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I wonder how our princely father 'scaped, |
Or whether he be 'scaped away or no |
From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit: |
Had he been ta'en, we should have heard the news; |
Had he been slain, we should have heard the news; |
Or had he 'scaped, methinks we should have heard |
The happy tidings of his good escape. |
How fares my brother? why is he so sad? |
RICHARD: |
I cannot joy, until I be resolved |
Where our right valiant father is become. |
I saw him in the battle range about; |
And watch'd him how he singled Clifford forth. |
Methought he bore him in the thickest troop |
As doth a lion in a herd of neat; |
Or as a bear, encompass'd round with dogs, |
Who having pinch'd a few and made them cry, |
The rest stand all aloof, and bark at him. |
So fared our father with his enemies; |
So fled his enemies my warlike father: |
Methinks, 'tis prize enough to be his son. |
See how the morning opes her golden gates, |
And takes her farewell of the glorious sun! |
How well resembles it the prime of youth, |
Trimm'd like a younker prancing to his love! |
EDWARD: |
Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns? |
RICHARD: |
Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun; |
Not separated with the racking clouds, |
But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky. |
See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss, |
As if they vow'd some league inviolable: |
Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun. |
In this the heaven figures some event. |
EDWARD: |
'Tis wondrous strange, the like yet never heard of. |
I think it cites us, brother, to the field, |
That we, the sons of brave Plantagenet, |
Each one already blazing by our meeds, |
Should notwithstanding join our lights together |
And over-shine the earth as this the world. |
Whate'er it bodes, henceforward will I bear |
Upon my target three fair-shining suns. |
RICHARD: |
Nay, bear three daughters: by your leave I speak it, |
You love the breeder better than the male. |
But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell |
Some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue? |
Messenger: |
Ah, one that was a woful looker-on |
When as the noble Duke of York was slain, |
Your princely father and my loving lord! |
EDWARD: |
O, speak no more, for I have heard too much. |
RICHARD: |
Say how he died, for I will hear it all. |
Messenger: |
Environed he was with many foes, |
And stood against them, as the hope of Troy |
Against the Greeks that would have enter'd Troy. |
But Hercules himself must yield to odds; |
And many strokes, though with a little axe, |
Hew down and fell the hardest-timber'd oak. |
By many hands your father was subdued; |
But only slaughter'd by the ireful arm |
Of unrelenting Clifford and the queen, |
Who crown'd the gracious duke in high despite, |
Laugh'd in his face; and when with grief he wept, |
The ruthless queen gave him to dry his cheeks |
A napkin steeped in the harmless blood |
Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain: |
And after many scorns, many foul taunts, |
They took his head, and on the gates of York |
They set the same; and there it doth remain, |
The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd. |
EDWARD: |
Sweet Duke of York, our prop to lean upon, |
Now thou art gone, we have no staff, no stay. |
O Clifford, boisterous Clifford! thou hast slain |
The flower of Europe for his chivalry; |
And treacherously hast thou vanquish'd him, |
For hand to hand he would have vanquish'd thee. |
Now my soul's palace is become a prison: |
Ah, would she break from hence, that this my body |
Might in the ground be closed up in rest! |
For never henceforth shall I joy again, |
Never, O never shall I see more joy! |
RICHARD: |
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