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Henry VI, Part 3 - Act 1, scene 2
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Henry VI, Part 3 - Act 1, scene 2Act 1, scene 2
⌜Scene 2⌝
Synopsis:
York is persuaded by his sons Edward and Richard to break his oath to Henry and fight for the crown. Learning that Margaret’s army is marching toward his castle, York prepares to meet them in the field (for the battle of Wakefield).
Enter Richard, Edward, and Montague,⌜all wearing the white rose.⌝
RICHARD
0282 Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.
EDWARD
0283 No, I can better play the orator.
MONTAGUE
0284 But I have reasons strong and forcible.
Enter the Duke of York.
YORK
0285 Why, how now, sons and brother, at a strife?
0286 5 What is your quarrel? How began it first?
EDWARD
0287 No quarrel, but a slight contention.
YORK 0288 About what?
RICHARD
0289 About that which concerns your Grace and us:
0290 The crown of England, father, which is yours.
YORK
0291 10 Mine, boy? Not till King Henry be dead.
RICHARD
0292 Your right depends not on his life or death.
EDWARD
0293 Now you are heir; therefore enjoy it now.
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33
0294
By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe,0295 It will outrun you, father, in the end.
YORK
0296 15 I took an oath that he should quietly reign.
EDWARD
0297 But for a kingdom any oath may be broken.
0298 I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.
RICHARD
0299 No, God forbid your Grace should be forsworn.
YORK
0300 I shall be, if I claim by open war.
RICHARD
0301 20 I’ll prove the contrary, if you’ll hear me speak.
YORK
0302 Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.
RICHARD
0303 An oath is of no moment, being not took
0304 Before a true and lawful magistrate
0305 That hath authority over him that swears.
0306 25 Henry had none, but did usurp the place.
0307 Then, seeing ’twas he that made you to depose,
0308 Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.
0309 Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think
0310 How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown,
0311 30 Within whose circuit is Elysium
0312 And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.
0313 Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest
0314 Until the white rose that I wear be dyed
0315 Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry’s heart.
YORK
0316 35 Richard, enough. I will be king or die.—
0317 Brother, thou shalt to London presently,
0318 And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.—
0319 Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk
0320 And tell him privily of our intent.—
0321 40 You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham,
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35
0322
With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise;0323 In them I trust, for they are soldiers
0324 Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.
0325 While you are thus employed, what resteth more
0326 45 But that I seek occasion how to rise,
0327 And yet the King not privy to my drift,
0328 Nor any of the house of Lancaster.
Enter ⌜a Messenger.⌝
0329 But stay, what news? Why com’st thou in such post?
MESSENGER
0330 The Queen with all the northern earls and lords
0331 50 Intend here to besiege you in your castle.
0332 She is hard by with twenty thousand men.
0333 And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.⌜He exits.⌝
YORK
0334 Ay, with my sword. What, think’st thou that we fear
0335 them?—
0336 55 Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;
0337 My brother Montague shall post to London.
0338 Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,
0339 Whom we have left Protectors of the King,
0340 With powerful policy strengthen themselves
0341 60 And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.
MONTAGUE
0342 Brother, I go. I’ll win them, fear it not.
0343 And thus most humbly I do take my leave.
Montague exits.
Enter ⌜Sir John⌝ Mortimer, and his brother,
⌜Sir Hugh Mortimer.⌝
YORK
0344 Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles,
0345 You are come to Sandal in a happy hour.
0346 65 The army of the Queen mean to besiege us.
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SIR JOHN 0347 She shall not need; we’ll meet her in the field.
YORK 0348 What, with five thousand men?
RICHARD
0349 Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need.
0350 A woman’s general; what should we fear?
A march afar off.
EDWARD
0351 70 I hear their drums. Let’s set our men in order,
0352 And issue forth and bid them battle straight.
YORK
0353 Five men to twenty: though the odds be great,
0354 I doubt not, uncle, of our victory.
0355 Many a battle have I won in France
0356 75 Whenas the enemy hath been ten to one.
0357 Why should I not now have the like success?
Alarum. ⌜They⌝ exit.