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  • Title: Henry VI, Part 2 (Folio 1, 1623)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry VI, Part 2 (Folio 1, 1623)

    Enter Warwicke.
    War. Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwicke calles:
    3220And if thou dost not hide thee from the Beare,
    Now when the angrie Trumpet sounds alarum,
    And dead mens cries do fill the emptie ayre,
    Clifford I say, come forth and fight with me,
    Proud Northerne Lord, Clifford of Cumberland,
    3225Warwicke is hoarse with calling thee to armes.
    Enter Yorke.
    War. How now my Noble Lord? What all a-foot.
    Yor. The deadly handed Clifford slew my Steed:
    But match to match I haue encountred him,
    3230And made a prey for Carrion Kytes and Crowes
    Euen of the bonnie beast he loued so well.
    Enter Clifford.
    War. Of one or both of vs the time is come.
    Yor. Hold Warwick: seek thee out some other chace
    3235For I my selfe must hunt this Deere to death.
    War. Then nobly Yorke, 'tis for a Crown thou fightst:
    As I intend Clifford to thriue to day,
    It greeues my soule to leaue theee vnassail'd. Exit War.
    Clif. What seest thou in me Yorke?
    3240Why dost thou pause?
    Yorke. With thy braue bearing should I be in loue,
    But that thou art so fast mine enemie.
    Clif. Nor should thy prowesse want praise & esteeme,
    But that 'tis shewne ignobly, and in Treason.
    3245Yorke. So let it helpe me now against thy sword,
    As I in iustice, and true right expresse it.
    Clif. My soule and bodie on the action both.
    Yor. A dreadfull lay, addresse thee instantly.
    Clif. La fin Corrone les eumenes.
    3250Yor. Thus Warre hath giuen thee peace, for yu art still,
    Peace with his soule, heauen if it be thy will.
    Enter yong Clifford.
    Clif. Shame and Confusion all is on the rout,
    Feare frames disorder, and disorder wounds
    3255Where it should guard. O Warre, thou sonne of hell,
    Whom angry heauens do make their minister,
    Throw in the frozen bosomes of our part,
    Hot Coales of Vengeance. Let no Souldier flye.
    He that is truly dedicate to Warre,
    3260Hath no selfe-loue: nor he that loues himselfe,
    Hath not essentially, but by circumstance
    The name of Valour. O let the vile world end,
    And the premised Flames of the Last day,
    Knit earth and heauen together.
    3265Now let the generall Trumpet blow his blast,
    Particularities, and pettie sounds
    To cease. Was't thou ordain'd (deere Father)
    To loose thy youth in peace, and to atcheeue
    The Siluer Liuery of aduised Age,
    3270And in thy Reuerence, and thy Chaire-dayes, thus
    To die in Ruffian battell? Euen at this sight,
    My heart is turn'd to stone: and while 'tis mine,
    It shall be stony. Yorke, not our old men spares:
    No more will I their Babes, Teares Virginall,
    3275Shall be to me, euen as the Dew to Fire,
    And Beautie, that the Tyrant oft reclaimes,
    Shall to my flaming wrath, be Oyle and Flax:
    Henceforth, I will not haue to do with pitty.
    Meet I an infant of the house of Yorke,
    3280Into as many gobbits will I cut it
    As wilde Medea yong Absirtis did.
    In cruelty, will I seeke out my Fame.
    Come thou new ruine of olde Cliffords house:
    As did Aeneas old Anchyses beare,
    3285So beare I thee vpon my manly shoulders:
    But then, Aeneas bare a liuing loade;
    o3 Nothing
    146The second Part of Henry the Sixt.
    Nothing so heauy as these woes of mine.
    Enter Richard, and Somerset to fight.
    Rich. So lye thou there:
    3290For vnderneath an Ale-house paltry signe,
    The Castle in S. Albons, Somerset
    Hath made the Wizard famous in his death:
    Sword, hold thy temper; Heart, be wrathfull still:
    Priests pray for enemies, but Princes kill.
    3295Fight. Excursions.
    Enter King, Queene, and others.
    Qu. Away my Lord, you are slow, for shame away.
    King. Can we outrun the Heauens? Good Margaret
    stay.
    3300Qu. What are you made of? You'l nor fight nor fly:
    Now is it manhood, wisedome, and defence,
    To giue the enemy way, and to secure vs
    By what we can, which can no more but flye.
    Alarum a farre off.
    3305If you be tane, we then should see the bottome
    Of all our Fortunes: but if we haply scape,
    (As well we may, if not through your neglect)
    We shall to London get, where you are lou'd,
    And where this breach now in our Fortunes made
    3310May readily be stopt.
    Enter Clifford.
    Clif. But that my hearts on future mischeefe set,
    I would speake blasphemy ere bid you flye:
    But flye you must: Vncureable discomfite
    3315Reignes in the hearts of all our present parts.
    Away for your releefe, and we will liue
    To see their day, and them our Fortune giue.
    Away my Lord, away. Exeunt
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