The argument you held, was wrong in you;

[To Somerfet.

In fign whereof, I pluck a white rofe too.
Plant. Now, Somerfet, where is your argument?
Som. Here, in my fcabbard; meditating that, 5
Shall dye your white rose to a bloody red. [rofes;
Plant. Mean time your cheeks do counterfeit our
For pale they look with fear, as witneffing
The truth on our fide.

Sem. No, Plantagenet,

'Tis not for fear; but anger-that thy cheeks Blush for pure fhame, to counterfeit our roses; And yet thy tongue will not confefs thy error. Plant. Hath not thy rofe a canker, Somerset ? Sem. Hath not thy rofe a thorn, Plantagenet? Plant. Ay, sharp and piercing, to maintain his truth;

Whiles thy confuming canker eats his falfhood.
Sem. Well, I'll find friends to wear my bleed-
ing roses,

That shall maintain what I have faid is true,
Where falfe Plantagenet dare not be seen.

Or flourish to the height of my degree. [bition! Suf. Go forward, and be choak'd with thy am10 And fo farewell, until I meet thee next. [Exit. S.m. Have with thee, Poole.-Farewell, ambitious Richard. [Exit. Plant. How I am brav'd, and muft perforce en

15

dure it!
[houfe,
War. This blot, that they object against your
Shall be wip'd out in the next parliament,
Call d for the truce of Winchester and Glofter:
And, if thou be not then created York,
I will not live to be accounted Warwick.
20 Mean time, in fignal of my love to thee,
Against proud Somerset, and William Poole,
Will I upon thy party wear this rose:
And here I prophefy,-This brawl to-day
Grown to this faction, in the Temple-garden,
Shall fend, between the red rofe and the white,
A thoufand fouls to death and deadly night.

Plant. Now, by this maiden blossom in my hand,
I fcorn thee and thy fashion 1, peevish boy.
Suf. Turn not thy fcorns this way, Plantagenet. 25
Plant, Proud Poole, I will; and scorn both him

and thee.

Suf. I'll turn my part thereof into thy throat.
Som. Away, away, good William De-la-Poole !
We grace the yeoman, by converfing with him.
War. Now, by God's will, thou wrong'st him,|
Somerset ;

His grandfather was Lionel duke of Clarence,
Third fon to the third Edward king of England;
Spring creftlefs yeomen 2 from fo deep a root?
Plant. He bears him on the place's privilege 3,
Or durft not, for his craven heart, fay thus.

Som. By him that made me, I'll maintain my
On any plot of ground in Christendom: [words
Was not thy father, Richard, earl of Cambridge,
For treafon executed in our late king's days?
And, by his treason, stand'st not thou attainted,
Corrupted, and exempt 4 from ancient gentry?
His trefpafs yet lives guilty in thy blood;
And, 'till thou be reftor'd, thou art a yeoman.
Plant. My father was attached, not attainted;
Condemn'd to die for treafon, but no traitor;
And that I'll prove on better men than Somerset,
Were growing time once ripen'd to my will.
For your partaker Poole, and you yourself,

I'll note you in my book of memory,
To fcourge you for this apprehenfion 5 :

Look to it well; and say you are well wärn'd.

Enter Mortimer 7, brought in a chair, and failers.
Mor. Kind keepers of my weak decaying age,
Let dying Mortimer here reft himself.-
Even like a man new haled from the rack,
So fare my limbs with long imprisonment:
And thefe grey locks, the purfuivants of death,
Neftor-like aged, in an age of care,

8

Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer.

45 Thefe eyes-like lamps whofe wafting oil is fpent-
Wax dim, as drawing to their exigent 9:
Weak fhoulders, over-borne with burth'ning grief;
And pithlefs arms, like to a wither'd vine
That droops his faplefs branches to the ground.—
50 Yet are thefe feet-whofe ftrengthless stay is numb,
Unable to fupport this lump of clay,-
Swift-winged with defire to get a grave,
As witting I no other comfort have.-

1 By fashion is meant the badge of the red rofe, which Somerset fays he and his friends fhould be diftinguish'd by. 2 i. e. those who have no right to arms. 3 The Temple, being a religious house, was an afylum, a place of exemption, from violence, revenge, and bloodshed. 4 Exempt, for excluded. 5 i. e. opinion. A badge is called a cognisance à cognofcends, because by it fuch perfons as do wear it upon their fleeves, their shoulders, or in their hats, are manifeftly known whose servants they are. 7 Mr. Edwards obferves, that Shakspeare has varied from the truth of hiftory, to introduce this scene between Mortimer and Richard Plantagenet. Edmund Mortimer ferved under Henry V. in 1422, and died unconfined in Ireland in 1424. Holinfhed fays, that Mortimer was one of the mourners at the funeral of Henry V. Mr. Steevens adds, "that his uncle, fir John Mortimer, was indeed prifoner in the Tower, and was executed not long before the earl of March's death, being charged with an attempt to make his escape in order to ftir up an infurrection in Wales." heralds that, forerunning death, proclaim its approach. 9 i. e. end.

& i. e. the

But

But tell me, keeper, will my nephew come?
Keep. Richard Plantagenet, my lord, will come :
We fent unto the Temple, to his chamber;
And answer was return'd, that he will come.
Mor. Enough; my foul then shall be fatisfy'd.-5
Poor gentleman! his wrong doth equal mine.
Since Henry Monmouth first began to reign,
(Before whofe glory I was great in arms)
This loathsome sequestration have I had;
And even fince then hath Richard been obfcur'd,
Depriv'd of honour and inheritance;
But now, the arbitrator of despairs,

Juft death, kind umpire of men's miferies,
With fweet enlargement doth difmifs me hence :
I would, his troubles likewife were expir'd,
That fo he might recover what was lost.

Enter Richard Plantagenet.

Kerp. My lord, your loving nephew now is [come?

come.

|15

I was the next by birth and parentage ;
For by my mother I derived am

From Lionel duke of Clarence, the third son
To king Edward the Third, whereas he
From John of Gaunt doth bring his pedigree,
Being but the fourth of that heroic line.
But mark; as, in this haughty 3 great attempt,
They laboured to plant the rightful heir,
I loft my liberty, and they their lives.

10 Long after this, when Henry the fifth,-
Succeeding his father Bolingbroke,-did reign,
Thy father, earl of Cambridge,-then deriv'd
From famous Edmund Langley, duke of York,→→→
Marrying my fifter, that thy mother was,
Again, in pity of my hard distress,
Levied an army; weening to redeem,
And have inftall'd me in the diadem:
But, as the reft, fo fell that noble earl,
And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers,
In whom the title refted, were fupprefs'd.
Plan. Of which, my lord, your honour is the last.
Mer. True; and thou feeft, that I no iffue have;
And that my fainting words do warrant death:
Thou art my heir; the reft I wish thee gather 4:
25 But yet be wary in thy ftudious care.

Mor. Richard Plantagenet, my friend? Is he 20
Plant. Ay, noble uncle, thus ignobly us'd,
Your nephew, late-despised Richard, comes.

Mor. Direct mine arms, I may embrace his neck,
And in his bofom spend my latter gafp:
Oh, tell me, when my lips do touch his cheeks,
That I may kindly give one fainting kiss.-
And now declare, sweet stem from York's great
stock,

35

Why didst thou fay-of late thou wert despis'd?
Plant. First, lean thine aged back against mine 30
And, in that eafe, I'll tell thee my disease 2. [arm;|
This day, in argument upon a cafe,
Some words there grew 'twixt Somerfet and me:
Among which terms, he us'd his lavish tongue,
And did upbraid me with my father's death;
Which obloquy set bars before my tongue,
Elfe with the like I had requited him :
Therefore, good uncle-for my father's fake,
In honour of a true Plantagenet,
And for alliance' fake,-declare the cause
My father, earl of Cambridge, loft his head. [me,
Mar. That caufe, fair nephew, that imprison'd
And hath detain'd me, all my flow'ring youth,
Within a loathfome dungeon, there to pine,
Was curfed inftrument of his decease. [was
Plant. Discover more at large what cause that
For I am ignorant, and cannot guess.

Mor. I will; if that my fading breath permit,
And death approach not ere my tale be done.
Henry the fourth, grandfather to this king,
Depos'd his nephew Richard; Edward's fon,
The first-begotten, and the lawful heir

Of Edward king, the third of that descent :
During whofe reign, the Percies of the north,
Finding his ufurpation moft unjust,
Endeavour'd my advancement to the throne:
The reafon mov'd these warlike lords to this,
Was for that (young king Richard thus remov'd,
Leaving no heir begotten of his body)

[me:
Plan. Thy grave admonishments prevail with
But yet, methinks, my father's execution
Was nothing lefs than bloody tyranny.

Mor. With filence, nephew, be thou politick;
Strong fixed is the house of Lancaster,
And, like a mountain, not to be remov'd.
But now thy uncle is removing hence;
As princes do their courts when they are cloy'd
With long continuance in a fettled place. [years
Plan. O, uncle, would fome part of my young
Might but redeem the paffage of your age!
Mor.Thon doft then wrong me; as the slaught'rer

doth,

Which giveth many wounds, when one will kill. 40 Mourn not, except thou forrow for my good; Only, give order for my funeral;

And fo farewel; and fair 5 be all thy hopes!
And profperous be thy life, in peace, and war! [Dies.
Plan. And peace, no war, befall thy parting foul!
45 In prison haft thou spent a pilgrimage,

And like a hermit over-pafs'd thy days.-
Well, I will lock his counfel in my breast;
And what I do imagine, let that reft.-
Keepers, convey him hence; and I myself
50 Will fee his burial better than his life.-

Here dies the dusky torch of Mortimer,
Choak'd with ambition of the meaner fort":
And, for thofe wrongs, thofe bitter injuries,
Which Somerfet hath offer'd to my house,-
55I doubt not, but with honour to redress:
And therefore hafte I to the parliament;
Either to be restored to my blood,
Or make my ill the advantage of my good,

[Exit.

That is, he that terminates or concludes mifery. 2 i. e. my uneafinefs or difcontent. 1 i. e. bigb. 4 The fenfe is, I acknowledge thee to be my heir; the confequences which may be collected from thence, I recommend it to thee to draw. 5 i. e. lucky, or profperous. We are to understand the speaker as reflecting on the ill fortune of Mortimer, in being always made a tool of by the Percies of the north in their rebellious intrigues; rather than in afferting his claim to the crown, in fupport of his own princely ambition.

ACT

ACT

Flourish. Enter King Henry, Exeter, Glofter, Winchefter, Warwick, Somerset, Suffolk, and Richard 5 Plantagenet. Glofter offers to put up a Bill; Winchefter fnatches it, and tears it.

Roam to Rome. 2 Toroam is fuppofed to be derived from the cant of vagabonds, who often pretended a pilgrimage to Rome,

2. e, unfeemly, indecont. 3 i. e. a bookman.

And have our bodies slaughter'd by thy foes.

1 Serv. Ay, and the very parings of our nails Shall pitch a field when we are dead. [Begin again. Glo. Stay, ftay, I fay!

And, if you love me, as you say you do,

Let me perfuade you to forbear a while. [foul!-
K. Henry. Oh, how this difcord doth afflict my
Can you, my lord of Winchefter, behold
My fighs and tears, and will not once relent?
Who should be pitiful, if you be not?
Or who should study to prefer a peace,
If holy churchmen take delight in broils?
War. My lord protector, yield;-yield, Win-
chefter;-

Except you mean, with obftinate repulfe,

To flay your fovereign, and destroy the realm.
You fee what mischief, and what murder too,
Hath been enacted through your enmity;
Then be at peace, except ye thirst for blood.
Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield.
Glo. Compaffion on the king commands me ftoop;
Or, I would fee his heart out, ere the priest
Should ever get that privilege of me.

War. Behold, my lord of Winchefter, the duke
Hath banih'd moody difcontented fury,
As by his fmoothed brows it doth appear:
Why look you ftill fo ftern, and tragical?

Gic. Here, Winchefter, I offer thee my hand.
K. Henry. Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard
you preach,

That malice was a great and grievous fin:
And will not you maintain the thing you teach,
But prove a chief offender in the fame? [gird'.-

War. Sweet king!-the bishop hath a kindly
For fhame, my lord of Winchefter! relent;
What, fhall a child inftruct you what to do?
Win. Well, duke of Glofter, I will yield to thee;]
Love for thy love, and hand for hand I give.

Glo. Ay; but I fear me, with a hollow heart.-
See here, my friends, and loving countrymen;
This token ferveth for a flag of truce

Betwixt ourfelves, and all our followers:

So help me God, as I diffemble not!

[not!

Win. [Afide.] So help me God, as I intend it

How joyful I am made by this contract!

5

That Richard be restored to his blood.
War. Let Richard be restored to his blood;
So fhall his father's wrongs be recompens'd.
Win. As will the reft, fo willeth Winchester.
K. Henry. If Richard will be true, not that alone,
But all the whole inheritance I give,
That doth belong unto the house of York,
From whence you spring by lineal descent.

Rich. Thy humble fervant vows obedience, 10 And humble fervice, 'till the point of death.

K. Henry. Stoop then, and fet your knee against
And, in reguerdon 2 of that duty done, [my foot:
I gird thee with the valiant fword of York:
Rife, Richard, like a true Plantagenet;

15 And rife created princely duke of York.

20

125

30

Rich. And fo thrive Richard, as thy foes may fall!
And as my duty fprings, fo perish they
That grudge one thought against your majesty!
All. Welcome, high prince, the mighty duke of
York!

Sum. Perish, bafe prince, ignoble duke of York!
[Afide.

Glo. Now will it beft avail your majefty,
To crofs the feas, and to be crown'd in France:
The prefence of a king engenders love
Amongst his fubjects, and his loyal friends;
As it difanimates his enemies. [Henry goes;
K. Henry. When Glofter fays the word, king
For friendly counfel cuts off many foes.
Glo. Your hips already are in readiness.

[Exeunt all but Exeter.

Exe. Ay, we may march in England, or in France,
Not feeing what is likely to enfue:
This late diffention, grown betwixt the peers,
35 Burns under feigned afhes of forg'd love,
And will at laft break out into a flame:
As fefter'd members rot but by degrees,
Till bones, and flesh, and finews, fall away,
So will this bafe and envious difcord breed 3.
40 And now I fear that fatal prophecy,

Which, in the time of Henry, nam'd the fifth,
Was in the mouth of every fucking babe,-
That Henry, born at Monmouth, fhould win all;
And Henry, born at Windsor, fhould lofe all:

K. Henry. O loving uncle, kind duke of Glofter, 45 Which is so plain, that Exeter doth with

Away, my mafters! trouble us no more;

But join in friendship, as your lords have done.

1 Serv. Content; I'll to the furgeon's.

2 Serv. So will I.

3 Serv. And I will fee what phyfic

The tavern affords.

[Exeurt.

War. Accept this fcrowl, moft gracious fovereign;
Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet
We do exhibit to your majefty.

Gh. Well urg'd, my lord of Warwick;-for, fweet]
An if your grace mark every circumstance,
You have great reafon to do Richard right:
Efpecially, for thofe occafions

At Eltham-place I told your majefty.

50

His days may finish ere that hapless time. [Exit.

Enter Fan ia Pucelle difguis'd, and Soldiers with facks upon their backs, like Countrymen.

Pucel. Thefe are the city gates, the gates of Roan,
Through which our policy must make a breach :-
Take heed, be wary how you place your words;
Talk like the vulgar fort of market-men,

[prince, 55 That come to gather money for their corn.
If we have entrance, (as, I hope, we shall)
And that we find the flothful watch but weak,
I'll by a fign give notice to our friends,
That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them.
1 St. Our facks fhall be a mean to fack the city,
And we be lords and rulers over Roan;
Therefore we'll knock.

[force:60

K. Henry. And thofe occafions, uncle, were of Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is,

1 A kindly gird is a gentle or friendly repreef.

and advance.

2 i. e. recompence, return.

[Knicks

3 That is, propagate iff,

Watch

[Exeunt from the walls. Tal. And there will we be too, ere it be long, 20 Or elfe reproach be Talbot's greatest fame!Vow, Burgundy, by honour of thy houfe, (Prick'd on by public wrongs, fuftain'd in France) Either to get the town again, or die:

And I,-as fure as English Henry lives,

Reig. Defer no time, Delays have dangerous ends; 25 And as his father here was conqueror; Enter, and cry-The Dauphin!-presently,

Bed. Lord Talbot, do not fo difhonour me:
Here will I fit before the walls of Roan,
And will be partner of your weal or woe.
Burg. Courageous Bedford, let us now perfuade
Bed. Not to be gone from hence; for once I read,
That ftout Pendragon, in his litter, fick,
40 Came to the field, and vanquished his fces 4:
Methinks, I fhould revive the foldiers' hearts,
Because I ever found them as myself.

Tal. Undaunted fpirit in a dying breast!-
Then be it fo:-Heavens keep old Bedford fafe!-
45 And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,
But gather we our forces out of hand,

1 Practice, in the language of that time, was treachery, and perhaps in the fofter fenfe, Aratagem. Practijants are therefore confederates in ftratagems. 2 That is, no way equal to that. 3 Pride fignifies the kaughty power. This hero was Uther Pendragon, brother to Aurelius, and father to king Arthur.