SEARCH TEXTS  

Plays  +  Sonnets  +  Poems  +  Concordance  +  Advanced Search  +  About OSS

History of Henry VI, Part III

print/save print/save view

---
       

Act V, Scene 2

A field of battle near Barnet.

       
---

[Alarum and excursions. Enter KING EDWARD IV, bringing] [p]forth WARWICK wounded]

  • King Edward IV (Plantagenet). So, lie thou there: die thou, and die our fear;
    For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all.
    Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee,
    That Warwick's bones may keep thine company. 2725

[Exit]

  • Earl of Warwick. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend or foe,
    And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick?
    Why ask I that? my mangled body shows,
    My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows. 2730
    That I must yield my body to the earth
    And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe.
    Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge,
    Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle,
    Under whose shade the ramping lion slept, 2735
    Whose top-branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree
    And kept low shrubs from winter's powerful wind.
    These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black veil,
    Have been as piercing as the mid-day sun,
    To search the secret treasons of the world: 2740
    The wrinkles in my brows, now filled with blood,
    Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres;
    For who lived king, but I could dig his grave?
    And who durst mine when Warwick bent his brow?
    Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood! 2745
    My parks, my walks, my manors that I had.
    Even now forsake me, and of all my lands
    Is nothing left me but my body's length.
    Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?
    And, live we how we can, yet die we must. 2750

[Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET]

  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are.
    We might recover all our loss again;
    The queen from France hath brought a puissant power:
    Even now we heard the news: ah, could'st thou fly! 2755
  • Earl of Warwick. Why, then I would not fly. Ah, Montague,
    If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand.
    And with thy lips keep in my soul awhile!
    Thou lovest me not; for, brother, if thou didst,
    Thy tears would wash this cold congealed blood 2760
    That glues my lips and will not let me speak.
    Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead.
  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. Ah, Warwick! Montague hath breathed his last;
    And to the latest gasp cried out for Warwick,
    And said 'Commend me to my valiant brother.' 2765
    And more he would have said, and more he spoke,
    Which sounded like a clamour in a vault,
    That mought not be distinguished; but at last
    I well might hear, delivered with a groan,
    'O, farewell, Warwick!' 2770
  • Earl of Warwick. Sweet rest his soul! Fly, lords, and save yourselves;
    For Warwick bids you all farewell to meet in heaven.

[Dies]

  • Earl Oxford. Away, away, to meet the queen's great power!

[Here they bear away his body. Exeunt]