directory
home contact

King Henry VI, Part III

Please see the bottom of the page for helpful resources.

ACT I SCENE III Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield. 
[Alarums. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor]
RUTLANDAh, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?
Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes!
[Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers]
CLIFFORDChaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life.
As for the brat of this accursed duke,
Whose father slew my father, he shall die.5
TutorAnd I, my lord, will bear him company.
CLIFFORDSoldiers, away with him!
TutorAh, Clifford, murder not this innocent child,
Lest thou be hated both of God and man!
[Exit, dragged off by Soldiers]
CLIFFORDHow now! is he dead already? or is it fear10
That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them.
RUTLANDSo 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.15
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.20
CLIFFORDIn vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood
Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter.
RUTLANDThen let my father's blood open it again:
He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.
CLIFFORDHad thy brethren here, their lives and thine25
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 York30
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]
RUTLANDO, let me pray before I take my death!35
To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!
CLIFFORDSuch pity as my rapier's point affords.
RUTLANDI never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me?
CLIFFORDThy father hath.
RUTLANDBut 'twas ere I was born.40
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,45
Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause.
CLIFFORDNo cause!
Thy father slew my father; therefore, die.
[Stabs him]
RUTLANDDi faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae!
[Dies]
CLIFFORDPlantagenet! I come, Plantagenet!50
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]

Continue to 3 Henry VI, Act 1, Scene 4

________

Related Articles

 The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)
 Elements of Shakespeare's History Plays
 Characteristics of Elizabethan Drama

 Shakespeare's Reputation in Elizabethan England
 Shakespeare's Impact on Other Writers
 Four Periods of Shakespeare's Life
 Shakespeare's Writing Style

 Words Shakespeare Coined
 Quotations About William Shakespeare
 Why Shakespeare is so Important
 Shakespeare's Language
 Shakespeare's Boss: The Master of Revels