

What you have doue, hath not offended me:
No other satisfaction do I crave,

But only (with your patience,) that we may
Taste of your wine, and see what cates you
have:

Till you conclude-that he, upon whose side
The fewest roses are cropp'd from the tree,
Shall yield the other in the right opinion.

Som. Good master Vernon, it is well ob-
jected; t

If I have fewest, I subscribe in silence.
Plan. And I.

Ver. Then, for the truth and plainness of the

For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well.
Count. With all my heart: and think me
bonoured

To feast so great a warrior in my house.

case,

I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here,
Giving my verdict on the white rose side.

Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it
off;

Lest bleeding, you do paint the white rose red,
Aud fall on my side so against your will.

Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed,
Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt,
And keep me on the ride where still I am.
Som. Well, well, come on: Who else?
Law. Unless my study and my books be
false,

[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.-London.-The Temple Garden.
Enter the Earls of SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, and
WARWICK; RICHARD PLANTAGENET, VER-
xox, and another LAWYER.

Plan. Great lords, and gentlemen, what means
this silence?

The argument you held, was wrong in yon;
[To SOMERSET.
Plan. Now, Somerset, where is your argu-
In sign whereof, I pluck a white rose too.
ment ?

Som. Here, in my scabbard; meditating that,
Shall die your white rose in a bloody red.
Plan. Meantime, your cheeks do counterfeit

Dare no man answer in a case of truth?

Suf. Within the temple hall we were too The truth on our side.
loud;

The garden here is more convenient.
Plan. Then say at once, If I maintain'd the
truth;

Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error?
Sf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law;
And never yet could frame my will to it;
And, therefore, frame the law unto my will.

Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then

473

our roses;

For pale they look with fear, as witnessing

Som. No, Plantagenet,

'Tis not for fear; but anger,-that thy cheeks
And yet thy tongue will not confess thy error.
Blush for pure shame, to counterfeit our roses :
Plan. Hath not thy rose a canker, Somerset ?
Som. Hath not thy rose a thorn, Planta-
genet 1

Plan. Ay, sharp and piercing, to maintain
his truth;
Whiles thy consuming canker eats his false-

between us.

Between

War. Between two hawks, which flies the
bigher pitch,
two dogs, which hath the deeper
mouth,
Between two blades, which bears the better
temper,

Between two horses, which doth bear him best,
Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye, I
I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judg

ment :

But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.

Plan. Tot, tut, here is a mannerly forbear

ance:

hood.

Som. Well, I'll find friends to wear my bleed-
ing roses,
That shall maintain what I have said is true,
Plan. Now, by this maiden blossom in my
Where false Plantagenet dare not be seen,
hand,

Suff. Turn not thy scorns this way, Planta-
scorn thee and thy fashion, peevish boy.
genet.

Plan. Proud Poole, I will; and scorn both
him and thee.

De-la-
Suff. P'il turn my part thereof into thy throat.
Som. Away, away, good William
Poole !
We grace the yeoman, by conversing with him.
War. Now by God's will, thou wrong'st him,
Somerset ;

His grandfather was Lionel, duke of Clarence,
land;
Third son to the third Edward king of Eug-
Spring crestless yeoman

from so deep a root ?

The truth appears so naked on my side,
That any purblind eye may find it out.

Sem. And on my side it is so well apparell'd,
So clear, so shining, and so evident,
That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye.
Plan. Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loath
to speak,

In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts:
Let him, that is a true-born gentleman,

For a purpose.

+ Announced loudly. 4. c. Regulate his motions most adroitly."

•

Plan. He bears him on the place's privilege, | Wax dim, as drawing to their exigent : Or durst not, for his craven heart, say thus. Weak shoulders, overborne with burd'ning grief;

Som. By him that made me, I'll maintain my words

And pithless arms, like to a wither'd vine On any plot of ground in Christendom: That droops his sapless branches to the ground:Was not thy father, Richard, earl of Cam-Yet are these feet whose strengthless stay is bridge,

numb,

For treason executed in our late king's days?
And, by his treason, stand'st not thou attainted,
Corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry?
His trespass yet lives guilty in thy blood;
And till thou be restor'd, thou art a yeoman.

Plan. My father was attached, not attainted;
Condemn'd to die for treason, but no traitor;
And that I'll prove on better men than Somer-
set,

[Exit.

Som. Have with thee, Poole.-Farewell, am-
bitious Richard.
[Exit.

Plan. How I am brav'd, and must perforce
endure it !

War. This blot, that they object against your
house,

Shall be wip'd out in the next parliament,
Call'd for the truce of Winchester and Gloster:
And, if thou be not then created York,
I will not live to be accounted Warwick.
Meantime, in signal of my love to thee,
Against proud Somerset, and William Poole,
Will I upon thy party wear this rose:
And here I prophesy.-This brawl to-day,
Grown to this faction, in the Temple-garden,
Shall send between the red rose and the
white,

A thousand souls to death and deadly night.
Plan. Good master Vernon, I am bound to

you,

That you on my behalf would pluck a flower.
Ver. In your behalf still will I wear the

sanie.

Law. And so will I.

Plan. Thanks, gentle Sir.

Come let us four to dinner: I dare say,
This quarrel will drink blood another day.

[Exeunt. SCENE V.-The same-A Room in the Tower. Enter MORTIMER, brought in a Chair by two Keepers.

Mor. Kind keepers of my weak decaying

age,

The temple, being a religious house, was a sanct Excluded." Confederate.

Unable to support this lump of clay,
Swift-winged with desire to get a grave,
As witting I ho other comfort have.-
But tell me, keeper, will my nephew come!
1 Keep. Richard Plantagenet, my lord, will

tuary.

5 Opinion. This scene is not consistent with historical truth; as Mortimer served under Henry V. in 1422, and died unconfined in Ireland in 1424.

And in his bosom spend my latter gasp:
O tell me, when my lips do touch his cheeks,
That I may kindly give one fainting kiss.-
And now declare, sweet stem from York's great
stock,

Why didst thou say-of late thou wert despis'd! Plan. First, lean thine aged back against mine arm :

And, in that ease, I'll tell thee my disease.+
This day in argument upon a case,

Some words there grew 'twixt Somerset and

me:

Among which terms he used his lavish tongue,
Which obloquy set bars before my tongue,
And did upbraid me with my father's death;
Else with the like I had requited him:
Therefore, good uncle,--for my father's sake,
In honour of a true Plantagenet,
And for alliance' sake,-declare the cause
My father, earl of Cambridge, lost his head.
Mor. That cause, fair nephew, that impri-
sou'd me,

And hath detain'd me, all my flow'ring youth,
Within a loathsome dungeon, there to pine,
Was cursed instrument of his disease.

Plan, Discover more at large what cause that

Let dying Mortimer here rest himself.-
Even like a man new haled from the rack,
So fare my limbs with long imprisonment:
And these grey locks, the pursuivants of death,
Nestor-like aged, in an age of care,
Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer |

And death approach not ere my tale be done.
Heary the fourth, grandfather to this king,
Depos'd his nephew Richard; Edward's son,
The first-begotten, and the lawful heir

Of Edward king, the third of that descent:
During whose reign, the Percies of the north,
Finding his usurpation most unjust,

These eyes, like lamps whose wasting oil is Endeavour'd my advancement to the throne:

spent,

The reason mov'd these warlike lords to this, Was for that (young king Richard thus re mov'd,

Leaving no heir begotten of his body,)

Lately-despised.
+ L'neasiness, discontent.

was;

For I am ignorant, and cannot guess.

Mor. I will; if that my fading breath permit,

FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI.

Scene I.

was the next by birth and parentage; For by my mother 1 derived am

·

From Lionel duke of Clarence, the third son
To king Edward the third, whereas he,
From John of Gaunt doth bring his pedigree,
Being but fourth of that heroic line.
But mark; as, in this haughty great attempt,
They laboured to plant the rightful heir,
I lost my liberty, and they their lives.
Long after this, when Henry the fifth,
Succeeding his father Bolingbroke, did reign,
Thy father, earl of Cambridge, then deriv'd
From famous Edmund Langley, duke of York,
Marrying my sister, that thy mother was,
Again, in pity of my hard distress,
Levied an army; weening + to redeem,
And have install'd me in the diadem:
But, as the rest, so fell that noble earl,
And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers,
In whom the title rested, were suppress'd.
Plan. Of which, my lord, your honour is the
last.

Mor. True; and thou seest that I no issue
have;

And that any fainting words do warrant death:
Thou art my heir; the rest, I wish thee gather:
But yet be wary in thy studious care.

Plan. Thy grave admonishments prevail with

me:

But yet, methinks, my father's execution
Was nothing less than bloody tyranny.

With written pamphlets studiously devis'd,
Humphrey of Gloster? if thou canst accuse,
Or aught intend'st to lay unto my charge,
Do it without invention suddenly;

As I with sudden and extemporal speech
Purpose to answer what thou canst object.
Glo. Presumptuous priest! this place com-
mands my patience,

Or thou should'st find thou hast dishonour'd me.
Think not, although in writing 1 preferr'd
The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes,
That therefore I have forg'd, or am not able
Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen :
No, prelate; such is thy audacious wicked-
ness,

Thy lewd, pestiferous, and dissentious pranks,
As very infants prattle of thy pride.
Thou art a most pernicious usurer;
Froward by nature, enemy to peace;
Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems
A man of thy profession, and degree;
And for thy treachery, What's more manifest?
In that thou laid'st a trap to take my life,
As well at London bridge, as at the Tower?
Beside, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted,
From envious malice of thy swelling heart.
The king thy sovereign, is not quite exempt
Win. Gloster, I do defy thee.-Lords, vouch-
safe

Mar. With silence, nephew, be thou politic;
Strong-fixed is the house of Lancaster,
And, like a mountain, not to be remov'd.
But now thy uncle is removing hence;

To give me hearing what I shall reply.
If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse,
As he will have me, how am I so poor?
Or how haps it, I seek not to advance
Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling:
And for dissention, who preferreth peace

As princes do their courts, when they are More than I do, except I be provok'd?

cloy'd

With long continuance in a settled place.
Plan. O uncle, 'would some part of my young

years

No, my good lords, it is not that offends;
It is not that, that hath incens'd the duke:
It is, because no one should sway but he;
No one, but he, should be about the king;
And that engenders thunder in his breast,
But he shall know, I am as good-
And makes him roar these accusations forth.

Might but redeem the passage of your age;
Mor. Thou dost then wrong me: as the
slaught'rer doth,

In prison hast thou spent a pilgrimage,
And like a hermit overpass'd thy days.-
Well, I will lock his counsel in my breast;
And what I do imagine, let that rest.-
Keepers, convey him hence; and I myself
Will see his burial better than bis life.-

Which giveth many wounds, when one will kill.
Mourn not, except thou sorrow for my good;
Only, give order for my funeral ;
And so farewell:t and fair be all thy hopes!
And prosperous be thy life, in peace, and war!
[Dies.

Plan. And peace, no war, befall thy parting

soul !

[Exeunt KEEPERS, bearing out MORTIMER.
Here dies the dusky torch of Mortimer,
Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort :-
And, for those wrongs, those bitter injuries,
Which Somerset bath offer'd to my house,
I doubt not, but with honour to redress :
And therefore haste I to the parliament;
Father to be restored to my blood,
O make my ill the advantage of my good.

[Exit.

475

ACT III.

SCENE 1.-The same.-The Parliament-
house.

Glo. As good?

Thon bastard of my grandfather!-

Win. Ay, loudly Sir; For what are you, I pray,

But one imperious in another's throne?
Glo. Am I not the protector, saucy priest?
Win. And am I not a prelate of the church ?
Glo. Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keepɛ,
And useth it to patronage his theft.

Tin. Unreverent Gloster!

Glo. Thou art reverent,

Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.
Win. This Rome shall remedy.
War. Roam thither then.

Som. My lord, it were your duty to forbear.
War. Ay, see the bishop be not overborne.
Som. Methinks, my lord should be religious,
And know the office that belongs to such.
War. Methinks, his lordship should be hum-
bler;

It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.

Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so

Enter King HENRY, EXETER,
Lourish.
GLOSTER, WARWICK, SOMERSET, and SUF
FOLK; the Bishop of WINCHESTER, RICHARD
GLOSTER offers
PLANTAGENET, and others.
put up a Bill; WINCHESTER Snatches
#t, and tears it.

near.

War. State holy, or unballow'd, what of
that ?

Is not his grace protector to the king?
Plan. Plantagenet, I see, must hold his
tongue;
Lest it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you
should;
Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords!
Else would I have a fling at Winchester.

· #lich.

Thinking.

1 Lucky, prosperous. My ill, as my ill usage. I. e. Articles of accusation.

[A side. K. Hen. Uncles of Gloster and of Winches ter,

I would prevail, if prayers might prevail,
The special watchmen of our English weal;
To join your hearts in love and amity.
Fm. Com'st thou with deep premeditated O what a scandal is it to our crown,
lines,

That two such noble peers as ye should jar!
Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell,
Civil dissention is a viperous worm,

↑ For shame, my lord of Winchester' ven, What, shall a child instruct you via i i Win. Well, duke of Glover, I wil thee;

Love for thy love, and hand for kan!! Glo. Ay; but, I fear me, vil al beart.

*

K. Hen. O loving uncle, kind dude ru
ter,

How joyful am I made by this content
Away, my masters! trouble us to me
But join in friendship, as your

done.

War. Accept this scroll, tant par

reign;
Which, in the right of Richard Platn
We do exhibit to your majesty.
Glo. Well urg'd, my lord of Wand
sweet prince,

An if your grace mark every circumstan
You have great reason to do Richard sp
Especially, for those occasions
At Elthamn-place I told your majesty.
K. Hen. And those occasions, mit e
force:

Therefore, my loving lords, our pleas
That Richard be restored to his blast
War. Let Richard be restered
So shall his father's wrongs be rec
Win. As will the rest, so wil