EDWARD. I wonder how our princely father scap'd,

          Or whether he be scap'd away or no

          From Clifford's and Northumberland's pursuit.

          Had he been ta'en, we should have heard the news;

          Had he been slain, we should have heard the news;

          Or had he scap'd, methinks we should have heard

          The happy tidings of his good escape.

          How fares my brother? Why is he so sad?

        RICHARD. I cannot joy until I be resolv'd

          Where our right valiant father is become.

          I saw him in the battle range about,

          And watch'd him how he singled Clifford forth.

          Methought he bore him in the thickest troop

          As doth a lion in a herd of neat;

          Or as a bear, encompass'd round with dogs,

          Who having pinch'd a few and made them cry,

          The rest stand all aloof and bark at him.

          So far'd our father with his enemies;

          So fled his enemies my warlike father.

          Methinks 'tis prize enough to be his son.

          See how the morning opes her golden gates

          And takes her farewell of the glorious sun.

          How well resembles it the prime of youth,

          Trimm'd like a younker prancing to his love!

        EDWARD. Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns?

        RICHARD. Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun;

          Not separated with the racking clouds,

          But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky.

          See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss,

          As if they vow'd some league inviolable.

          Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun.

          In this the heaven figures some event.

        EDWARD. 'Tis wondrous strange, the like yet never heard of.

          I think it cites us, brother, to the field,

          That we, the sons of brave Plantagenet,

          Each one already blazing by our meeds,

          Should notwithstanding join our lights together

          And overshine the earth, as this the world.

          Whate'er it bodes, henceforward will I bear

          Upon my target three fair shining suns.

        RICHARD. Nay, bear three daughters- by your leave I speak it,

          You love the breeder better than the male.

          But what art thou, whose heavy looks foretell

          Some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue?

        MESSENGER. Ah, one that was a woeful looker-on

          When as the noble Duke of York was slain,

          Your princely father and my loving lord!

        EDWARD. O, speak no more! for I have heard too much.

        RICHARD. Say how he died, for I will hear it all.

        MESSENGER. Environed he was with many foes,

          And stood against them as the hope of Troy

          Against the Greeks that would have ent'red Troy.

          But Hercules himself must yield to odds;

          And many strokes, though with a little axe,

          Hews down and fells the hardest-timber'd oak.

          By many hands your father was subdu'd;

          But only slaught'red by the ireful arm

          Of unrelenting Clifford and the Queen,

          Who crown'd the gracious Duke in high despite,

          Laugh'd in his face; and when with grief he wept,

          The ruthless Queen gave him to dry his cheeks

          A napkin steeped in the harmless blood

          Of sweet young Rutland, by rough Clifford slain;

          And after many scorns, many foul taunts,

          They took his head, and on the gates of York

          They set the same; and there it doth remain,

          The saddest spectacle that e'er I view'd.

        EDWARD. Sweet Duke of York, our prop to lean upon,

          Now thou art gone, we have no staff, no stay.

          O Clifford, boist'rous Clifford, thou hast slain

          The flow'r of Europe for his chivalry;

          And treacherously hast thou vanquish'd him,

          For hand to hand he would have vanquish'd thee.

          Now my soul's palace is become a prison.

          Ah, would she break from hence, that this my body

          Might in the ground be closed up in rest!

          For