bec SCENE III. Fields near St Alban’s

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,

5 Repairs him with occasion? This happy day

Is not itself, nor have we won one foot,

If Salisbury be lost.

Rich.   My noble father,

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

Three times bestrid him; thrice I led him off,

10 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.

15 Sal. 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 pleased him that three times to-day

♦ You have defended me from imminent death.

20 Well, lords, we have not got that which we have:

’Tis 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,

25 To call a present court of parliament.

Let us pursue him ere the writs go forth.

♦ What says Lord Warwick? shall we after them?

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

♦ Now, by my faith, lords, ’twas a glorious day:

30 Saint Alban’s battle won by famous York

Shall be eternized in all age to come.

♦ Sound drums and trumpets, and to London all:

♦ And more such days as these to us befall! [Exeunt.