War.
Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not.

Exe.
They seek revenge, and therefore will not yield.

K. Henry.
Ah, Exeter!—

War.
Why should you sigh, my lord?

K. Henry.
Not for myself, lord Warwick, but my son?
Whom I unnaturally shall disinherit.
But be it, as it may; I here entaile
The Crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever;
Conditionally, that here thou take an oath

To cease this Civil War; and, whilst I live,
To honour me as thy King and Sovereign:
Neither by treason nor hostility
To seek to put me down, and reign thyself.

York.
This oath I willingly take, and will perform.

War.
Long live King Henry! Plantagenet, embrace him.

K. Henry.
And long live thou, and these thy forward sons!

York.
Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd.

Exe.
Accurst be he, that seeks to make them foes! [Sonet. Here they come down.

York.
Farewel, my gracious lord, I'll to my Castle.

War.
And I'll keep London with my soldiers.

Norf.
And I to Norfolk with my followers.

Mont.
And I unto the sea, from whence I came. [Exeunt York, Warwick, Norfolk and Montague.

K. Henry.
And I with grief and sorrow to the Court. Enter the Queen, and the Prince of Wales.

Exe.
Here comes the Queen, whose looks bewray her anger:
I'll steal away.

K. Henry.
So, Exeter, will I. [Going.

Queen.
Nay, go not from me; I will follow thee—

K. Henry.
Be patient, gentle Queen, and I will stay.

Queen.
Who can be patient in such extreams?
Ah, wretched man! would I had dy'd a maid,
And never seen thee, never borne thee son,
Seeing thou hast prov'd so unnatural a father.
Hath he deserv'd to lose his birth-right thus?
Hadst thou but lov'd him half so well as I,
Or felt that pain which I did for him once,
Or nourisht him, as I did with my blood;
Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there,
Rather than made that savage Duke thine heir,
And disinherited thine only son.

Prince.
Father, you cannot disinherit me:
If you be King, why should not I succeed?

K. Henry.
Pardon me, Marg'ret; pardon me, sweet son;
The Earl of Warwick and the Duke enforc'd me.

Queen.
Enforc'd thee? art thou King, and wilt be forc'd?
I shame to hear thee speak; ah, tim'rous wretch!
Thou hast undone thyself, thy son, and me;
And given unto the House of York such head,
As thou shalt reign but by their sufferance.
To entail him and's heirs unto the Crown,
What is it but to make thy Sepulchre,
And creep into it far before thy time?
Warwick is Chancellor, and the lord of Calais;
Stern Faulconbridge commands the narrow Seas;
The Duke is made Protector of the Realm;
And yet shalt thou be safe?—such safety finds
The trembling lamb, invironed with wolves.
Had I been there, which am a silly woman,
The soldiers should have toss'd me on their pikes,
Before I would have granted to that Act.
But thou preferr'st thy life before thine honour:
And, seeing thou dost, I here divorce myself
Both from thy table, Henry, and thy bed;
Until that Act of Parliament be repealed,
Whereby my son is disinherited.
The northern lords, that have forsworn thy Colours,
Will follow mine, if once they see them spread:
And spread they shall be, to thy foul disgrace,
And utter ruin of the House of York.
Thus I do leave thee; come, Son, let's away;
Our army's ready; come, we'll after them.

K. Henry.
Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me speak.

Queen.
Thou hast spoke too much already; get thee gone.

K. Henry.
Gentle son Edward, thou wilt stay with me?

Queen.
Ay, to be murther'd by his enemies.—

Prince.
When I return with victory from the field,
I'll see your Grace; till then I'll follow her.

Queen.
Come, son, away; we may not linger thus. [Exeunt Queen and Prince.

K. Henry.
Poor Queen, how love to me and to her son
Hath made her break out into terms of rage!
Reveng'd may she be on that hateful Duke,
Whose haughty spirit, winged with desire,
^{2 note}Will coast my crown; and, like an empty eagle,
Tire on the flesh of me and of my son!
The loss of those three lords torments my heart;
I'll write unto them, and intreat them fair;
Come, Cousin, you shall be the messenger.

Exe.
And, as I hope, shall reconcile them all. [Exeunt.

Previous section

Next section