Shakespeare Portal

Act 2, Scene 3

A field of battle between Towton.

  1. [Alarums. Excursions. Enter WARWICK.]
  2. Earl of Warwick
  3. 975 Forspent with toil, as runners with a race,
  4. 976 I lay me down a little while to breathe;
  5. 977 For strokes receiv'd, and many blows repaid,
  6. 978 Have robb'd my strong-knit sinews of their strength,
  7. 979 And, spite of spite, needs must I rest awhile.
  8. [Enter EDWARD, running.]
  9. Edward IV
  10. 980 Smile, gentle heaven, or strike, ungentle death!
  11. 981 For this world frowns and Edward's sun is clouded.
  12. Earl of Warwick
  13. 982 How now, my lord? what hap? what hope of good?
  14. [Enter GEORGE.]
  15. George, Duke of Clarence
  16. 983 Our hap is lost, our hope but sad despair;
  17. 984 Our ranks are broke and ruin follows us.
  18. 985 What counsel give you? whither shall we fly?
  19. Edward IV
  20. 986 Bootless is flight, they follow us with wings;
  21. 987 And weak we are and cannot shun pursuit.
  22. [Enter RICHARD.]
  23. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  24. 988 Ah, Warwick, why hast thou withdrawn thyself?
  25. 989 Thy brother's blood the thirsty earth hath drunk,
  26. 990 Broach'd with the steely point of Clifford's lance;
  27. 991 And in the very pangs of death he cried,
  28. 992 Like to a dismal clangor heard from far,
  29. 993 'Warwick, revenge! brother, revenge my death!'
  30. 994 So, underneath the belly of their steeds
  31. 995 That stain'd their fetlocks in his smoking blood,
  32. 996 The noble gentleman gave up the ghost.
  33. Earl of Warwick
  34. 997 Then let the earth be drunken with our blood;
  35. 998 I'll kill my horse, because I will not fly.
  36. 999 Why stand we like soft-hearted women here,
  37. 1000 Wailing our losses whiles the foe doth rage,
  38. 1001 And look upon, as if the tragedy
  39. 1002 Were play'd in jest by counterfeiting actors?
  40. 1003 Here on my knee I vow to God above,
  41. 1004 I'll never pause again, never stand still,
  42. 1005 Till either death hath clos'd these eyes of mine,
  43. 1006 Or fortune given me measure of revenge.
  44. Edward IV
  45. 1007 O Warwick, I do bend my knee with thine,
  46. 1008 And in this vow do chain my soul to thine!—
  47. 1009 And, ere my knee rise from the earth's cold face,
  48. 1010 I throw my hands, mine eyes, my heart to thee,
  49. 1011 Thou setter-up and plucker-down of kings,
  50. 1012 Beseeching thee, if with thy will it stands
  51. 1013 That to my foes this body must be prey,
  52. 1014 Yet that thy brazen gates of heaven may ope,
  53. 1015 And give sweet passage to my sinful soul.—
  54. 1016 Now, lords, take leave until we meet again,
  55. 1017 Where'er it be, in heaven or in earth.
  56. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  57. 1018 Brother, give me thy hand;—and, gentle Warwick,
  58. 1019 Let me embrace thee in my weary arms.
  59. 1020 I, that did never weep, now melt with woe,
  60. 1021 That winter should cut off our spring-time so.
  61. Earl of Warwick
  62. 1022 Away, away! Once more, sweet lords, farewell.
  63. George, Duke of Clarence
  64. 1023 Yet let us all together to our troops,
  65. 1024 And give them leave to fly that will not stay,
  66. 1025 And call them pillars that will stand to us;
  67. 1026 And if we thrive, promise them such rewards
  68. 1027 As victors wear at the Olympian games.
  69. 1028 This may plant courage in their quailing breasts,
  70. 1029 For yet is hope of life and victory.—
  71. 1030 Forslow no longer; make we hence amain.
  72. [Exeunt.]