Page 1703 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Lives he, good uncle? thrice within this hour
I saw him down; thrice up again and fighting, [5]
From helmet to the spur all blood he was.

EXETER
In which array, brave soldier, doth he lie,
Larding the plain: and by his bloody side,

Yoke-fellow to his honour-owing wounds,
The noble Earl of Suffolk also lies. [10]
Suffolk first died; and York, all haggled over,

Comes to him, where in gore be lay insteep’d,
And takes him by the beard, kisses the gashes
That bloodily did yawn upon his face;
And cries aloud, “Tarry, my cousin Suffolk! [15]
My soul shall thine keep company to heaven;

Tarry, sweet soul, for mine, then fly abreast,
As in this glorious and well-foughten field
We kept together in our chivalry!”.

Upon these words I came and cheer’d him up; [20]
He smil’d me in the face, raught me his hand,
And, with a feeble gripe, says, “Dear my lord,
Commend my service to my sovereign”.
So did he turn, and over Suffolk’s neck

He threw his wounded arm, and kiss’d his lips, [25]
And so espous’d to death, with blood he seal’d
A testament of noble-ending love.

The pretty and sweet manner of it forc’d
Those waters from me which I would have stopp’d;
But I had not so much of man in me, [30]
And all my mother came into mine eyes
And gave me up to tears.

KING HENRY
I blame you not;
For, hearing this, I must perforce compound
With mistful eyes, or they will issue too.
Alarum.

But, hark! what new alarum is this same? [35]