SC. XX. eat
War. Ah, who is nie? Come to me friend or foe,
And tell me who is victor Yorke or Warwike?
Why aske I that? my mangled bodie shewes,
That I must yeeld my bodie to the earth.
5 And by my fall the conquest to my foes,
Thus yeelds the Cedar to the axes edge,
Whose armes gaue shelter to the princelie Eagle,
[♦] Vnder whose shade the ramping Lion slept,
Whose top branch ouerpeerd Ioues spreading tree.
10 The wrinkles in my browes now fild with bloud,
Were likened oft to kinglie sepulchers.
For who liu’d king, but I could dig his graue?
And who durst smile, when Warwike bent his brow?
Lo now my glorie smeerd in dust and bloud,
[15] My parkes, my walkes, my mannors that I had,
Euen now forsake me, and of all my lands,
Is nothing left me but my bodies length.
Enter Oxford and Summerset.
Oxf. Ah Warwike, Warwike, cheere vp thy selfe and liue,
[♦] For yet thears hope enough to win the daie.
20 Our warlike Queene with troopes is come from France,
[♦] And at South-hampton landed all hir traine,
[♦] And mightst thou liue, then would we neuer flie.
War. Whie then I would not flie, nor haue I now,
But Hercules himselfe must yeeld to ods,
[25] For manie wounds receiu’d, and manie moe repaid,
Hath robd my strong knit sinews of their strength,
And spite of spites needes must I yeeld to death.
Som. Thy brother Montague hath breathd his last,
And at the pangs of death I heard him crie
30 And saie, commend me to my valiant brother,
[♦] And more he would haue spoke and more he said,
[♦] Which sounded like a clamor in a vault,
That could not be distinguisht for the sound,
And so the valiant Montague gave vp the ghost.
War. What is pompe, rule, raigne, but earth and dust?
And liue we how we can, yet die we must.
Sweet rest his soule, flie Lords and saue your selues,
For Warwike bids you all farewell to meet in Heauen. He dies.
[♦] Oxf Come noble Summerset, lets take our horse,
[40] And cause retrait be sounded through the campe,
That all our friends that yet remaine aliue,
[♦] Maie be awarn’d and saue themselues by flight.
That done, with them weele post vnto the Queene,
[♦] And once more trie our fortune in the field. Ex. ambo.
Enter Edward, Clarence, Gloster, with souldiers.
45 Edw. Thus still our fortune giues vs victorie,
[♦] And girts our temples with triumphant ioies,
[♦] The bigboond traytor Warwike hath breathde his last,
[♦] And heauen this daie hath smilde vpon vs all,
But in this cleere and brightsome daie,
50 I see a blacke suspitious cloud appeare
That will encounter with our glorious sunne
Before he gaine his easefull westerne beames,
[♦] I mean those powers which the Queen hath got in Frāce
Are landed, and meane once more to menace vs.
[55] Glo. Oxford and Summerset are fled to hir,
[♦] And tis likelie if she haue time to breath,
Her faction will be full as strong as ours.
Edw. We are aduertisde by our louing friends,
That they doe hold their course towards Tewxburie.
60 Thither will we, for willingnes rids waie,
[♦] And in euerie countie as we passe along,
[♦] Our strengthes shall be augmented.
[♦] Come lets goe, for if we slacke this faire
Bright Summers daie, sharpe winters
[65] Showers will marre our hope for haie. Ex. Omnes.