War. Depos'd he shall be, in defpight of thee. Which makes thee thus prefumptuous and proud, Clif. King Henry, be thy title right or wrong, K. Henry. Oh Clifford, how thy words revive my heart. And, o'er the chair of state, where now he fits, [He ftamps with his foot, and the Soldiers fhew themselves. K. Henry. My Lord of Warwick, hear me but one word Let me but reign in quiet, while I live. York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs, And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou liv'ft. K. Henry. I am content: Richard Plantagenet, Clif. What wrong is this unto the Prince your fon ? North. Nor I. Clif. Come, coufin, let us tell the Queen these news. Weft. Farewel, faint-hearted and degen'rate King, In whofe cold blood no spark of honour bides. North. Be thou a prey unto the house of York, And die in bands for this unmanly deed! Clif. In dreadful war may'ft thou be overcome, Or live in peace abandon'd and defpis'd! [Exeunt Nor. Cliff. Westm. War. Turn this way, Henry, and regard them not. Exe. They feek revenge, and therefore will not yield. K. Henry. Ah, Exeter ! War. War. Why fhould you figh, my Lord? K. Henry. Not for myfelf, Lord Warwick, but my fon; Whom I unnaturally fhall difinherit. But be it, as it may; I here entail The crown to thee, and to thine heirs for ever; To feek 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 thefe thy forward fons! York. Now York and Lancaster are reconcil'd. Exe. Accurft be he that feeks to make them foes! [Sonet. Here they come down. York. Farewel, my gracious Lord, I'll to my caftle. War. And I'll keep London with my foldiers. North. And I to Norfolk with my followers. Mont. And I unto the fea, from whence I came. [Exeunt York, Warwick, Norfolk and Montague. K. Henry. And I with grief and forrow to the court. Enter the Queen, and the Prince of Wales. Exe. Here comes the Queen, whofe looks bewray her I'll fteal away. [anger : [Going K. Henry. So, Exeter, will I. Thou wouldst have left thy dearest heart-blood there, Prince. Father, you cannot difinherit me : If you be King, why fhould not I fucceed? K. Henry. Pardon me, Margret; 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 ? The northern Lords, that have forfworn thy colours, Thus do I leave thee; come, fon, let's away; K. Henry. Stay, gentle Margaret, and hear me freak. Prince. When I return with victory from the field, Queen. Come, fon, away; we may not linger thus. Hath Hath made her break out into terms of rage. The lofs of those three Lords torments my heart; - Exe. And, as I hope, shall reconcile them all. [Exeunt SCENE changes to Sandal-Castle, near Wakefield, in Yorkshire. Rich. Enter Richard, Edward, and Montague. Rother, though I be youngest, give me leave. Brother, Mont. But I have reasons strong and forcible. York. Why how now, fons and brother, at a ftrife? What is your quarrel? how began it firft? Edw. No quarrel, but a fweet contention. (3) York. About what? Rich. About that, which concerns your Grace and us; The crown of England, father; which is yours. York, Mine, boy? not 'till King Henry be dead. York. I took an oath that he fhould quietly reign. (3) No quarrel but a slight contention.] Thus the players, first, in their edition; who did not underftand, I prefume, the force of the epithet in the old Quarto, which I have reftor'd ;-sweet contention. i. e. the argument of their difpute was upon a grateful topick; the queftion of their father's immediate right to the crown. (4) But for a kingdom any oath may be broken :] It seems very probable to me, that the poet is here copying the fpirit of this paffage of Seneca's Thebais. -Pro I'd break a thoufand oaths to reign one year. Rich. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak. That hath authority o'er him, that swears. And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. And whet on Warwick to this enterprize. Thou, Richard, fhalt to the Duke of Norfolk go, You, Edward, fhall unto my Lord Cobham, Wealthy and courteous, liberal, full of fpirit. (5) -Pro regno velim Patriam, penates, conjugem flammis dare; To the fame tenour Euripides, in his Phænissæ; Κάλλισον ἀδικεῖν: &c. But (5) Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.] What a bleffed harmonious line have the editors here given us, and what a promifing epithet in York's behalf, from the Kentifhmen being fo witty? I can't be fo partial, however, to my own county, as to let this compliment pafs. I make no doubt to read; -For they are Soldiers, Wealthy, and courteous, liberal, full of spirit. Now |