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History of Henry VI, Part III
 
   
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York complete text
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York. While we pursued the horsemen of the north,1.1.2
        He slily stole away and left his men:1.1.3
        Whereat the great Lord of Northumberland,1.1.4
        Whose warlike ears could never brook retreat,1.1.5
        Cheer'd up the drooping army; and himself,1.1.6
        Lord Clifford and Lord Stafford, all abreast,1.1.7
        Charged our main battle's front, and breaking in1.1.8
        Were by the swords of common soldiers slain. 1.1.9
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York. Richard hath best deserved of all my sons.1.1.17
        But is your grace dead, my Lord of Somerset? 1.1.18
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York. Assist me, then, sweet Warwick, and I will;1.1.28
        For hither we have broken in by force. 1.1.29
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York. Thanks, gentle Norfolk: stay by me, my lords;1.1.31
        And, soldiers, stay and lodge by me this night.1.1.32

They go up

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York. The queen this day here holds her parliament,1.1.35
        But little thinks we shall be of her council:1.1.36
        By words or blows here let us win our right. 1.1.37
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York. Then leave me not, my lords; be resolute;1.1.43
        I mean to take possession of my right. 1.1.44
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York. I am thine. 1.1.77
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York. 'Twas my inheritance, as the earldom was. 1.1.79
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York. It must and shall be so: content thyself. 1.1.86
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York. Will you we show our title to the crown?1.1.103
        If not, our swords shall plead it in the field. 1.1.104
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York. Sons, peace! 1.1.120
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York. 'Twas by rebellion against his king. 1.1.134
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York. What then? 1.1.137
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York. He rose against him, being his sovereign,1.1.142
        And made him to resign his crown perforce. 1.1.143
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York. Why whisper you, my lords, and answer not? 1.1.150
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York. Henry of Lancaster, resign thy crown.1.1.165
        What mutter you, or what conspire you, lords? 1.1.166
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York. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs,1.1.173
        And thou shalt reign in quiet while thou livest. 1.1.174
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York. This oath I willingly take and will perform. 1.1.203
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York. Now York and Lancaster are reconciled. 1.1.206
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York. Farewell, my gracious lord; I'll to my castle. 1.1.208
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York. Why, how now, sons and brother! at a strife?1.2.4
        What is your quarrel? how began it first? 1.2.5
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York. About what? 1.2.7
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York. Mine boy? not till King Henry be dead. 1.2.10
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York. I took an oath that he should quietly reign. 1.2.15
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York. I shall be, if I claim by open war. 1.2.19
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York. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible. 1.2.21
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York. Richard, enough; I will be king, or die.1.2.35
        Brother, thou shalt to London presently,1.2.36
        And whet on Warwick to this enterprise.1.2.37
        Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk,1.2.38
        And tell him privily of our intent.1.2.39
        You Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham,1.2.40
        With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise:1.2.41
        In them I trust; for they are soldiers,1.2.42
        Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit.1.2.43
        While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more,1.2.44
        But that I seek occasion how to rise,1.2.45
        And yet the king not privy to my drift,1.2.46
        Nor any of the house of Lancaster?1.2.47

Enter a Messenger

        But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post? 1.2.48
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York. Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou that we fear them?1.2.53
        Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me;1.2.54
        My brother Montague shall post to London:1.2.55
        Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,1.2.56
        Whom we have left protectors of the king,1.2.57
        With powerful policy strengthen themselves,1.2.58
        And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths. 1.2.59
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York. What, with five thousand men? 1.2.66
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York. Five men to twenty! though the odds be great,1.2.71
        I doubt not, uncle, of our victory.1.2.72
        Many a battle have I won in France,1.2.73
        When as the enemy hath been ten to one:1.2.74
        Why should I not now have the like success?1.2.75

Alarum. Exeunt

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York. The army of the queen hath got the field:1.4.1
        My uncles both are slain in rescuing me;1.4.2
        And all my followers to the eager foe1.4.3
        Turn back and fly, like ships before the wind1.4.4
        Or lambs pursued by hunger-starved wolves.1.4.5
        My sons, God knows what hath bechanced them:1.4.6
        But this I know, they have demean'd themselves1.4.7
        Like men born to renown by life or death.1.4.8
        Three times did Richard make a lane to me.1.4.9
        And thrice cried 'Courage, father! fight it out!'1.4.10
        And full as oft came Edward to my side,1.4.11
        With purple falchion, painted to the hilt1.4.12
        In blood of those that had encounter'd him:1.4.13
        And when the hardiest warriors did retire,1.4.14
        Richard cried 'Charge! and give no foot of ground!'1.4.15
        And cried 'A crown, or else a glorious tomb!1.4.16
        A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre!'1.4.17
        With this, we charged again: but, out, alas!1.4.18
        We bodged again; as I have seen a swan1.4.19
        With bootless labour swim against the tide1.4.20
        And spend her strength with over-matching waves.1.4.21

A short alarum within

        Ah, hark! the fatal followers do pursue;1.4.22
        And I am faint and cannot fly their fury:1.4.23
        And were I strong, I would not shun their fury:1.4.24
        The sands are number'd that make up my life;1.4.25
        Here must I stay, and here my life must end.1.4.26

Enter QUEEN MARGARET, CLIFFORD, NORTHUMBERLAND, PRINCE EDWARD, and Soldiers

        Come, bloody Clifford, rough Northumberland,1.4.27
        I dare your quenchless fury to more rage:1.4.28
        I am your butt, and I abide your shot. 1.4.29
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York. My ashes, as the phoenix, may bring forth1.4.35
        A bird that will revenge upon you all:1.4.36
        And in that hope I throw mine eyes to heaven,1.4.37
        Scorning whate'er you can afflict me with.1.4.38
        Why come you not? what! multitudes, and fear? 1.4.39
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York. O Clifford, but bethink thee once again,1.4.44
        And in thy thought o'er-run my former time;1.4.45
        And, if though canst for blushing, view this face,1.4.46
        And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice1.4.47
        Whose frown hath made thee faint and fly ere this! 1.4.48
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York. So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty;1.4.63
        So true men yield, with robbers so o'ermatch'd. 1.4.64
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York. She-wolf of France, but worse than wolves of France,1.4.111
        Whose tongue more poisons than the adder's tooth!1.4.112
        How ill-beseeming is it in thy sex1.4.113
        To triumph, like an Amazonian trull,1.4.114
        Upon their woes whom fortune captivates!1.4.115
        But that thy face is, vizard-like, unchanging,1.4.116
        Made impudent with use of evil deeds,1.4.117
        I would assay, proud queen, to make thee blush.1.4.118
        To tell thee whence thou camest, of whom derived,1.4.119
        Were shame enough to shame thee, wert thou not shameless.1.4.120
        Thy father bears the type of King of Naples,1.4.121
        Of both the Sicils and Jerusalem,1.4.122
        Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman.1.4.123
        Hath that poor monarch taught thee to insult?1.4.124
        It needs not, nor it boots thee not, proud queen,1.4.125
        Unless the adage must be verified,1.4.126
        That beggars mounted run their horse to death.1.4.127
        'Tis beauty that doth oft make women proud;1.4.128
        But, God he knows, thy share thereof is small:1.4.129
        'Tis virtue that doth make them most admired;1.4.130
        The contrary doth make thee wonder'd at:1.4.131
        'Tis government that makes them seem divine;1.4.132
        The want thereof makes thee abominable:1.4.133
        Thou art as opposite to every good1.4.134
        As the Antipodes are unto us,1.4.135
        Or as the south to the septentrion.1.4.136
        O tiger's heart wrapt in a woman's hide!1.4.137
        How couldst thou drain the life-blood of the child,1.4.138
        To bid the father wipe his eyes withal,1.4.139
        And yet be seen to bear a woman's face?1.4.140
        Women are soft, mild, pitiful and flexible;1.4.141
        Thou stern, obdurate, flinty, rough, remorseless.1.4.142
        Bids't thou me rage? why, now thou hast thy wish:1.4.143
        Wouldst have me weep? why, now thou hast thy will:1.4.144
        For raging wind blows up incessant showers,1.4.145
        And when the rage allays, the rain begins.1.4.146
        These tears are my sweet Rutland's obsequies:1.4.147
        And every drop cries vengeance for his death,1.4.148
        'Gainst thee, fell Clifford, and thee, false1.4.149
        Frenchwoman. 1.4.150
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York. That face of his the hungry cannibals1.4.153
        Would not have touch'd, would not have stain'd with blood:1.4.154
        But you are more inhuman, more inexorable,1.4.155
        O, ten times more, than tigers of Hyrcania.1.4.156
        See, ruthless queen, a hapless father's tears:1.4.157
        This cloth thou dip'dst in blood of my sweet boy,1.4.158
        And I with tears do wash the blood away.1.4.159
        Keep thou the napkin, and go boast of this:1.4.160
        And if thou tell'st the heavy story right,1.4.161
        Upon my soul, the hearers will shed tears;1.4.162
        Yea even my foes will shed fast-falling tears,1.4.163
        And say 'Alas, it was a piteous deed!'1.4.164
        There, take the crown, and, with the crown, my curse;1.4.165
        And in thy need such comfort come to thee1.4.166
        As now I reap at thy too cruel hand!1.4.167
        Hard-hearted Clifford, take me from the world:1.4.168
        My soul to heaven, my blood upon your heads! 1.4.169
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York. Open Thy gate of mercy, gracious God!1.4.178
        My soul flies through these wounds to seek out Thee.1.4.179

Dies

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