Act I, Scene 3

Field of battle betwixt Sandal Castle and Wakefield.

[Alarums. Enter RUTLAND and his Tutor]

• Edmond, Earl of Rutland. Ah, whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?
  Ah, tutor, look where bloody Clifford comes!

[Enter CLIFFORD and Soldiers]

• Lord Clifford. Chaplain, away! thy priesthood saves thy life.
  As for the brat of this accursed duke, 380
  Whose father slew my father, he shall die.

• Tutor of Rutland. And I, my lord, will bear him company.

• Lord Clifford. Soldiers, away with him!

• Tutor of Rutland. Ah, Clifford, murder not this innocent child,
  Lest thou be hated both of God and man! 385

[Exit, dragged off by Soldiers]

• Lord Clifford. How now! is he dead already? or is it fear
  That makes him close his eyes? I'll open them.

• Edmond, Earl of Rutland. So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch
  That trembles under his devouring paws; 390
  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. 395
  I am too mean a subject for thy wrath:
  Be thou revenged on men, and let me live.

• Lord Clifford. In vain thou speak'st, poor boy; my father's blood
  Hath stopp'd the passage where thy words should enter.

• Edmond, Earl of Rutland. Then let my father's blood open it again: 400
  He is a man, and, Clifford, cope with him.

• Lord Clifford. Had 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, 405
  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. 410
  Therefore—

[Lifting his hand]

• Edmond, Earl of Rutland. O, let me pray before I take my death!
  To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!

• Lord Clifford. Such pity as my rapier's point affords. 415

• Edmond, Earl of Rutland. I never did thee harm: why wilt thou slay me?

• Lord Clifford. Thy father hath.

• Edmond, Earl of Rutland. But 'twas ere I was born.
  Thou hast one son; for his sake pity me,
  Lest in revenge thereof, sith God is just, 420
  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.

• Lord Clifford. No cause! 425
  Thy father slew my father; therefore, die.

[Stabs him]

• Edmond, Earl of Rutland. Di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae!

[Dies]

• Lord Clifford. Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet! 430
  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]