Henry V
Act IV, Scene 6
Another part of the battlefield.
Coin bearing a representation of Henry V
CNG
- Alarum. Enter the King and his Train with prisoners; Exeter
- and others.
King Henry the Fifth
1 - 2- Well have we done, thrice-valiant countrymen,
- But all’s not done—yet keep the French the field.
Duke of Exeter
3- The Duke of York commends him to your Majesty.
King Henry the Fifth
4 - 6- 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.
Duke of Exeter
7 - 32- In which array (brave soldier!) doth he lie,
- Larding the plain; and by his bloody side
- (Yoke-fellow to his honor-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 insteeped,
- And takes him by the beard, kisses the gashes
- That bloodily did yawn upon his face.
- He cries aloud, “Tarry, my 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.
King Henry the Fifth
33 - 39- 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.