The Second Part Of King Henry The Sixth

1 The sign of the Castle Inn is displayed. Alarums to the battle. Enter
2 Warwick.
3 WARWICK.
4 Clifford of Cumberland, ’tis Warwick calls;
5 An if thou dost not hide thee from the bear,
6 Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarum
7 And dead men’s cries do fill the empty air,
8 Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me!
9 Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland,
10 Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms.
11 Enter York.
12 How now, my noble lord? What, all afoot?
13 YORK.
14 The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed,
15 But match to match I have encountered him
16 And made a prey for carrion kites and crows
17 Even of the bonny beast he loved so well.
18 Enter old Clifford.
19 WARWICK.
20 Of one or both of us the time is come.
21 YORK.
22 Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase,
23 For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
24 WARWICK.
25 Then, nobly, York; ’tis for a crown thou fight’st.
26 As I intend, Clifford, to thrive today,
27 It grieves my soul to leave thee unassailed.
28 [_Exit._]
29 CLIFFORD.
30 What seest thou in me, York? Why dost thou pause?
31 YORK.
32 With thy brave bearing should I be in love,
33 But that thou art so fast mine enemy.
34 CLIFFORD.
35 Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem,
36 But that ’tis shown ignobly and in treason.
37 YORK.
38 So let it help me now against thy sword
39 As I in justice and true right express it!
40 CLIFFORD.
41 My soul and body on the action both!
42 YORK.
43 A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly.
44 [_They fight and Clifford falls._]
45 CLIFFORD.
46 _La fin couronne les oeuvres._
47 [_Dies._]
48 YORK.
49 Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.
50 Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will!
51 [_Exit._]
52 Enter young Clifford.
53 YOUNG CLIFFORD.
54 Shame and confusion! All is on the rout,
55 Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds
56 Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,
57 Whom angry heavens do make their minister,
58 Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
59 Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly.
60 He that is truly dedicate to war
61 Hath no self-love; nor he that loves himself
62 Hath not essentially but by circumstance,
63 The name of valour. [_Sees his dead father_.] O, let the vile world end
64 And the premised flames of the last day
65 Knit earth and heaven together!
66 Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,
67 Particularities and petty sounds
68 To cease! Wast thou ordained, dear father,
69 To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve
70 The silver livery of advised age,
71 And, in thy reverence and thy chair-days, thus
72 To die in ruffian battle? Even at this sight
73 My heart is turned to stone, and while ’tis mine
74 It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;
75 No more will I their babes; tears virginal
76 Shall be to me even as the dew to fire,
77 And beauty, that the tyrant oft reclaims,
78 Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.
79 Henceforth I will not have to do with pity.
80 Meet I an infant of the house of York,
81 Into as many gobbets will I cut it
82 As wild Medea young Absyrtus did.
83 In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
84 [_He takes him up on his back._]
85 Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford’s house;
86 As did Aeneas old Anchises bear,
87 So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders;
88 But then Aeneas bare a living load,
89 Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine.
90 [_Exit, bearing off his father._]
91 Enter Richard and Somerset to fight. Somerset is killed.
92 RICHARD.
93 So, lie thou there;
94 For underneath an alehouse’ paltry sign,
95 The Castle in Saint Albans, Somerset
96 Hath made the wizard famous in his death.
97 Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathful still!
98 Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill.
99 [_Exit._]
100 Fight. Excursions. Enter King, Queen and others.
101 QUEEN MARGARET.
102 Away, my lord! You are slow, for shame, away!
103 KING HENRY.
104 Can we outrun the heavens? Good Margaret, stay.
105 QUEEN MARGARET.
106 What are you made of? You’ll nor fight nor fly.
107 Now is it manhood, wisdom, and defence
108 To give the enemy way, and to secure us
109 By what we can, which can no more but fly.
110 [_Alarum afar off._]
111 If you be ta’en, we then should see the bottom
112 Of all our fortunes; but if we haply scape,
113 As well we may, if not through your neglect,
114 We shall to London get, where you are loved
115 And where this breach now in our fortunes made
116 May readily be stopped.
117 Enter young Clifford.
118 YOUNG CLIFFORD.
119 But that my heart’s on future mischief set,
120 I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly;
121 But fly you must; uncurable discomfit
122 Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.
123 Away, for your relief! And we will live
124 To see their day and them our fortune give.
125 Away, my lord, away!
126 [_Exeunt._]