Shakespeare Portal

Act 1, Scene 2

Sandal Castle

  1. [Enter EDWARD, RICHARD, and MONTAGUE.]
  2. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  3. 279 Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.
  4. Edward IV
  5. 280 No; I can better play the orator.
  6. Marquess of Montague
  7. 281 But I have reasons strong and forcible.
  8. [Enter YORK.]
  9. Richard, Duke of York
  10. 282 Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife?
  11. 283 What is your quarrel? how began it first?
  12. Edward IV
  13. 284 No quarrel, but a slight contention.
  14. Richard, Duke of York
  15. 285 About what?
  16. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  17. 286 About that which concerns your grace and us—
  18. 287 The crown of England, father, which is yours.
  19. Richard, Duke of York
  20. 288 Mine, boy? not till King Henry be dead.
  21. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  22. 289 Your right depends not on his life or death.
  23. Edward IV
  24. 290 Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now;
  25. 291 By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe,
  26. 292 It will outrun you, father, in the end.
  27. Richard, Duke of York
  28. 293 I took an oath that he should quietly reign.
  29. Edward IV
  30. 294 But for a kingdom any oath may be broken;
  31. 295 I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.
  32. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  33. 296 No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.
  34. Richard, Duke of York
  35. 297 I shall be, if I claim by open war.
  36. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  37. 298 I'll prove the contrary if you'll hear me speak.
  38. Richard, Duke of York
  39. 299 Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.
  40. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  41. 300 An oath is of no moment, being not took
  42. 301 Before a true and lawful magistrate
  43. 302 That hath authority over him that swears.
  44. 303 Henry had none, but did usurp the place;
  45. 304 Then, seeing 't was he that made you to depose,
  46. 305 Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous.
  47. 306 Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think
  48. 307 How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown,
  49. 308 Within whose circuit is Elysium
  50. 309 And all that poets feign of bliss and joy.
  51. 310 Why do we linger thus? I cannot rest
  52. 311 Until the white rose that I wear be dyed
  53. 312 Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart.
  54. Richard, Duke of York
  55. 313 Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.—
  56. 314 Brother, thou shalt to London presently,
  57. 315 And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.—
  58. 316 Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk,
  59. 317 And tell him privily of our intent.—
  60. 318 You, Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham,
  61. 319 With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise.
  62. 320 In them I trust; for they are soldiers,
  63. 321 Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.—
  64. 322 While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more
  65. 323 But that I seek occasion how to rise,
  66. 324 And yet the king not privy to my drift,
  67. 325 Nor any of the house of Lancaster?
  68. [Enter a Messenger.]
  69. Richard, Duke of York
  70. 326 But stay.—What news? Why com'st thou in such post?
  71. Messenger
  72. 327 The queen, with all the northern earls and lords,
  73. 328 Intend here to besiege you in your castle.
  74. 329 She is hard by with twenty thousand men,
  75. 330 And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.
  76. Richard, Duke of York
  77. 331 Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou that we fear
  78. 332 them?—
  79. 333 Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;
  80. 334 My brother Montague shall post to London.
  81. 335 Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,
  82. 336 Whom we have left protectors of the king,
  83. Richard, Duke of York
  84. 337 With powerful policy strengthen themselves,
  85. 338 And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.
  86. Marquess of Montague
  87. 339 Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not:
  88. 340 And thus most humbly I do take my leave.
  89. [Exit.]
  90. [Enter SIR JOHN and SIR HUGH MORTIMER.]
  91. Richard, Duke of York
  92. 341 Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles,
  93. 342 You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;
  94. 343 The army of the queen mean to besiege us.
  95. Sir John Mortimer
  96. 344 She shall not need; we'll meet her in the field.
  97. Richard, Duke of York
  98. 345 What, with five thousand men?
  99. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  100. 346 Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need.
  101. 347 A woman-general! what should we fear?
  102. [A march afar off.]
  103. Edward IV
  104. 348 I hear their drums; let's set our men in order,
  105. 349 And issue forth and bid them battle straight.
  106. Richard, Duke of York
  107. 350 Five men to twenty!—though the odds be great,
  108. 351 I doubt not, uncle, of our victory.
  109. 352 Many a battle have I won in France
  110. 353 Whenas the enemy hath been ten to one;
  111. 354 Why should I not now have the like success?
  112. [Alarum. Exeunt.]