Page:Henry VI Part 3 (1923) Yale.djvu/30

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So doves do peck the falcon's piercing talons;

So desperate thieves, all hopeless of their lives,

Breathe out invectives 'gainst the officers.

York. O Clifford! but bethink thee once again,

And in thy thought o'er-run my former time;

And, if thou canst for blushing, view this face,

And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice

Whose frown hath made thee faint and fly ere this.

Clif. I will not bandy with thee word for word,

But buckle with thee blows, twice two for one.

Queen. Hold, valiant Clifford! for a thousand causes

I would prolong awhile the traitor's life.

Wrath makes him deaf: speak thou, Northumberland.

North. Hold, Clifford! do not honour him so much

To prick thy finger, though to wound his heart.

What valour were it, when a cur doth grin,

For one to thrust his hand between his teeth,

When he might spurn him with his foot away?

It is war's prize to take all vantages,

And ten to one is no impeach of valour.

[They lay hands on York, who struggles.]

Clif. Ay, ay; so strives the woodcock with the gin.

North. So doth the cony struggle in the net.

York. So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty;

So true men yield, with robbers so o'er-matched.

North. What would your Grace have done unto him now?

Queen. Brave warriors, Clifford and Northumberland,

Come, make him stand upon this molehill here,

 45 o'er-run: review

50 buckle blows: strive with blows

56 grin: show his teeth

59 prize: privilege

60 impeach: derogation

61 woodcock: a proverbially silly bird

gin: snare

62 cony: rabbit

67 Cf. n. 