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James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
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SCENE V. Another Part of the Same. Alarums: Excursions: and afterwards a Retreat. Then Enter King Edward, Clarence, Gloster, and Forces; with Queen Margaret, Oxford, and Somerset, Prisoners.

&mlquo;K. Edw.
&mlquo;Now, here a period of tumultuous broils.
Away with Oxford to Hammes' castle8 note straight:

-- 531 --


For Somerset9 note, off with his guilty head.
&mlquo;Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak.

Oxf.
For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words.

&mlquo;Som.
&mlquo;Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune.
[Exeunt Oxford and Somerset, guarded.

&mast;Q. Mar.
&mast;So part we sadly in this troublous world,
&mast;To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem.

&mast;K. Edw.
&mast;Is proclamation made,—that, who finds Edward,
&mast;Shall have a high reward, and he his life?

&mast;Glo.
&mast;It is: and, lo, where youthful Edward comes.
Enter Soldiers, with Prince Edward.

&mast;K. Edw.
&mast;ring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak:
&mast;What! can so young a thorn begin to prick1 note

?
&mlquo;Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make,
&mlquo;For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects,
&mast;And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to2 note





?

-- 532 --

Prince.
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 thee,
Which, traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.

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

&mlquo;Glo.
&mlquo;That you might still have worn the petticoat,
And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster.

Prince.
Let Æsop3 note fable in a winter's night;
His currish riddles sort not with this place.

Glo.
By heaven, brat, I'll plague you for that word.

Q. Mar.
Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men.

Glo.
For God's sake, take away this captive scold.

Prince.
Nay, take away this scolding crook-back rather.

&mlquo;K. Edw.
&mlquo;Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue4 note





.

-- 533 --

Clar.
Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert.

Prince.
I know my duty, you are all undutiful:
Lascivious Edward,—and thou perjur'd George,—
And thou misshapen Dick,—I tell ye all,
I am your better, traitors as ye are;—
&mast;And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine.

K. Edw.
Take that, the likeness of this railer here5 note


. [Stabs him.

&mast;Glo.
&mast;Sprawl'st thou? take that, to end thy agony.
[Glo. stabs him.

&mast;Clar.
&mast;And there's for twitting me with perjury.
[Clar. stabs him.

Q. Mar.
O, kill me too!

Glo.
Marry, and shall.
[Offers to kill her.

&mlquo;K. Edw.
&mlquo;Hold, Richard, hold, for we have done too much.

Glo.
Why should she live, to fill the world with words6 note
?

-- 534 --

&mlquo;K. Edw.
&mlquo;What! doth she swoon? use means for her recovery.

Glo.
Clarence, excuse me to the king, my brother;
&mlquo;I'll hence to London on a serious matter:
&mlquo;Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news.

Clar.
What? what?

&mlquo;Glo.
&mlquo;The Tower, the Tower7 note!
[Exit.

&mlquo;Q. Mar.
&mlquo;O, Ned, sweet Ned! speak to thy mother, boy!
&mlquo;Canst thou not speak!—O traitors! murderers!—
They, that stabb'd Cæsar, shed no blood at all,
Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame,
&mast;If this foul deed were by, to equal it:
&mlquo;He was a man; this, in respect, a child;
And men ne'er spend their fury on a child.
&mlquo;What's worse than murderer, that I may name it?
&mast;No, no; my heart will burst, an if I speak:—
&mast;And I will speak, that so my heart may burst.—
&mast;Butchers and villains, bloody cannibals!
&mast;How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd!
&mlquo;You have no children, butchers8 note



! if you had,

-- 535 --


&mlquo;The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse:
&mlquo;But, if you ever chance to have a child,
Look in his youth to have him so cut off,
&mlquo;As, deathsmen! you have rid this sweet young prince9 note

!

K. Edw.
Away with her; go, bear her hence perforce,

Q. Mar.
Nay, never bear me hence, despatch me here;
Here sheath thy sword, I'll pardon thee my death:
What! wilt thou not?—then, Clarence, do it thou.

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

Q. Mar.
Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it1 note.

Clar.
Didst thou not hear me swear, I would not do it.

Q. Mar.
Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself;
'Twas sin before2 note, but now 'tis charity.
&mlquo;What! wilt thou not? where is that devil's butcher,
Hard-favour'd Richard3 note

? Richard, where art thou?

-- 536 --


Thou art not here: Murder is thy alms-deed;
Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back.

&mlquo;K. Edw.
&mlquo;Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence.

Q. Mar.
So come to you, and yours, as to this prince!
[Exit, led out forcibly.

K. Edw.
Where's Richard gone?

&mlquo;Clar.
&mlquo;To London, all in post; and, as I guess,
To make a bloody supper in the Tower.

K. Edw.
He's sudden, if a thing comes in his head.
&mlquo;Now march we hence: discharge the common sort
&mlquo;With pay and thanks, and let's away to London,
&mlquo;And see our gentle queen how well she fares;
&mlquo;By this, I hope, she hath a son for me.
[Exeunt.
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James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
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