Page 824 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

RICHARD

For God’s sake, lords, give signal to the fight. [100]

WARWICK

What say’st thou, Henry, wilt thou yield the crown?

MARGARET

Why how now, long-tongued Warwick, dare you speak?
When you and I met at Saint Albans last
Your legs did better service than your hands.

WARWICK

Then ’twas my turn to fly, and now ’tis thine. [105]

CLIFFORD

You said so much before and yet you fled.

WARWICK

’Twas not your valour, Clifford, drove me thence.

NORT HUMBERLAND

No, nor your manhood that durst make you stay.

RICHARD

Northumberland, I hold thee reverently.
Break off the parley, for scarce I can refrain [110]
The execution of my big-swoll’n heart
Upon that Clifford, that cruel child-killer.

CLIFFORD

I slew thy father: call’st thou him a child?

RICHARD

Ay, like a dastard and a treacherous coward,
As thou didst kill our tender brother Rutland. [115]
But ere sun set I’ll make thee curse the deed.

KING HENRY

Have done with words, my lords, and hear me speak.