Page:Henry VI Part 3 (1923) Yale.djvu/55

King Henry the Sixth, II. v

Upon thy wounds, that kills mine eye and heart.

O! pity, God, this miserable age.

What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly,

Erroneous, mutinous, and unnatural,

This deadly quarrel daily doth beget!

O boy! thy father gave thee life too soon,

And hath bereft thee of thy life too late.

King. Woe above woe! grief more than common grief!

O! that my death would stay these ruthful deeds.

O! pity, pity; gentle heaven, pity.

The red rose and the white are on his face,

The fatal colours of our striving houses:

The one his purple blood right well resembles;

The other his pale cheeks, methinks, presenteth:

Wither one rose, and let the other flourish!

If you contend, a thousand lives must wither.

Son. How will my mother for a father's death

Take on with me and ne'er be satisfied!

Fath. How will my wife for slaughter of my son

Shed seas of tears and ne'er be satisfied!

King. How will the country for these woeful chances

Misthink the king and not be satisfied!

Son. Was ever son so ru'd a father's death?

Fath. Was ever father so bemoan'd his son?

King. Was ever king so griev'd for subjects' woe?

Much is your sorrow; mine, ten times so much.

Son. I'll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill.

[Exit with the body.]

Fath. These arms of mine shall be thy winding-sheet;

 87 Upon: at sight of

90 Erroneous: criminal

93 late: recently

95 ruthful: pitiable

100 presenteth: symbolize

104 Take on: rave

108 Misthink: think ill of 