Act V, Scene v

[Alarum. Retreat. Enter YORK, RICHARD, WARWICK, and Soldiers,with drum and colours.]

YORK.:

Of Salisbury, who can report of him,

That winter lion, who in rage forgets

Aged contusions and all brush of time

And, like a gallant in the brow of youth,

Repairs him with occasion? This happy day

Is not itself, nor have we won one foot,

If Salisbury be lost.

RICHARD.:

My noble father,

Three times to-day I holp him to his horse,

Three times bestrid him; thrice I led him off,

Persuaded him from any further act;

But still, where danger was, still there I met him;

And like rich hangings in a homely house,

So was his will in his old feeble body.

But, noble as he is, look where he comes.

[Enter SALISBURY.]

SALISBURY.:

Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day;

By the mass, so did we all.—I thank you, Richard;

God knows how long it is I have to live,

And it hath pleas'd him that three times to-day

You have defended me from imminent death.—

Well, lords, we have not got that which we have;

'T is not enough our foes are this time fled,

Being opposites of such repairing nature.

YORK.:

I know our safety is to follow them;

For, as I hear, the king is fled to London,

To call a present court of parliament.

Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth.—

What says Lord Warwick? shall we after them?

WARWICK.:

After them! nay, before them, if we can.

Now, by my hand, lords, 'twas a glorious day;

Saint Alban's battle won by famous York

Shall be eterniz'd in all age to come.—

Sound drums and trumpets!—and to London all;

And more such days as these to us befall!

[Exeunt.]