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  • Title: Henry VI, Part 3 (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    Not Peer Reviewed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 3 (Folio 1, 1623)

    Alarum, and Excursions. Enter Edward bringing
    2800forth Warwicke wounded.
    Edw. So, lye thou there: dye thou, and dye our feare,
    For Warwicke was a Bugge that fear'd vs all.
    Now Mountague sit fast, I seeke for thee,
    That Warwickes Bones may keepe thine companie.
    2805 Exit.
    Warw. Ah, who is nigh? come to me, friend, or foe,
    And tell me who is Victor, Yorke, or Warwicke?
    Why aske I that? my mangled body shewes,
    My blood, my want of strength, my sicke heart shewes,
    2810That I must yeeld my body to the Earth,
    And by my fall, the conquest to my foe.
    Thus yeelds the Cedar to the Axes edge,
    Whose Armes gaue shelter to the Princely Eagle,
    Vnder whose shade the ramping Lyon slept,
    2815Whose top-branch ouer-peer'd Ioues spreading Tree,
    And kept low Shrubs from Winters pow'rfull Winde.
    These Eyes, that now are dim'd with Deaths black Veyle,
    Haue beene as piercing as the Mid-day Sunne,
    To search the secret Treasons of the World:
    2820The Wrinckles in my Browes, now fill'd with blood,
    Were lik'ned oft to Kingly Sepulchers:
    For who liu'd King, but I could digge his Graue?
    And who durst smile, when Warwicke bent his Brow?
    Loe, now my Glory smear'd in dust and blood.
    2825My Parkes, my Walkes, my Mannors that I had,
    Euen now forsake me; and of all my Lands,
    Is nothing left me, but my bodies length.
    Why, what is Pompe, Rule, Reigne, but Earth and Dust?
    And liue we how we can, yet dye we must.
    2830Enter Oxford and Somerset.
    Som. Ah Warwicke, Warwicke, wert thou as we are,
    We might recouer all our Losse againe:
    The Queene from France hath brought a puissant power.
    Euen now we heard the newes: ah, could'st thou flye.
    2835Warw. Why then I would not flye. Ah Mountague,
    If thou be there, sweet Brother, take my Hand,
    And with thy Lippes keepe in my Soule a while.
    Thou lou'st me not: for, Brother, if thou didst,
    Thy teares would wash this cold congealed blood,
    2840That glewes my Lippes, and will not let me speake.
    Come quickly Mountague, or I am dead.
    Som. Ah Warwicke, Mountague hath breath'd his last,
    And to the latest gaspe, cry'd out for Warwicke:
    And said, Commend me to my valiant Brother.
    2845And more he would haue said, and more he spoke,
    Which sounded like a Cannon in a Vault,
    That mought not be distinguisht: but at last,
    I well might heare, deliuered with a groane,
    Oh farewell Warwicke.
    2850Warw. Sweet rest his Soule:
    Flye Lords, and saue your selues,
    For Warwicke bids you all farewell, to meet in Heauen.
    Oxf. Away, away, to meet the Queenes great power.
    Here they beare away his Body. Exeunt.
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