War.
Accept this scrowl, most gracious Sovereign,
Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet

We do exhibit to your Majesty.

Glou.
Well urg'd, my lord of Warwick; For, sweet Prince,
An if your Grace mark ev'ry circumstance,
You have great reason to do Richard right:
Especially, for those occasions
At Eltham-place I told your Majesty.

K. Henry.
And those occasions, uncle, were of force:
Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is,
That Richard be restored to his blood.

War.
Let Richard be restored to his blood,
So shall his father's wrongs be recompens'd.

Win.
As will the rest, so willeth Winchester.

K. Henry.
If Richard will be true, not that alone,
But all the whole inheritance I give,
That doth belong unto the house of York;
From whence you spring by lineal Descent.

Rich.
Thy humble servant vows obedience,
And faithful service, till the point of death.

K. Henry.
Stoop, then, and set your knee against my foot.
And in reguerdon of that duty done,
I gird thee with the valiant Sword of York.
Rise, Richard, like a true Plantagenet,
And rise created Princely Duke of York.

Rich.
And so thrive Richard, as thy foes may fall!
And as my duty springs, so perish they,
That grudge one thought against your Majesty!

All.
Welcome, high Prince, the mighty Duke of York!

Som.
Perish, base Prince, ignoble Duke of York! [Aside.

Glou.
Now will it best avail your Majesty
To cross the seas, and to be crown'd in France:
The presence of a King engenders love
Amongst his subjects and his loyal friends,
As it disanimates his enemies.

K. Henry.
When Glo'ster says the word, King Henry goes;
For friendly counsel cuts off many foes.

Glou.
Your ships already are in readiness. [Exeunt. Manet Exeter.

Exe.
Ay, we may march in England or in France,
Not seeing what is likely to ensue;
This late dissention, grown betwixt the peers,
Burns under feigned ashes of forg'd love;
And will at last break out into a flame.
As fester'd members rot but by degrees,
'Till bones, and flesh, and sinews, fall away;
So will this base and envious discord breed.
And now I fear that fatal Prophecy,
Which in the time of Henry, nam'd the Fifth,
Was in the mouth of ev'ry sucking babe;
That Henry, born at Monmouth, should win all;
And Henry, born at Windsor, should lose all:
Which is so plain, that Exeter doth wish,
His days may finish ere that hapless time. [Exit.

Previous section

Next section