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If case some one of you would fly from us,

That there's no hop'd-for mercy with the brothers

More than with ruthless waves, with sands, and rocks.

Why, courage then! What cannot be avoided

'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear.

PRINCE OF WALES.

Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit

Should, if a coward hear her speak these words,

Infuse his breast with magnanimity

And make him naked foil a man-at-arms.

I speak not this as doubting any here;

For did I but suspect a fearful man,

He should have leave to go away betimes,

Lest in our need he might infect another

And make him of the like spirit to himself.

If any such be here- as God forbid!-

Let him depart before we need his help.

OXFORD.

Women and children of so high a courage,

And warriors faint! Why, 'twere perpetual shame.

O brave young Prince! thy famous grandfather

Doth live again in thee. Long mayst thou Eve

To bear his image and renew his glories!

SOMERSET.

And he that will not fight for such a hope,

Go home to bed and, like the owl by day,

If he arise, be mock'd and wond'red at.

QUEEN MARGARET.

Thanks, gentle Somerset; sweet Oxford, thanks.

PRINCE OF WALES.

And take his thanks that yet hath nothing else.

Enter a MESSENGER

MESSENGER.

Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand

Ready to fight; therefore be resolute.

OXFORD.

I thought no less. It is his policy

To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided.

SOMERSET.

But he's deceiv'd; we are in readiness.

QUEEN MARGARET.

This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness.

OXFORD.

Here pitch our battle; hence we will not budge.

Flourish and march. Enter, at a distance, KING EDWARD,

GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and soldiers

KING EDWARD.

Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood

Which, by the heavens' assistance and your strength,

Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night.

I need not add more fuel to your fire,

For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out.

Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords.

QUEEN MARGARET.

Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say

My tears gainsay; for every word I speak,

Ye see, I drink the water of my eye.

Therefore, no more but this: Henry, your sovereign,

Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd,

His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain,

His statutes cancell'd, and his treasure spent;

And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil.

You fight in justice. Then, in God's name, lords,

Be valiant, and give signal to the fight.

Alarum, retreat, excursions. Exeunt

SCENE V. Another part of the field

Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and forces, With QUEEN MARGARET, OXFORD, and SOMERSET, 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?

GLOUCESTER.

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 turn'd me to?

PRINCE OF WALES.

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 self-same words to the

Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.

QUEEN MARGARET.

Ah, that thy father had been so resolv'd!

GLOUCESTER.

That you might still have worn the petticoat

And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster.

PRINCE OF WALES.

Let Aesop fable in a winter's night;

His currish riddle sorts not with this place.