When dying clouds contend with growing light,
What time the shepherd, blowing of his nails,
Can neither call it perfect day nor night.
Now sways it this way, like a mighty sea,
Forc'd by the tide to combat with the wind;
Now sways it that way, like the selfsame sea
Forc'd to retire by fury of the wind.

Sometime the flood prevails, and then the wind;
Now one the better, then another best;
Both tugging to be victors, breast to breast,
Yet neither conqueror nor conquerèd:
So is the equal poise of this fell war.
Here on this molehill will I sit me down.
To whom God will, there be the victory!
For Margaret my queen, and Clifford too,
Have chid me from the battle, swearing both
They prosper best of all when I am thence.
Would I were dead! if God's good will were so;
For what is in this world but grief and woe?
O God! methinks it were a happy life,
To be no better than a homely swain; 1
To sit upon a hill, as I do now,

To carve out dials quaintly, point by point,
Thereby to see the minutes how they run,
How many make the hour full complete,
How many hours bring about the day,
How many days will finish up the year,
How many years a mortal man may live.

When this is known, then to divide the times: 1 plain shepherd.

So many hours must I tend my flock;

So
inany
So many hours must I contemplate;

hours must I take my rest;

So many hours must I sport myself;

So many days my ewes have been with young;
So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean;
So many years ere I shall shear the fleece.
So minutes, hours, days, months, and years,
Pass'd over to the end they were created,
Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave.
Ah, what a life were this! how sweet! how lovely!
Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shade
To shepherds looking on their silly 2 sheep,
Than doth a rich embroider'd canopy

To kings that fear their subjects' treachery?
O, yes, it doth; a thousand-fold it doth.
And to conclude, the shepherd's homely curds,
His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle,
His wonted sleep under a fresh tree's shade,
All which secure and sweetly he enjoys,
Is far beyond a prince's delicates,
His viands sparkling in a golden cup,
His body couchèd in a curious 3 bed,

When care, mistrust, and treason wait on him.

(Alarums. Excursions. Enter Queen Margaret, Prince of Wales, and Exeter.)

Prince. Fly, father, fly! for all your friends are

fled

1

give birth to the lambs.

2 innocent.

2 elaborate.

And Warwick rages like a chafèd bull.

Away! for death doth hold us in pursuit.

Queen Margaret. Mount you, my lord; towards
Berwick post amain.

Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds,
Having the fearful flying hare in sight,

With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath,

And bloody steel grasp'd in their ireful hands,

Are at our backs; and therefore hence amain. Exeter. Away! for vengeance comes along with them.

Nay, stay not to expostulate; make speed,

Or else come after: I'll away before.

King Henry. Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Exeter;

Not that I fear to stay, but love to go

Whither the queen intends. Forward! away!

[Exeunt.

THE DREAM OF CLARENCE

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(From "King Richard the Third")

GEORGE, Duke of Clarence, the second son of Richard of York, had desired to supplant his brother, Edward IV. To this end he joined Warwick in plotting Edward's overthrow. The York king was actually driven from England, and Henry VI. was restored (1470) on the understanding that Clarence should succeed him. When Edward returned in triumph the following year, Clarence hastened to meet him, abandoning Warwick and the Lancastrians. He fought for the Red Rose at Barnet and at Tewkesbury. His loyalty was suspected, however, and he was confined in the Tower.

So many hours must I tend my flock;
So many hours must I take my rest;
So many hours must I contemplate ;
So many hours must I sport myself;

So many days my ewes have been with young;
So many weeks ere the poor fools will ean; 1
So many years ere I shall shear the fleece.
So minutes, hours, days, months, and years,
Pass'd over to the end they were created,
Would bring white hairs unto a quiet grave.
Ah, what a life were this! how sweet! how lovely!
Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shade
To shepherds looking on their silly 2 sheep,
Than doth a rich embroider'd canopy

To kings that fear their subjects' treachery?
O, yes, it doth; a thousand-fold it doth.
And to conclude, the shepherd's homely curds,
His cold thin drink out of his leather bottle,
His wonted sleep under a fresh tree's shade,
All which secure and sweetly he enjoys,
Is far beyond a prince's delicates,
His viands sparkling in a golden cup,
His body couchèd in a curious 3 bed,

When care, mistrust, and treason wait on him.

(Alarums. Excursions. Enter Queen Margaret, Prince of Wales, and Exeter.)

Prince. Fly, father, fly! for all your friends are fled

1 give birth to the lambs.

2 innocent.

2 elaborate.

And Warwick rages like a chafèd bull.

Away! for death doth hold us in pursuit.

Queen Margaret. Mount you, my lord; towards
Berwick post amain.

Edward and Richard, like a brace of greyhounds,
Having the fearful flying hare in sight,

With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath,
And bloody steel grasp'd in their ireful hands,
Are at our backs; and therefore hence amain.
Exeter. Away! for vengeance comes along with
them.

Nay, stay not to expostulate; make speed,

Or else come after: I'll away before.

King Henry. Nay, take me with thee, good sweet Exeter;

Not that I fear to stay, but love to go

Whither the queen intends. Forward! away!

[Exeunt.

THE DREAM OF CLARENCE

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(From "King Richard the Third")

GEORGE, Duke of Clarence, the second son of Richard of York, had desired to supplant his brother, Edward IV. To this end he joined Warwick in plotting Edward's overthrow. The York king was actually driven from England, and Henry VI. was restored (1470) on the understanding that Clarence should succeed him. When Edward returned in triumph the following year, Clarence hastened to meet him, abandoning Warwick and the Lancastrians. He fought for the Red Rose at Barnet and at Tewkesbury. His loyalty was suspected, however, and he was confined in the Tower.