Shakespeare Portal

Act 5, Scene 2

A Field of Battle near Barnet.

  1. [Alarum and excursions. Enter KING EDWARD, bringing in WARWICK wounded.]
  2. Edward IV
  3. 2551 So, lie thou there; die thou, and die our fear,
  4. 2552 For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all.—
  5. 2553 Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee,
  6. 2554 That Warwick's bones may keep thine company.
  7. [Exit.]
  8. Earl of Warwick
  9. 2555 Ah! who is nigh? come to me, friend or foe,
  10. 2556 And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick.
  11. 2557 Why ask I that? my mangled body shows;
  12. 2558 My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows
  13. 2559 That I must yield my body to the earth
  14. 2560 And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe.
  15. 2561 Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge,
  16. 2562 Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle,
  17. 2563 Under whose shade the ramping lion slept,
  18. 2564 Whose top-branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree,
  19. 2565 And kept low shrubs from winter's pow'rful wind.
  20. 2566 These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black veil,
  21. 2567 Have been as piercing as the midday sun,
  22. 2568 To search the secret treasons of the world;
  23. 2569 The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood,
  24. 2570 Were liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres,
  25. 2571 For who liv'd king but I could dig his grave?
  26. 2572 And who durst smile when Warwick bent his brow?
  27. 2573 Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood!
  28. 2574 My parks, my walks, my manors that I had,
  29. 2575 Even now forsake me, and of all my lands
  30. 2576 Is nothing left me but my body's length.
  31. 2577 Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?
  32. 2578 And live we how we can, yet die we must.
  33. [Enter OXFORD and SOMERSET.]
  34. Duke of Somerset
  35. 2579 Ah, Warwick, Warwick! wert thou as we are,
  36. 2580 We might recover all our loss again.
  37. 2581 The queen from France hath brought a puissant power;
  38. 2582 Even now we heard the news. Ah, couldst thou fly!
  39. Earl of Warwick
  40. 2583 Why, then I would not fly.—Ah, Montague!
  41. 2584 If thou be there, sweet brother, take my hand
  42. 2585 And with thy lips keep in my soul awhile.
  43. 2586 Thou lov'st me not; for, brother, if thou did'st,
  44. 2587 Thy tears would wash this cold, congealed blood
  45. 2588 That glues my lips and will not let me speak.
  46. 2589 Come quickly, Montague, or I am dead.
  47. Duke of Somerset
  48. 2590 Ah, Warwick, Montague hath breath'd his last,
  49. 2591 And to the latest gasp cried out for Warwick,
  50. 2592 And said 'Commend me to my valiant brother.'
  51. 2593 And more he would have said, and more he spoke,
  52. 2594 Which sounded like a clamour in a vault,
  53. 2595 That might not be distinguish'd; but at last
  54. 2596 I well might hear, delivered with a groan,—
  55. 2597 'O farewell, Warwick!'
  56. Earl of Warwick
  57. 2598 Sweet rest his soul!—Fly, lords, and save yourselves;
  58. 2599 For Warwick bids you all farewell, to meet in heaven.
  59. [Dies.]
  60. Earl of Oxford
  61. 2600 Away, away, to meet the queen's great power!
  62. [Exeunt bearing off Warwick's body.]