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Our slaughter'd friends the tackles; what of these? |
Why, is not Oxford here another anchor? |
And Somerset another goodly mast? |
The friends of France our shrouds and tacklings? |
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 wreck. |
As good to chide the waves as speak them fair. |
And what is Edward but ruthless sea? |
What Clarence but a quicksand 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 threefold death. |
This speak I, lords, to let you understand, |
If case some one of you would fly from us, |
That there's no hoped-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 EDWARD: |
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. |
OXFORD: |
Women and children of so high a courage, |
And warriors faint! why, 'twere perpetual shame. |
O brave young prince! thy famous grandfather |
Doth live again in thee: long mayst thou live |
To bear his image and renew his glories! |
SOMERSET: |
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 MARGARET: |
Thanks, gentle Somerset; sweet Oxford, thanks. |
PRINCE EDWARD: |
And take his thanks that yet hath nothing else. |
Messenger: |
Prepare you, lords, for Edward is at hand. |
Ready to fight; therefore be resolute. |
OXFORD: |
I thought no less: it is his policy |
To haste thus fast, to find us unprovided. |
SOMERSET: |
But he's deceived; we are in readiness. |
QUEEN MARGARET: |
This cheers my heart, to see your forwardness. |
OXFORD: |
Here pitch our battle; hence we will not budge. |
KING EDWARD IV: |
Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, |
Which, by the heavens' assistance and your strength, |
Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. |
I need not add more fuel to your fire, |
For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out |
Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords! |
QUEEN MARGARET: |
Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say |
My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, |
Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes. |
Therefore, no more but this: Henry, your sovereign, |
Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd, |
His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, |
His statutes cancell'd and his treasure spent; |
And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil. |
You fight in justice: then, in God's name, lords, |
Be valiant and give signal to the fight. |
3 KING HENRY VI |
KING EDWARD IV: |
Now here a period of tumultuous broils. |
Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight: |
For Somerset, off with his guilty head. |
Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak. |
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