Henry VI, Pt. 3
Act V, Scene 7
London. A room in the palace.
King Edward IV
Anonymous, circa 1540
- Flourish. Enter King Edward, Queen Elizabeth, Clarence,
- Richard of Gloucester, Hastings, Nurse with the young
- Prince, and Attendants.
King Edward
1 - 20- Once more we sit in England’s royal throne,
- Repurchas’d with the blood of enemies.
- What valiant foemen, like to autumn’s corn,
- Have we mow’d down in tops of all their pride!
- Three Dukes of Somerset, threefold renown’d
- For hardy and undoubted champions;
- Two Cliffords, as the father and the son,
- And two Northumberlands—two braver men
- Ne’er spurr’d their coursers at the trumpet’s sound;
- With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Montague,
- That in their chains fetter’d the kingly lion,
- And made the forest tremble when they roar’d.
- Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat,
- And made our footstool of security.
- Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy.
- Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles and myself
- Have in our armors watch’d the winter’s night,
- Went all afoot in summer’s scalding heat,
- That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace,
- And of our labors thou shalt reap the gain.
Duke of Gloucester
21 - 25- Aside.
- I’ll blast his harvest, and your head were laid,
- For yet I am not look’d on in the world.
- This shoulder was ordain’d so thick to heave,
- And heave it shall some weight, or break my back:
- Work thou the way—and that shall execute.
King Edward
26 - 27- Clarence and Gloucester, love my lovely queen,
- And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both.
Duke of Clarence
28 - 29- The duty that I owe unto your Majesty
- I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe.
Queen Elizabeth
30- Thanks, noble Clarence, worthy brother, thanks.
Duke of Gloucester
31 - 34- And that I love the tree from whence thou sprang’st,
- Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit.
- Aside.
- To say the truth, so Judas kiss’d his master,
- And cried “All hail!” when as he meant all harm.
King Edward
35 - 36- Now am I seated as my soul delights,
- Having my country’s peace and brothers’ loves.
Duke of Clarence
37 - 40- What will your Grace have done with Margaret?
- Reignier, her father, to the King of France
- Hath pawn’d the Sicils and Jerusalem,
- And hither have they sent it for her ransom.
King Edward
41 - 46- Away with her, and waft her hence to France.
- And now what rests but that we spend the time
- With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows,
- Such as befits the pleasure of the court?
- Sound drums and trumpets! Farewell sour annoy!
- For here I hope begins our lasting joy.
- Exeunt omnes.
