William Shakespeare's The Life of King Henry the Fifth in the complete original text.
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HOME > Plays > The Life of King Henry the Fifth > Act IV. Scene VI.

The Life of King Henry the Fifth

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Act IV. Scene VI.

Scene VI.—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.
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