TPTT The Third Part of Henry the Sixth: ACT I
Introduction
ACT I
SCENE I. London. The Parliament-house.
SCENE II. Sandal Castle.
SCENE III. Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield.
SCENE IV. Another part of the field.
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE III. Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield.
Alarums. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor
RUTLAND
      Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?
      Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes!
Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers
CLIFFORD
      Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life.
      As for the brat of this accursed duke,
5     Whose father slew my father, he shall die.
Tutor
      And I, my lord, will bear him company.
CLIFFORD
      Soldiers, away with him!
Tutor
      Ah, Clifford, murder not this innocent child,
      Lest thou be hated both of God and man!
Exit, dragged off by Soldiers
CLIFFORD
10    How now! is he dead already? or is it fear
      That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them.
RUTLAND
      So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch
      That trembles under his devouring paws;
      And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey,
15    And so he comes, to rend his limbs asunder.
      Ah, gentle Clifford, kill me with thy sword,
      And not with such a cruel threatening look.
      Sweet Clifford, hear me speak before I die.
      I am too mean a subject for thy wrath:
20    Be thou revenged on men, and let me live.
CLIFFORD
      In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood
      Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter.
RUTLAND
      Then let my father's blood open it again:
      He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.
CLIFFORD
25    Had thy brethren here, their lives and thine
      Were not revenge sufficient for me;
      No, if I digg'd up thy forefathers' graves
      And hung their rotten coffins up in chains,
      It could not slake mine ire, nor ease my heart.
30    The sight of any of the house of York
      Is as a fury to torment my soul;
      And till I root out their accursed line
      And leave not one alive, I live in hell.
      Therefore--
Lifting his hand
RUTLAND
35    O, let me pray before I take my death!
      To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!
CLIFFORD
      Such pity as my rapier's point affords.
RUTLAND
      I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me?
CLIFFORD
      Thy father hath.
RUTLAND
40    But 'twas ere I was born.
      Thou hast one son; for his sake pity me,
      Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just,
      He be as miserably slain as I.
      Ah, let me live in prison all my days;
45    And when I give occasion of offence,
      Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause.
CLIFFORD
      No cause!
      Thy father slew my father; therefore, die.
Stabs him
RUTLAND
      Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae!
Dies
CLIFFORD
50    Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet!
      And this thy son's blood cleaving to my blade
      Shall rust upon my weapon, till thy blood,
      Congeal'd with this, do make me wipe off both.

Exit

      3 KING HENRY VI
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