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Henry VI, Pt. 3: Act I, Scene 3

Henry VI, Pt. 3
Act I, Scene 3

Field of battle between Sandal Castle and Wakefield.

  1. Alarums. Enter Rutland and his Tutor.

Earl of Rutland

1 - 2
  1. Ah, whither shall I fly to scape their hands?
  2. Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes!
  1. Enter Clifford and Soldiers.

Lord Clifford

3 - 5
  1. Chaplain, away, thy priesthood saves thy life.
  2. As for the brat of this accursed duke,
  3. Whose father slew my father, he shall die.

Tutor to Rutland

6
  1. And I, my lord, will bear him company.

Lord Clifford

7
  1. Soldiers, away with him!

Tutor to Rutland

8 - 9
  1. Ah, Clifford, murder not this innocent child,
  2. Lest thou be hated both of God and man.
  1. Exit dragged off by Soldiers.

Lord Clifford

10 - 11
  1. How now? Is he dead already? Or is it fear
  2. That makes him close his eyes? I’ll open them.

Earl of Rutland

12 - 20
  1. So looks the pent-up lion o’er the wretch
  2. That trembles under his devouring paws;
  3. And so he walks, insulting o’er his prey,
  4. And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder.
  5. Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword
  6. And not with such a cruel threat’ning look.
  7. Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die:
  8. I am too mean a subject for thy wrath,
  9. Be thou reveng’d on men, and let me live.

Lord Clifford

21 - 22
  1. In vain thou speak’st, poor boy; my father’s blood
  2. Hath stopp’d the passage where thy words should enter.

Earl of Rutland

23 - 24
  1. Then let my father’s blood open it again,
  2. He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.

Lord Clifford

25 - 34
  1. Had I thy brethren here, their lives and thine
  2. Were not revenge sufficient for me;
  3. No, if I digg’d up thy forefathers’ graves
  4. And hung their rotten coffins up in chains,
  5. It could not slake mine ire nor ease my heart.
  6. The sight of any of the house of York
  7. Is as a fury to torment my soul;
  8. And till I root out their accursed line,
  9. And leave not one alive, I live in hell.
  10. Therefore

Earl of Rutland

35 - 36
  1. O, let me pray before I take my death!
  2. To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!

Lord Clifford

37
  1. Such pity as my rapier’s point affords.

Earl of Rutland

38
  1. I never did thee harm; why wilt thou slay me?

Lord Clifford

39
  1. Thy father hath.

Earl of Rutland

40 - 46
  1.                  But ’twas ere I was born.
  2. Thou hast one son, for his sake pity me,
  3. Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just,
  4. He be as miserably slain as I.
  5. Ah, let me live in prison all my days,
  6. And when I give occasion of offense,
  7. Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause.

Lord Clifford

47 - 48
  1. No cause?
  2. Thy father slew my father; therefore die.
  1. Stabs him.

Earl of Rutland

49
  1. Dii faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae!
  1. Dies.

Lord Clifford

50 - 53
  1. Plantagenet, I come, Plantagenet!
  2. And this thy son’s blood cleaving to my blade
  3. Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood,
  4. Congeal’d with this, do make me wipe off both.
  1. Exit.
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