Henry VI, Part iii: Act I, Scene iv

Henry VI, Part iii.        Act 1, Scene 4.      Queen Margaret

(This text is featured in our interview with Shirine Babb)

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66.   Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland,
67.  Come, make him stand upon this molehill here,
68.  That raught at mountains with outstretched arms,
69.  Yet parted but the shadow with his hand.
70.  What! was it you that would be England’s king?
71.  Was’t you that revell’d in our parliament,
72.  And made a preachment of your high descent?
73.  Where are your mess of sons to back you now?
74.  The wanton Edward, and the lusty George?
75.  And where’s that valiant crook-back prodigy,
76.  Dicky your boy, that with his grumbling voice
77.  Was wont to cheer his dad in mutinies?
78.  Or, with the rest, where is your darling Rutland?
79.  Look, York: I stain’d this napkin with the blood
80.  That valiant Clifford, with his rapier’s point,
81.  Made issue from the bosom of the boy;
82.  And if thine eyes can water for his death,
83.  I give thee this to dry thy cheeks withal.
84.  Alas poor York! but that I hate thee deadly,
85.  I should lament thy miserable state.
86.  I prithee, grieve, to make me merry, York.
87.  What, hath thy fiery heart so parch’d thine entrails
88.  That not a tear can fall for Rutland’s death?
89.  Why art thou patient, man? thou shouldst be mad;
90.  And I, to make thee mad, do mock thee thus.
91.  Stamp, rave, and fret, that I may sing and dance.
92.  Thou wouldst be fee’d, I see, to make me sport:
93.  York cannot speak, unless he wear a crown.
94.  A crown for York! and, lords, bow low to him:
95.  Hold you his hands, whilst I do set it on.
Putting a paper crown on his head
96.  Ay, marry, sir, now looks he like a king!
97.  Ay, this is he that took King Henry’s chair,
98.  And this is he was his adopted heir.
99.  But how is it that great Plantagenet
100. Is crown’d so soon, and broke his solemn oath?
101. As I bethink me, you should not be king
102.  Till our King Henry had shook hands with death.
103. And will you pale your head in Henry’s glory,
104. And rob his temples of the diadem,
105. Now in his life, against your holy oath?
106. O, ’tis a fault too too unpardonable!
107. Off with the crown, and with the crown his head;
108. And, whilst we breathe, take time to do him dead.