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London； keeper of the King； Muster'd my soldiers； gathered flocks of
friends； And very well appointed； as I thought； March'd toward Saint
Albans to intercept the Queen； Bearing the King in my behalf along； For
by my scouts I was advertised That she was coming with a full intent To
dash our late decree in parliament Touching King Henry's oath and your
succession。 Short tale to make… we at Saint Albans met； Our battles join'd；
and both sides fiercely fought； But whether 'twas the coldness of the King；
Who look'd full gently on his warlike queen； That robb'd my soldiers of
their heated spleen； Or whether 'twas report of her success； Or more than
common fear of Clifford's rigour； Who thunders to his captives blood and
death； I cannot judge； but； to conclude with truth； Their weapons like to
lightning came and went： Our soldiers'； like the night…owl's lazy flight Or
like an idle thresher with a flail； Fell gently down； as if they struck their
friends。 I cheer'd them up with justice of our cause； With promise of high
pay and great rewards； But all in vain； they had no heart to fight； And we
in them no hope to win the day； So that we fled： the King unto the Queen；
Lord George your brother； Norfolk； and myself； In haste post…haste are
come to join with you； For in the marches here we heard you were Making
another head to fight again。 EDWARD。 Where is the Duke of Norfolk；
gentle Warwick？ And when came George from Burgundy to England？
WARWICK。 Some six miles off the Duke is with the soldiers； And for
your brother； he was lately sent From your kind aunt； Duchess of
Burgundy； With aid of soldiers to this needful war。 RICHARD。 'Twas odds；
belike； when valiant Warwick fled。 Oft have I heard his praises in pursuit；
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King Henry VI； Part 3
But ne'er till now his scandal of retire。 WARWICK。 Nor now my scandal；
Richard； dost thou hear； For thou shalt know this strong right hand of mine
Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry's head And wring the awful
sceptre from his fist； Were he as famous and as bold in war As he is fam'd
for mildness； peace； and prayer。 RICHARD。 I know it well； Lord Warwick；
blame me not。 'Tis love I bear thy glories makes me speak。 But in this
troublous time what's to be done？ Shall we go throw away our coats of
steel And wrap our bodies in black mourning…gowns； Numbering our Ave…
Maries with our beads？ Or shall we on the helmets of our foes Tell our
devotion with revengeful arms？ If for the last； say 'Ay；' and to it； lords。
WARWICK。 Why； therefore Warwick came to seek you out； And therefore
comes my brother Montague。 Attend me； lords。 The proud insulting Queen；
With Clifford and the haught Northumberland； And of their feather many
moe proud birds； Have wrought the easy…melting King like wax。 He swore
consent to your succession； His oath enrolled in the parliament； And now
to London all the crew are gone To frustrate both his oath and what beside
May make against the house of Lancaster。 Their power； I think； is thirty
thousand strong。 Now if the help of Norfolk and myself； With all the
friends that thou； brave Earl of March； Amongst the loving Welshmen
canst procure； Will but amount to five and twenty thousand； Why； Via！ to
London will we march amain； And once again bestride our foaming steeds；
And once again cry 'Charge upon our foes！' But never once again turn
back and fly。 RICHARD。 Ay； now methinks I hear great Warwick speak。
Ne'er may he live to see a sunshine day That cries 'Retire！' if Warwick bid
him stay。 EDWARD。 Lord Warwick； on thy shoulder will I lean； And
when thou fail'st… as God forbid the hour！… Must Edward fall； which peril
heaven forfend。 WARWICK。 No longer Earl of March； but Duke of York；
The next degree is England's royal throne； For King of England shalt thou
be proclaim'd In every borough as we pass along； And he that throws not
up his cap for joy Shall for the fault make forfeit of his head。 King Edward；
valiant Richard； Montague； Stay we no longer； dreaming of renown； But
sound the trumpets and about our task。 RICHARD。 Then； Clifford； were
thy heart as hard as steel； As thou hast shown it flinty by thy deeds； I come
to pierce it or to give thee mine。 EDWARD。 Then strike up drums。 God
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King Henry VI； Part 3
and Saint George for us！
Enter a MESSENGER
WARWICK。 How now！ what news？ MESSENGER。 The Duke of
Norfolk sends you word by me The Queen is coming with a puissant host；
And craves your company for speedy counsel。 WARWICK。 Why； then it
sorts； brave warriors； let's away。 Exeunt
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King Henry VI； Part 3
SCENE II。 Before York
Flourish。 Enter KING HENRY； QUEEN MARGARET； the PRINCE
OF WALES； CLIFFORD； NORTHUMBERLAND； with drum and
trumpets
QUEEN MARGARET。 Welcome； my lord； to this brave town of
York。 Yonder's the head of that arch…enemy That sought to be encompass'd
with your crown。 Doth not the object cheer your heart； my lord？ KING
HENRY。 Ay； as the rocks cheer them that fear their wreck… To see this
sight； it irks my very soul。 Withhold revenge； dear God； 'tis not my fault；
Nor wittingly have I infring'd my vow。 CLIFFORD。 My gracious liege；
this too much lenity And harmful pity must be laid aside。 To whom do
lions cast their gentle looks？ Not to the beast that would usurp their den。
Whose hand is that the forest bear doth lick？ Not his that spoils her young
before her face。 Who scapes the lurking serpent's mortal sting？ Not he that
sets his foot upon her back； The smallest worm will turn； being trodden on；
And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood。 Ambitious York did level
at thy crown； Thou smiling while he knit his angry brows。 He； but a Duke；
would have his son a king； And raise his issue like a loving sire： Thou；
being a king； bless'd with a goodly son； Didst yield consent to disinherit
him； Which argued thee a most unloving father。 Unreasonable creatures
feed their young； And though man's face be fearful to their eyes； Yet； in
protection of their tender ones； Who hath not seen them… even with those
wings Which sometime they have us'd wi