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King Henry VI； Part 3
SCENE VI。 Another part of the field
A loud alarum。 Enter CLIFFORD； wounded
CLIFFORD。 Here burns my candle out； ay； here it dies； Which；
whiles it lasted； gave King Henry light。 O Lancaster； I fear thy overthrow
More than my body's parting with my soul！ My love and fear glu'd many
friends to thee； And； now I fall； thy tough commixture melts； Impairing
Henry； strength'ning misproud York。 The common people swarm like
summer flies； And whither fly the gnats but to the sun？ And who shines
now but Henry's enemies？ O Phoebus； hadst thou never given consent
That Phaethon should check thy fiery steeds； Thy burning car never had
scorch'd the earth！ And； Henry； hadst thou sway'd as kings should do； Or
as thy father and his father did； Giving no ground unto the house of York；
They never then had sprung like summer flies； I and ten thousand in this
luckless realm Had left no mourning widows for our death； And thou this
day hadst kept thy chair in peace。 For what doth cherish weeds but gentle
air？ And what makes robbers bold but too much lenity？ Bootless are
plaints； and cureless are my wounds。 No way to fly； nor strength to hold
out flight。 The foe is merciless and will not pity； For at their hands I have
deserv'd no pity。 The air hath got into my deadly wounds； And much
effuse of blood doth make me faint。 Come； York and Richard； Warwick
and the rest； I stabb'd your fathers' bosoms： split my breast。 ＇He faints＇
Alarum and retreat。 Enter EDWARD； GEORGE； RICHARD
MONTAGUE； WARWICK； and soldiers
EDWARD。 Now breathe we； lords。 Good fortune bids us pause And
smooth the frowns of war with peaceful looks。 Some troops pursue the
bloody…minded Queen That led calm Henry； though he were a king； As
doth a sail； fill'd with a fretting gust； Command an argosy to stern the
waves。 But think you； lords； that Clifford fled with them？ WARWICK。 No；
'tis impossible he should escape； For； though before his face I speak the
words； Your brother Richard mark'd him for the grave； And； whereso'er he
is； he's surely dead。 ＇CLIFFORD groans； and dies＇ RICHARD。 Whose
soul is that which takes her heavy leave？ A deadly groan； like life and
death's departing。 See who it is。 EDWARD。 And now the battle's ended； If
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King Henry VI； Part 3
friend or foe； let him be gently used。 RICHARD。 Revoke that doom of
mercy； for 'tis Clifford； Who not contented that he lopp'd the branch In
hewing Rutland when his leaves put forth； But set his murd'ring knife unto
the root From whence that tender spray did sweetly spring… I mean our
princely father； Duke of York。 WARWICK。 From off the gates of York
fetch down the head； Your father's head； which Clifford placed there；
Instead whereof let this supply the room。 Measure for measure must be
answered。 EDWARD。 Bring forth that fatal screech…owl to our house； That
nothing sung but death to us and ours。 Now death shall stop his dismal
threat'ning sound； And his ill…boding tongue no more shall speak。
WARWICK。 I think his understanding is bereft。 Speak； Clifford； dost thou
know who speaks to thee？ Dark cloudy death o'ershades his beams of life；
And he nor sees nor hears us what we say。 RICHARD。 O； would he did！
and so； perhaps； he doth。 'Tis but his policy to counterfeit； Because he
would avoid such bitter taunts Which in the time of death he gave our
father。 GEORGE。 If so thou think'st； vex him with eager words。
RICHARD。 Clifford； ask mercy and obtain no grace。 EDWARD。 Clifford；
repent in bootless penitence。 WARWICK。 Clifford； devise excuses for thy
faults。 GEORGE。 While we devise fell tortures for thy faults。 RICHARD。
Thou didst love York； and I am son to York。 EDWARD。 Thou pitied'st
Rutland； I will pity thee。 GEORGE。 Where's Captain Margaret； to fence
you now？ WARWICK。 They mock thee； Clifford； swear as thou wast wont。
RICHARD。 What； not an oath？ Nay； then the world goes hard When
Clifford cannot spare his friends an oath。 I know by that he's dead； and by
my soul； If this right hand would buy two hours' life； That I in all despite
might rail at him； This hand should chop it off； and with the issuing blood
Stifle the villain whose unstanched thirst York and young Rutland could
not satisfy。 WARWICK。 Ay； but he's dead。 Off with the traitor's head； And
rear it in the place your father's stands。 And now to London with
triumphant march； There to be crowned England's royal King； From
whence shall Warwick cut the sea to France； And ask the Lady Bona for
thy queen。 So shalt thou sinew both these lands together； And； having
France thy friend； thou shalt not dread The scatt'red foe that hopes to rise
again； For though they cannot greatly sting to hurt； Yet look to have them
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King Henry VI； Part 3
buzz to offend thine ears。 First will I see the coronation； And then to
Brittany I'll cross the sea To effect this marriage； so it please my lord。
EDWARD。 Even as thou wilt； sweet Warwick； let it be； For in thy
shoulder do I build my seat； And never will I undertake the thing Wherein
thy counsel and consent is wanting。 Richard； I will create thee Duke of
Gloucester； And George； of Clarence； Warwick； as ourself； Shall do and
undo as him pleaseth best。 RICHARD。 Let me be Duke of Clarence；
George of Gloucester； For Gloucester's dukedom is too ominous。
WARWICK。 Tut； that's a foolish observation。 Richard； be Duke of
Gloucester。 Now to London To see these honours in possession。 Exeunt