Henry V – Act 4 Scene 6

KING HENRY V

Well have we done, thrice valiant countrymen:

We have done well, my triple-gallant brethren;

But all's not done; yet keep the French the field.

But we’re not done; the French still hold the field.

EXETER

The Duke of York commends him to your majesty.

Your majesty, the Duke of York sends greetings.

KING HENRY V

Lives he, good uncle? Thrice within this hour

Did he survive? Three times within the hour

I saw him down; thrice up again and fighting;

I saw him down; thrice he got up to fight;

From helmet to the spur all blood he was.

From head to toe, his armour thick with blood.

EXETER

In which array, brave soldier, doth he lie,

And that is how he’s lying now, brave soldier,

Larding the plain; and by his bloody side,

The blood feeding the land; and by his side,

Yoke-fellow to his honour-owing wounds,

His battle partner for his worthy wounds,

The noble Earl of Suffolk also lies.

The Earl of Suffolk nobly lies beside him.

Suffolk first died: and York, all haggled over,

Suffolk was first to die; then mangled York,

Comes to him, where in gore he lay insteeped,

Comes over to him, lying mutilated,

And takes him by the beard; kisses the gashes

And holds him by the beard, kissing his wounds

That bloodily did spawn upon his face;

That gushed with blood disgorging from his face;

And cries aloud 'Tarry, dear cousin Suffolk!

He shouts aloud, ‘Wait up, dear cousin Suffolk!

My soul shall thine keep company to heaven;

My soul will join you on the path to heaven;

Tarry, sweet soul, for mine, then fly abreast,

Wait there for me, sweet soul, then fly together

As in this glorious and well-foughten field

As we did in this glorious battlefield

We kept together in our chivalry!'

And fought together, both brothers in arms!’

Upon these words I came and cheered him up:

On hearing this, I came to hearten him:

He smiled me in the face, raught me his hand,

He smiled at me and took me by the hand,

And, with a feeble gripe, says 'Dear my lord,

And, feebly holding me, said, ‘My dear lord,

Commend my service to me sovereign.'

Please tell the king I bravely fought for him.’

So did he turn and over Suffolk's neck

And then he turned, and over Suffolk’s neck

He threw his wounded arm and kissed his lips;

He lay his wounded arm and kissed his lips;

And so espoused to death, with blood he sealed

And so, united as they died, he sealed

A testament of noble-ending love.

A bloodied bond of noble love in death.

The pretty and sweet manner of it forced

This beautifully tender moment forced

Those waters from me which I would have stopped;

My tears to flow which I had tried to stop;

But I had not so much of man in me,

But I could not behave just like a man should,

And all my mother came into mine eyes

And, like my mother would, my eyes welled up

And gave me up to tears.

And made me cry my eyes out.

KING HENRY V

I blame you not;

I don’t blame you;

For, hearing this, I must perforce compound

For hearing this I’m forced to fight the tears back

With mistful eyes, or they will issue too.

From my own glassy eyes, or else I’ll sob too.

[ALARUM]

But, hark! What new alarum is this same?

But, listen up! What is this call to arms?

The French have reinforced their scattered men:

The French have reinforced their scattered men.

Then every soldier kill his prisoners:

So, every soldier: kill your prisoners,

Give the word through.

And spread this order out.