TPTT The Second Part of Henry the Sixth: ACT V
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
SCENE I. Fields between Dartford and Blackheath.
SCENE II. Saint Alban's.
SCENE III. Fields near St. Alban's.
About the Play
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SCENE II. Saint Alban's.
Alarums to the battle. Enter WARWICK
WARWICK
      Clifford of Cumberland, 'tis Warwick calls:
      And if thou dost not hide thee from the bear,
      Now, when the angry trumpet sounds alarum
      And dead men's cries do fill the empty air,
5     Clifford, I say, come forth and fight with me:
      Proud northern lord, Clifford of Cumberland,
      Warwick is hoarse with calling thee to arms.

Enter YORK

      How now, my noble lord? what, all afoot?
YORK
      The deadly-handed Clifford slew my steed,
10    But match to match I have encounter'd him
      And made a prey for carrion kites and crows
      Even of the bonny beast he loved so well.
Enter CLIFFORD
WARWICK
      Of one or both of us the time is come.
YORK
      Hold, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase,
15    For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
WARWICK
      Then, nobly, York; 'tis for a crown thou fight'st.
      As I intend, Clifford, to thrive to-day,
      It grieves my soul to leave thee unassail'd.
Exit
CLIFFORD
      What seest thou in me, York? why dost thou pause?
YORK
20    With thy brave bearing should I be in love,
      But that thou art so fast mine enemy.
CLIFFORD
      Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem,
      But that 'tis shown ignobly and in treason.
YORK
      So let it help me now against thy sword
25    As I in justice and true right express it.
CLIFFORD
      My soul and body on the action both!
YORK
      A dreadful lay! Address thee instantly.
They fight, and CLIFFORD falls
CLIFFORD
      La fin couronne les oeuvres.
Dies
YORK
      Thus war hath given thee peace, for thou art still.
30    Peace with his soul, heaven, if it be thy will!
Exit
Enter YOUNG CLIFFORD
YOUNG CLIFFORD
      Shame and confusion! all is on the rout;
      Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds
      Where it should guard. O war, thou son of hell,
      Whom angry heavens do make their minister
35    Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part
      Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly.
      He that is truly dedicate to war
      Hath no self-love, nor he that loves himself
      Hath not essentially but by circumstance
40    The name of valour.

Seeing his dead father

      O, let the vile world end,
      And the premised flames of the last day
      Knit earth and heaven together!
      Now let the general trumpet blow his blast,
45    Particularities and petty sounds
      To cease! Wast thou ordain'd, dear father,
      To lose thy youth in peace, and to achieve
      The silver livery of advised age,
      And, in thy reverence and thy chair-days, thus
50    To die in ruffian battle? Even at this sight
      My heart is turn'd to stone: and while 'tis mine,
      It shall be stony. York not our old men spares;
      No more will I their babes: tears virginal
      Shall be to me even as the dew to fire,
55    And beauty that the tyrant oft reclaims
      Shall to my flaming wrath be oil and flax.
      Henceforth I will not have to do with pity:
      Meet I an infant of the house of York,
      Into as many gobbets will I cut it
60    As wild Medea young Absyrtus did:
      In cruelty will I seek out my fame.
      Come, thou new ruin of old Clifford's house:
      As did AEneas old Anchises bear,
      So bear I thee upon my manly shoulders;
65    But then AEneas bare a living load,
      Nothing so heavy as these woes of mine.
Exit, bearing off his father
Enter RICHARD and SOMERSET to fight. SOMERSET is killed
RICHARD
      So, lie thou there;
      For underneath an alehouse' paltry sign,
      The Castle in Saint Alban's, Somerset
70    Hath made the wizard famous in his death.
      Sword, hold thy temper; heart, be wrathful still:
      Priests pray for enemies, but princes kill.
Exit
Fight: excursions. Enter KING HENRY VI, QUEEN MARGARET, and others
QUEEN MARGARET
      Away, my lord! you are slow; for shame, away!
KING HENRY VI
      Can we outrun the heavens? good Margaret, stay.
QUEEN MARGARET
75    What are you made of? you'll nor fight nor fly:
      Now is it manhood, wisdom and defence,
      To give the enemy way, and to secure us
      By what we can, which can no more but fly.

Alarum afar off

      If you be ta'en, we then should see the bottom
80    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 loved
      And where this breach now in our fortunes made
      May readily be stopp'd.
Re-enter YOUNG CLIFFORD
YOUNG CLIFFORD
85    But that my heart's on future mischief set,
      I would speak blasphemy ere bid you fly:
      But fly you must; uncurable discomfit
      Reigns in the hearts of all our present parts.
      Away, for your relief! and we will live
90    To see their day and them our fortune give:
      Away, my lord, away!
Exeunt
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