King Henry V - Act 4 Scene 6

The Life of King Henry the Fifth

Another Part of the Field.

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Another Part of the Field.

Alarums. Enter KING HENRY and Forces; EXETER, and Others.

K. Hen. Well have we done, thrice-valiant countrymen:

But all's not done; yet keep the French the field.

Exe. The Duke of York commends him to your majesty.

K. Hen. Lives he, good uncle? thrice within this hour

I saw him down; thrice up again, and fighting;

From helmet to the spur all blood he was.

Exe. 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.

Suffolk first died: and York, all haggled over,

Comes to him, where in gore he lay insteep'd,

And takes him by the beard, kisses the gashes

That bloodily did yawn upon his face;

And cries aloud, 'Tarry, dear cousin Suffolk!

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:

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;

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,

And all my mother came into mine eyes

And gave me up to tears.

K. Hen. 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?

The French have reinforc'd their scatter'd men:

Then every soldier kill his prisoners!

Give the word through. [Exeunt.