ARKCODEX
Act I, Scene 3
1Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield.
2Alarums. Enter Rutland and his Tutor.
3RutlandAh, whither shall I fly to ’scape their hands?
Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes!
4Enter Clifford and Soldiers.
5CliffordChaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life.
As for the brat of this accursed duke,
Whose father slew my father, he shall die.
6TutorAnd I, my lord, will bear him company.
7CliffordSoldiers, away with him!
8TutorAh, Clifford, murder not this innocent child,
Lest thou be hated both of God and man! Exit, dragged off by Soldiers.
9CliffordHow now! is he dead already? or is it fear
That makes him close his eyes? I’ll open them.
10RutlandSo looks the pent-up lion o’er the wretch
That trembles under his devouring paws;
And so he walks, insulting o’er his prey,
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:
Be thou revenged on men, and let me live.
11CliffordIn vain thou speak’st, poor boy; my father’s blood
Hath stopp’d the passage where thy words should enter.
12RutlandThen let my father’s blood open it again:
He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.
13CliffordHad 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.
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.
14RutlandO, let me pray before I take my death!
To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!
15CliffordSuch pity as my rapier’s point affords.
16RutlandI never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me?
17CliffordThy father hath.
18RutlandBut ’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;
And when I give occasion of offence,
Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause.
19CliffordNo cause!
Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. Stabs him.
20RutlandDi faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae! Dies.
21CliffordPlantagenet! 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.