Page 806 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Plantagenet, I come, Plantagenet!
And this thy son’s blood cleaving to my blade [50]
Shall rust upon my weapon till thy blood,
Congealed with this, do make me wipe off both.

Exit [with Rutland’s body].

Scene IV IT

Alarum. Enter Richard, Duke of York.

Y ORK

The army of the queen hath got the field,
My uncles both are slain in rescuing me,
And all my followers to the eager foe
Turn back and fly, like ships before the wind,
Or lambs pursued by hunger-starvèd wolves. [5]
My sons, God knows what hath bechancèd them:
But this I know, they have demeaned themselves
Like men borne to renown by life or death.
Three times did Richard make a lane to me
And thrice cried, ‘Courage, father, fight it out!’ [10]
And full as oft came Edward to my side
With purple falchion, painted to the hilt
In blood of those that had encountered him;
And when the hardiest warriors did retire,
Richard cried, ‘Charge, and give no foot of ground!’ [15]
Ned cried, ‘A crown, or else a glorious tomb!
A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre!’
With this we charged again. But, out alas,
We budged again - as I have seen a swan
With bootless labour swim against the tide [20]
And spend her strength with over-matching waves.

A short alarum within.
Ah, hark! The fatal followers do pursue,
And I am faint and cannot fly their fury;
And were I strong, I would not shun their fury.
The sands are numbered that makes up my life; [25]
Here must I stay and here my life must end.
Enter the Queen [Margaret], Clifford, Northumberland, the young Prince

[Edward], and Soldiers.