So, now prosperity begins to mellow

4.4.327722509And drop into the rotten mouth of death;

4.4.427732510Here in these confines slyly have I lurked

4.4.527742511To watch the waning of mine adversaries;

4.4.627752512A dire induction am I witness to,

4.4.727762513And will to France, hoping the consequence

4.4.827772514Will prove as bitter, black and tragical.

4.4.927782515Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret, who comes here?

Ah, my young princes, ah, my tender babes!

4.4.1227812518My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets,

4.4.1327822519If yet your gentle souls fly in the air

4.4.1427832520And be not fixed in doom perpetual,

4.4.1527842521Hover about me with your airy wings,

4.4.1627852522And hear your mother's lamentation.

[Aside] Hover about her, say that right for right

4.4.1827872524Hath dimmed your infant morn to aged night.

Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs

4.4.2027942526And throw them in the entrails of the wolf?

4.4.2127952527When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done?

[Aside] When Holy Harry died, and my sweet son.

Blind sight, dead life, poor mortal living ghost,

4.4.2427982530Woe's scene, world's shame, grave's due by life usurped,

4.4.2528002531Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth

4.4.2628012532Unlawfully made drunk with innocents' blood.

O that thou wouldst as well afford a grave

4.4.2828032534As thou canst yield a melancholy seat, [Sitting on the ground]

4.4.2928042535Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here.

4.4.3028052536Oh, who hath any cause to mourn but I!

So many miseries have crazed my voice

4.4.3227892538That my woe-wearied tongue is mute and dumb.

4.4.3327902539Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead?

[Coming forward.] If ancient sorrow be most reverent

4.4.3528072541Give mine the benefit of seniory,

4.4.3628082542And let my woes frown on the upper hand;

4.4.3728092543If sorrow can admit society,

4.4.382809.12544Tell over your woes again by viewing mine:

4.4.3928102545I had an Edward, till a Richard killed him:

4.4.4028112546I had a Harry, till a Richard killed him:

4.4.4128122547Thou had'st an Edward, till a Richard killed him:

4.4.4228132548Thou had'st a Richard, till a Richard killed him.

I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill him;

4.4.4428152550I had a Rutland too, thou holp'st to kill him.

Thou had'st a Clarence too, 2817and Richard killed him:

4.4.4628182552From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept

4.4.4728192553A hell-hound that doth hunt us all to death:

4.4.4828202554That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes

4.4.4928212555To worry lambs and lap their gentle bloods:

4.4.5028222556That foul defacer of God's handiwork

4.4.5128252557Thy womb let loose, to chase us to our graves.

4.4.5228262558O upright, just, and true-disposing God,

4.4.5328272559How do I thank thee that this carnal cur

4.4.5428282560Preys on the issue of his mother's body

4.4.5528292561And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan!

Oh, Harry's wife, triumph not in my woes,

4.4.5728312563God witness with me, I have wept for thine.

Bear with me, I am hungry for revenge

4.4.5928332565And now I cloy me with beholding it.

4.4.6028342566Thy Edward, he is dead, that stabbed my Edward,

4.4.6128352567Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;

4.4.6228362568Young York, he is but boot because both they

4.4.6328372569Match not the high perfection of my loss;

4.4.6428382570Thy Clarence, he is dead, that killed my Edward,

4.4.6528392571And the beholders of this tragic play,

4.4.6628402572The adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,

4.4.6728412573Untimely smothered in their dusky graves.

4.4.6828422574Richard yet lives, hell's black intelligencer,

4.4.6928432575Only reserved their factor to buy souls

4.4.7028442576And send them thither: but at hand, at hand

4.4.7128452577Ensues his piteous, and unpitied end;

4.4.7228462578Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray

4.4.7328472579To have him suddenly conveyed away.

4.4.7428482580Cancel his bond of life, dear God I pray,

4.4.7528492581That I may live to say, "The dog is dead."

Oh, thou didst prophesy the time would come

4.4.7728512583That I should wish for thee to help me curse

4.4.7828522584That bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad.

I called thee then vain flourish of my fortune,

4.4.8028542586I called thee then poor shadow, painted queen,

4.4.8128552587The presentation of but what I was,

4.4.8228562588The flattering index of a direful pageant,

4.4.8328572589One heaved a high, to be hurled down below,

4.4.8428582590A mother only mocked with two sweet babes,

4.4.8528592591A dream of which thou wert, a breath, a bubble,

4.4.8628612592A sign of dignity, a garish flag

4.4.8728602593To be the aim of every dangerous shot,

4.4.8828622594A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.

4.4.8928632595Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers?

4.4.9028642596Where are thy children? Wherein dost thou joy?

4.4.9128652597Who sues to thee and cries, "God save the Queen?"

4.4.9228662598Where be the bending peers that flattered thee?

4.4.9328672599Where be the thronging troops that followed thee?

4.4.9428682600Decline all this, and see what now thou art,

4.4.9528692601For happy wife, a most distressèd widow,

4.4.9628702602For joyful mother, one that wails the name,

4.4.9728722603For queen, a very caitiff crowned with care,

4.4.9828712604For one being sued to, one that humbly sues,

4.4.9928752605For one commanding all, obeyed of none,

4.4.10028732606For one that scorned at me, now scorned of me;

4.4.10128762607Thus hath the course of justice wheeled about

4.4.10228772608And left thee but a very prey to time,

4.4.10328782609Having no more but thought of what thou wert

4.4.10428792610To torture thee the more, being what thou art.

4.4.10528802611Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not

4.4.10628812612Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?

4.4.10728822613Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke,

4.4.10828832614From which, even here, I slip my weary neck

4.4.10928842615And leave the burden of it all on thee.

4.4.11028852616Farewell, York's wife and queen of sad mischance,

4.4.11128862617These English woes will make me smile in France.

Oh, thou well skilled in curses, stay a while

4.4.11328882619And teach me how to curse mine enemies.

Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days,

4.4.11528902621Compare dead happiness with living woe,

4.4.11628912622Think that thy babes were fairer than they were,

4.4.11728922623And he that slew them fouler than he is;

4.4.11828932624Bett'ring thy loss makes the bad causer worse,

4.4.11928942625Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.

My words are dull, oh, quicken them with thine.

Thy woes will make them sharp, 2897and pierce like mine.

Why should calamity be full of words?

Windy attorneys to your client woes

4.4.12529002630Airy succeeders of intestate joys,

4.4.12629012631Poor breathing orators of miseries,

4.4.12729022632Let them have scope; though what they do impart

4.4.12829032633Help not at all, yet do they ease the heart.

If so, then be not tongue-tied, go with me,

4.4.13029052635And in the breath of bitter words let's smother

4.4.13129062636My damnèd son, which thy two sweet sons smothered --

4.4.13329072637I hear his drum, be copious in exclaims.

Who intercepts my expedition?

A she, that might have intercepted thee

4.4.13729112642By strangling thee in her accursèd womb

4.4.13829122643From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done.

Hid'st thou that forehead with a golden crown

4.4.14029142645Where should be graven, if that right were right,

4.4.14129152646The slaughter of the Prince that owned that Crown,

4.4.14229162647And the dire death of my two sons and brothers;

4.4.14329172648Tell me, thou villain slave, where are my children?

Thou toad, thou toad, 2919where is thy brother Clarence?

4.4.14529202650And little Ned Plantagenet, his son?

Where is kind Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Gray?

A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum, drums!

4.4.14829242653Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women

4.4.14929252654Rail on the Lord's anointed. Strike, I say!

4.4.15129272655Either be patient and entreat me fair,

4.4.15229282656Or with the clamorous report of war

4.4.15329292657Thus will I drown your exclamations.

Art thou my son?

Aye, I thank God, my father and yourself.

Then patiently hear my impatience.

Madam, I have a touch of your condition,

4.4.15829342662Which cannot brook the accent of reproof.

I will be mild and gentle in my speech.

And brief, good mother, for I am in haste.

Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee,

4.4.16229402666God knows, in anguish, pain and agony.

And came I not at last to comfort you?

No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it well:

4.4.16529432669Thou cam'st on earth to make the earth my hell;

4.4.16629442670A grievous burden was thy birth to me,

4.4.16729452671Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy,

4.4.16829462672Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild and furious,

4.4.16929472673Thy prime of manhood daring, bold and venturous,

4.4.17029482674Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle, bloody, treacherous;

4.4.17129502675What comfortable hour canst thou name

4.4.17229512676That ever graced me in thy company?

Faith none but Humphrey hour, 2953 that called your grace

4.4.17429542678To breakfast once, forth of my company.

4.4.17529552679If I be so disgracious in your sight,

4.4.17629562680Let me march on, and not offend your grace.

Oh hear me speak, for I shall never see thee more.

Come, come, you are too bitter.

Either thou wilt die by God's just ordinance

4.4.18029642684Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror,

4.4.18129652685Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish

4.4.18229662686And never look upon thy face again.

4.4.18329672687Therefore take with thee my most heavy curse

4.4.18429682688Which in the day of battle tire thee more

4.4.18529692689Than all the complete armor that thou wear'st;

4.4.18629702690My prayers on the adverse party fight,

4.4.18729712691And there the little souls of Edward's children

4.4.18829722692Whisper the spirits of thine enemies

4.4.18929732693And promise them success and victory.

4.4.19029742694Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end,

29752695Shame serves thy life, and doth thy death attend.

Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse

4.4.19329772697Abides in me, I say "Amen" to all.

Stay, madam, I must speak a word with you.

I have no more sons of the royal blood

4.4.19629802700For thee to murder. For my daughters, Richard,

4.4.19729812701They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens,

4.4.19829822702And therefore level not to hit their lives.

You have a daughter called Elizabeth,

4.4.20029842704Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.

And must she die for this? Oh, let her live

4.4.20229862706And I'll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty,

4.4.20329872707Slander myself as false to Edward's bed,

4.4.20429882708Throw over her the veil of infamy.

4.4.20529892709So she may live unscarred from bleeding slaughter

4.4.20629902710I will confess she was not Edward's daughter.

Wrong not her birth, she is of royal blood.

To save her life, I'll say she is not so.

Her life is only safest in her birth.

And only in that safety died her brothers.

Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.

No, to their lives bad friends were contrary.

All unavoided is the doom of destiny.

True, when avoided grace makes destiny;

4.4.21529992719My babes were destined to a fairer death

4.4.21630002720If grace had blessed thee with a fairer life.

Madam, so thrive I in my 3016dangerous attempt of hostile arms,

4.4.21830172722As I intend more good to you and yours

4.4.21930182723Than ever you or yours were by me wronged.

What good is covered with the face of heaven

4.4.22130202725To be discovered that can do me good?

The advancement of your children, mighty lady.

Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads.

No, to the dignity and height of honor,

4.4.22530242729The high imperial tipe of this earth's glory.

Flatter my sorrows with report of it:

4.4.22730262731Tell me, what state, what dignity, what honor

4.4.22830272732Canst thou demise to any child of mine?

Even all I have, yea, and myself and all

4.4.23030292734Will I withal endow a child of thine,

4.4.23130302735So in the Lethe of thy angry soul

4.4.23230312736Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs

4.4.23330322737Which thou supposest I have done to thee.

Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindness

4.4.23530342739Last longer telling than thy kindness do.

Then know 3036that from my soul I love thy daughter.

My daughter's mother thinks it with her soul.

What do you think?

That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul;

4.4.24030402744So from thy soul's love didst thou love her brothers,

4.4.24130412745And from my heart's love I do thank thee for it.

Be not so hasty to confound my meaning;

4.4.24330432747I mean that with my soul I love thy daughter

4.4.24430442748And mean to make her Queen of England.

Say then, who dost thou mean shall be her King?

Even he that makes her Queen; 3047who should be else?

What, thou?

Aye, even I; what think you of it, madam?

How canst thou woo her?

That would I learn of you,

4.4.25130522755As one that are best acquainted with her humor.

And wilt thou learn of me?

Madam, with all my heart.

Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers,

4.4.25530562759A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave

4.4.25630572760"Edward" and "York"; then haply she will weep.

4.4.25730582761Therefore present to her as sometimes Margaret

4.4.25830592762Did to thy father, a handkercher steeped in Rutland's blood

4.4.25930622763And bid her dry her weeping eyes therewith;

4.4.26030632764If this inducement force her not to love,

4.4.26130642765Send her a story of thy noble acts:

4.4.26230652766Tell her thou mad'st away her uncle Clarence,

4.4.26330662767Her uncle Rivers, yea, and for her sake

4.4.26430672768Mad'st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.

Come, come, you mock me, this is not the way

4.4.26630692770To win your daughter.

There is no other way

4.4.26830712772Unless thou couldst put on some other shape

4.4.26930722773And not be Richard that hath done all this.

Infer fair England's peace by this alliance.

Which she shall purchase with still-lasting war.

Say that the King, which may command, entreats.

That, at her hands, which the King's King forbids.

Say she shall be a high and mighty Queen.

To wail the title, as her mother doth.

Say I will love her everlastingly.

But how long shall that title, "ever", last?

Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end.

But how long fairly shall her sweet life last?

So long as heaven and nature lengthens it.

So long as hell and Richard likes of it.

Say I, her sovereign, am her subject love.

But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.

Be eloquent in my behalf to her.

An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.

Then in plain terms tell her my loving tale.

Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.

Madam, your reasons are too shallow and too quick.

Oh no, my reasons are too deep and dead.

4.4.29031482794Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave.

Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.

Harp on it still shall I, till heartstrings break.

Now by my George, my Garter and my crown --

Profaned, dishonored, and the third usurped.

I swear --

By nothing, for this is no oath.

4.4.29731552801The George, profaned, hath lost his holy honor,

4.4.29831562802The Garter, blemished, pawned his knightly virtue,

4.4.29931572803The crown, usurped, disgraced his kingly dignity.

4.4.30031582804If something thou wilt swear, to be believed

4.4.30131592805Swear then by something that thou hast not wronged.

Now by the world --

'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.

My father's death --

Thy life hath that dishonored.

Then by myself --

Thyself, thyself misusest.

Why then, by God --

God's wrong is most of all:

4.4.31031682814If thou had'st feared to break an oath by him,

4.4.31131692815The unity the King thy brother made

4.4.31231702816Had not been broken, nor my brother slain.

4.4.31331712817If thou had'st feared to break an oath by him,

4.4.31431722818The imperial metal circling now thy brow

4.4.31531732819Had graced the tender temples of my child,

4.4.31631742820And both the Princes had been breathing here;

4.4.31731752821Which now, two tender play-fellows for dust,

4.4.31831762822Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms.

By the time to come --

That thou hast wronged in time o'er-past,

4.4.32131802825For I myself have many tears to wash

4.4.32231812826Hereafter time, for time past, wronged by thee.

4.4.32331822827The children live whose parents thou hast slaughtered,

4.4.32431832828Ungoverned youth, to wail it in their age;

4.4.32531842829The parents live whose children thou hast butchered,

4.4.32631852830Old withered plants, to wail it in their age.

4.4.32731862831Swear not by time to come, for that thou hast

4.4.32831872832Misused, ere used, by time misused o're-past.

As I intend to prosper and repent,

4.4.33031892834So thrive I in my dangerous attempt

4.4.33131902835Of hostile arms; myself myself confound,

4.4.33231922836Day yield me not thy light, nor night thy rest,

4.4.33331932837Be opposite all planets of good luck

4.4.33431942838To my proceedings if with pure heart's love,

4.4.33531952839Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts

4.4.33631962840I tender not thy beauteous, princely daughter;

4.4.33731972841In her consists my happiness and thine.

4.4.33831982842Without her, follows to this land, and me,

4.4.33931992843To thee, herself, and many a Christian soul

4.4.34032002844Sad desolation, ruin, and decay.

4.4.34132012845It cannot be avoided but by this;

4.4.34232022846It will not be avoided but by this.

4.4.34332032847Therefore, good mother -- I must call you so --

4.4.34432042848Be the attorney of my love to her:

4.4.34532052849Plead what I will be, not what I have been;

4.4.34632062850Not my deserts, but what I will deserve;

4.4.34732072851Urge the necessity and state of times,

4.4.34832082852And be not peevish, fond in great designs.

Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?

Aye, if the devil tempt thee to do good.

Shall I forget myself, to be myself?

Aye, if your self's remembrance wrong yourself.

But thou didst kill my children.

But in your daughter's womb I bury them

4.4.35532152859Where, in that nest of spicery, they shall breed

4.4.35632162860Selves of themselves to your recomforture.

Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?

And be a happy mother by the deed.

I go, write to me very shortly.

Bear her my true love's kiss,

Bear her my true love's kiss, farewell.

4.4.36332222865Relenting fool, and shallow, changing woman.

My gracious sovereign, on the western coast

4.4.36632262867Rideth a puissant navy. To the shore

4.4.36732272868Throng many doubtful, hollow-hearted friends

4.4.36832282869Unarmed, and unresolved to beat them back.

4.4.36932292870'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral,

4.4.37032302871And there they hull, expecting but the aid

4.4.37132312872Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.

Some light-foot friend, post to the Duke of Norfolk.

4.4.37332332874Ratcliffe thyself, or Catesby, where is he?

Here my lord.

Fly to the Duke -- 3237[To Ratcliffe] Post thou to Salisbury;

4.4.37632382877When thou com'st there -- [To Catesby] Dull, unmindful villain,

4.4.3773239Why standst thou still and goest not to the Duke?

First, mighty sovereign, let me know your mind,

4.4.37932412880What from your grace I shall deliver him.

Oh, true, good Catesby, bid him levy straight

4.4.38132432882The greatest strength and power he can make,

4.4.38232442883And meet me presently at Salisbury.

What is it your highness' pleasure I shall do at Salis3247bury?

Why? What wouldst thou do there before 3249I go?

Your highness told me I should post before.

My mind is changed, sir, my mind is changed.

4.4.38832532888How now, what news with you?

None, good my lord, to please you with the hearing,

4.4.39132552891Nor none so bad but it may well be told.

Hoyday, a riddle, neither good nor bad:

4.4.39332572893Why dost thou run so many mile about

4.4.39432582894When thou mayst tell thy tale a nearer way.

4.4.39532592895Once more, what news?

Richmond is on the seas.

There let him sink, and be the seas on him!

4.4.39832622898White livered runnagate, what doth he there?

I know not mighty sovereign, but by guess.

Well sir, as you guess, as you guess.

Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham and Ely

4.4.40232662902He makes for England, here to claim the crown.

Is the chair empty? Is the sword unswayed?

4.4.40432682904Is the King dead? The Empire unpossessed?

4.4.40532692905What heir of York is there alive but we?

4.4.40632702906And who is England's king but great York's heir?

4.4.40732712907Then tell me, what doth he upon the sea?

Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.

Unless for that he comes to be your liege

4.4.41032742910You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.

4.4.41132752911Thou wilt revolt and fly to him, I fear.

No, mighty liege, therefore mistrust me not.

Where is thy power then to beat him back?

4.4.41432782914Where are thy tenants and thy followers?

4.4.41532792915Are they not now upon the western shore

4.4.41632802916Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?

No, my good lord, my friends are in the 3282north.

Cold friends to Richard; what do they in the north

4.4.41932842919When they should serve their sovereign in the west?

They have not been commanded, mighty sovereign.

4.4.42132862921Please it your majesty to give me leave,

4.4.42232872922I'll muster up my friends and meet your grace

4.4.42332882923Where and what time your majesty shall please.

Aye, aye, thou wouldest be gone, to join with Richmond;

4.4.42532902925I will not trust you, sir.

Most mighty sovereign,

4.4.42732922927You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful;

4.4.42832932928I never was nor never will be false.

Well, go muster men, but hear you, leave behind

4.4.43032952930Your son, George Stanley; look your faith be firm

4.4.43132962931Or else his head's assurance is but frail.

So deal with him as I prove true to you.

My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire

4.4.43633012935As I by friends am well advertisèd,

4.4.43733022936Sir William Courtney and the haughty prelate

4.4.43833032937Bishop of Exeter, his brother there,

4.4.43933042938With many more confederates are in arms.

My liege, in Kent the Guilfords are in arms

4.4.44233072941And every hour more competitors

4.4.44333082942Flock to their aid, and still their power increaseth.

My lord, the army of the Duke of Buckingham --

Out on you, owls, nothing but songs of death?

4.4.44833132947Take that! until thou bring me better news.

Your grace mistakes, the news I bring is good:

4.4.45033142949My news 3315is that by sudden flood and fall of water

4.4.45133162950The Duke of Buckingham's army is dispersed and scattered,

4.4.45233172951And he himself fled, 3318no man knows whither.

Oh, I cry you mercy, I did mistake.

4.4.45433202953Ratcliffe, reward him for the blow I gave him.

4.4.45633212954Hath any well-advisèd friend given out

4.4.45733222955Rewards for him that brings in Buckingham?

Such proclamation hath been made, my liege.

Sir Thomas Lovell and Lord Marquess Dorset,

4.4.46133262959'Tis said, my liege, are up in arms;

4.4.46233272960Yet this good comfort bring I to your grace,

4.4.46333282961The Breton navy is dispersed. 3329Richmond in Dorsetshire

4.4.4642962Sent out a boat 3330to ask them on the shore

4.4.46533312963If they were his assistants, yea or no:

4.4.46633322964Who answered him they came from Buckingham

4.4.46733332965Upon his party. He, mistrusting them,

4.4.46833342966Hoist sail and made away for Brittany.

March on, march on, since we are up in arms,

4.4.47033362968If not to fight with foreign enemies,

4.4.47133372969Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.

My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken.

4.4.47433402972That's the best news; that the Earl of Richmond

4.4.47533412973Is with a mighty power landed at Milford

4.4.47633422974Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.

Away towards Salisbury! While we reason here

4.4.47833442976A royal battle might be won and lost.

4.4.47933452977Someone take order Buckingham be brought

33462978To Salisbury; the rest march on with me.