William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Third Part

ACT I 3. SCENE III. Plains near Sandal Castle. (continued)

RUTLAND.
O, let me pray before I take my death!--
To thee I pray; sweet Clifford, pity me!

CLIFFORD.
Such pity as my rapier's point affords.

RUTLAND.
I never did thee harm; why wilt thou slay me?

CLIFFORD.
Thy father hath.

RUTLAND.
But 't was ere I was born.
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,
Then let me die, for now thou hast no cause.

CLIFFORD.
No cause?
Thy father slew my father; therefore, die. [Clifford stabs him.]

RUTLAND.
Dii faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae! [Dies.]

CLIFFORD.
Plantagenet! I come, Plantagenet!
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.]