Queen.
Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss,
But chearly seek how to redress their harms.
What though the mast be now blown over-board,
The cable broke, the holding-anchor lost,
And half our sailors swallow'd in the flood?
Yet lives our Pilot still. Is't meet that he
Should leave the helm, and like a fearful lad
With tear-ful eyes add water to the sea,
And give more strength to that which hath too much?
While in his moan the ship splits on the rock,
Which industry and courage might have sav'd?
Ah what a shame, ah what a fault were this!
Say Warwick was our anchor; what of that?

And Montague our top-mast; what of him?
Our slaughter'd friends, the tackle; what of these?
Why is not Oxford here another anchor?
And Somerset another goodly mast?
The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings still?
And though unskilful, why not Ned and I
For once allow'd the skilful pilot's charge?
We will not from the helm to sit and weep,
But keep our course though the rough wind say no,
From shelves and rocks that threaten us with wrack:
As good to chide the waves, as speak them fair.
And what is Edward, but a ruthless sea?
What Clarence, but a quick-sand of deceit?
And Richard, but a ragged fatal rock?
All these, the enemies to our poor bark.
Say you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while;
Tread on the sand, why there you quickly sink;
Bestride the rock, the tide will wash you off,
Or else you famish, that's a three-fold death.
This speak I, lords, to let you understand,
In 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.
Methinks a woman of this valiant spirit
Should, if a coward heard 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 like spirit to himself.
If any such be here, as God forbid,
Let him depart before we need his help.

Oxf.
Women and children of so high a courage!
And warriors faint! why 'twere perpetual shame.
Oh brave young Prince! thy famous grandfather
Doth live again in thee; long may'st thou live,
To bear his image, and renew his glories.

Som.
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 wonder'd at.

Queen.
Thanks gentle Somerset, sweet Oxford thanks.

Prin.
And take his thanks, that yet hath nothing else. Enter a Messenger.

Mes.
Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand,
Ready to fight; therefore be resolute.

Oxf.
I thought no less; it is his policy
To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided.

Som.
But he's deceiv'd, we are in readiness.

Queen.
This chears my heart, to see your forwardness.

Oxf.
Here pitch our battel, hence we will not budge.

Previous section

Next section