Sound trumpets! let our bloody colours wave!
And either victory, or else a grave.
QUEEN MARGARET Stay, Edward.
EDWARD No, wrangling woman, we'll no longer stay:
These words will cost ten thousand lives this day.
[Exeunt]
3 KING HENRY VI
ACT II
SCENE III A field of battle between Towton and Saxton, in
Yorkshire.
[Alarum. Excursions. Enter WARWICK]
WARWICK Forspent with toil, as runners with a race,
I lay me down a little while to breathe;
For strokes received, and many blows repaid,
Have robb'd my strong-knit sinews of their strength,
And spite of spite needs must I rest awhile.
[Enter EDWARD, running]
EDWARD Smile, gentle heaven! or strike, ungentle death!
For this world frowns, and Edward's sun is clouded.
WARWICK How now, my lord! what hap? what hope of good?
[Enter GEORGE]
GEORGE Our hap is loss, our hope but sad despair;
Our ranks are broke, and ruin follows us:
What counsel give you? whither shall we fly?
EDWARD Bootless is flight, they follow us with wings;
And weak we are and cannot shun pursuit.
[Enter RICHARD]
RICHARD Ah, Warwick, why hast thou withdrawn thyself?
Thy brother's blood the thirsty earth hath drunk,
Broach'd with the steely point of Clifford's lance;
And in the very pangs of death he cried,
Like to a dismal clangour heard from far,
'Warwick, revenge! brother, revenge my death!'
So, underneath the belly of their steeds,
That stain'd their fetlocks in his smoking blood,
The noble gentleman gave up the ghost.
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